Democrats’ dislike of public charter schools appears to know no boundaries. Following the passage of the state Senate’s charter school “fix” bill by a 27-20 vote, Sen. Bob Hasegawa (D-Seattle) decided to demonstrate just how much his party hates the idea of schools devoted to benefitting the future prospects of underprivileged students.
Hasegawa took to the Senate floor where he made several wild claims concerning charter schools. He said,
“Almost $2 million of that coming from Arkansas. Now what’s in Arkansas? Probably one of the most – the headquarters of one of the most infamously anti-union corporations, the largest corporation in the world, and the wealthiest family in the world. Why are they so interested in soaking $2 million into creating charter schools in Washington state? …
“As a little side note, this may not be the most politically correct thing to say, but I get offended when people start parading poor little brown and black faces out there and saying, ‘Oh those poor kids, look it, they have this oppor’ – what about the 1.1 other million kids out there who deserve equity of access to an equally good quality education? We’re going to throw all them under the bus?”
Smarter Government Washington pointed out why these statements, among others, are so wrong. First, Hasegawa’s “$2 million from Arkansas” attack is in reference to the $1.7 million (of $11 million total) donated by a member of Wal-Mart’s founding family to the charter school initiative passed by voters in 2012. While lambasting the donation for what he suggests is an “anti-union conspiracy,” Hasegawa conveniently leaves out the fact that pro-union lefty Nick Hanauer donated $1,050,000 to the same campaign.
As for his second statement, Hasegawa is trying to dismiss a rather obvious argument for public charter schools (as argued by Democrat Representative Eric Pettigrew). Pettigrew wrote an op-ed in the Olympian,
“Across our state and all over the country, students of color are not making it in conventional public schools. Black and Latino students make up the largest number of dropouts, face harsher discipline, suffer from language barriers, and deal with the ever-present achievement gap. In my district, we have children of color struggling with these same issues, and more…It incenses me that for the sake of some traditional principle, the court, the union and other traditional education organizations chose to take away what might have been these kids’ only shot. As the only African American legislator in the state, it’s disheartening to be leading this battle cry that everyone in the community wanted to be part of, and then when the rubber hits the road, ‘tradition’ steps in. Well guess what? Traditional methods aren’t working for our children.”
By dismissing them as mere pawns, Hasegawa’s statements diminish the children who came to Olympia in order to fight for their schools. Using his same logic, one could argue that Democrats were more than happy to see Planned Parenthood “parade” teenagers around the capitol for their political agenda on MLK Day. But, we didn’t hear that happen.
Hasegawa’s comments are entirely inappropriate, and he should apologize to the children – he should be schooled on this.
What a hypocrite. He’s complaining about a donation from Arkansas but is most likely okay with the Tom Steyer interference and money for the carbon tax crap.
He would welcome some of that Bloomberg money too I’m betting.
Hey Stephen! Are you off of your medication AGAIN?!?! Shame on you, you little dumb ass! It’s bad enough that your IQ is in the mid double digits, but now you’re delusional as well…sad to know how your parents are going to feel about this, after they gave you that room in the basement…
Hasegawa shows just how simple minded and petty, in addition to being highly partisan, the democrats can be. They’ve complete fallen off the bus as far as really caring about kids; he’s just another lefty politician bought and paid for by the WEA, SEIU, AFSCME and other public employee unions.
You’re just upset because you—like most obtuse and delusional conservatives—despise anything with the words “public” or “union” AND you’re likely a right wing extremist and/or you’re being paid to troll here. Why don’t you just admit it?
Another Kool-Aid drinkin’, leftist, liberal, secular-progressive that can’t discern his/her rectum from a hole in the ground.
I served over 31 years in the public sector, some of that as the president of the local I belonged to, however we never engaged in the type of highly partisan, political shenanigans of these public sector unions and always managed to receive fair and equitable contract terms. So stow it, buster!
As a Democrat and a parent of a student who has a “brown face” and attends Destiny Charter Middle School in Tacoma, it is embarrassing to see that our party no longer votes for the good of the people and instead, for those unions who line their election pockets. I will think long and hard before voting Democrat in any election after seeing what really happens in Olympia.
Actually, you’re a shill who is either A) being paid to say these dumb things, or B) someone who has been sold a Bill Of Goods by right-wingers and Privatizers and is too naive to understand what is really going on. Either way, I’m sorry for you. I hope you see the light soon.
I have a niece who has a “brown face” and I’m totally disgusted by this. And I hate to tell you Mr. Hasegawa, your of a minority too. Would you be saying the same thing if it was nothing but Asian faces? The color or creed of someone doesn’t make it any less important.
And most people in this state are disgusted by YOU and the other shills, sellouts and privatizer errand boys like yourself. Do you think we’re too dumb to see what’s going on with you Tea Party assholes?
Bravo! Sen. Bob Hasegawa is a genuine American HERO! I think it’s very revealing just how racist you and your readers are. “SHIFT” is truly SHIT!