Bernie, Hillary, NEA. Somebody's not telling the truth.

[madfloridian]

Clinton endorsement divides teachers union

Subtitle: State officials and rank-and-file members plan to protest upcoming vote to endorse Hillary Clinton.

When it comes to the national NEA endorsement, however, Sanders’ campaign told POLITICO it did not get the same consideration from union officials as Clinton.

“There was recently a phone interview that was arranged for Secretary Clinton with their board of directors,” said a Sanders campaign official. “That was never offered to us.” An NEA spokesman did not respond to a request for comment about the phone interview.

But the spokesman said that Clinton, Sanders and O’Malley have all met in person with NEA’s president. And on July 2, the NEA reached out to the three campaigns to invite them to participate in a tele-town hall with members. They said Sanders never responded. “After multiple attempts, the campaign failed to respond to our efforts to schedule a time and date for this tele-town hall during the back to school period. Sec. Clinton was the only campaign to respond,” the spokesman said. Sanders’ campaign refuted that claim.

The Sander's campaign says differently.

"Our national field director, Phil Fiermonte, had conversations with the NEA's political director, Carrie Pugh, on more than one occasion and discussed possible dates for a tele-town hall with the senator," Sanders spokesman Michael Briggs said. "To say the Sanders' campaign 'failed to respond' is simply not true. In fact, a request by the Sanders campaign to allow the senator the same opportunity as Mrs. Clinton to speak with the NEA's board of directors was denied."[/blockquote

I predicted earlier that the NEA would endorse Hillary Clinton.

The money from the education "reformers" is vital to unions, it seems.

NEA remains faithful to Gates' funding.

NEA doesn’t directly receive the Gates funding. The NEA Foundation does.

...NEA and the NEA Foundation are two peas, same pod. The NEA Foundation is supported in part via NEA membership dues, and Garcia sits on the NEA Foundation board of directors.

Gates money to the NEA Foundation is Gates money to NEA. For example, consider these two July 2013 NEA Foundation grants:

Date: July 2013
Purpose: to support a cohort of National Education Association Master Teachers in the development of Common Core-aligned lessons in K-5 mathematics and K-12 English Language Arts
Amount: $3,882,600

Date: July 2013
Purpose: to support the capacity of state NEA affiliates to advance teaching and learning issues and student success in collaboration with local affiliates
Amount: $2,446,500

This $6.3 million was paid to the NEA Foundation but directed toward NEA members/affiliates.

The charter school views of Hillary Clinton are well-known, the Democrats have been strongly in favor. Education reform has advanced rapidly under a Democratic administration.

Bernie's education views are not really known yet. He supports public education, I know.

So it's safer for teachers' unions to go with the known.

I think though that members will give their votes to the candidate of their choice no matter who is endorsed.

I would just love to find out who is being honest about the tele-town hall.

[questionseverything]

1. proud to be the first rec

you ask the best questions!

[Uncle Joe]

2. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, madfloridian.

[Vincardog]

3. Who is being honest about the tele-town hall? Who has a history of honest service and ideals? Who has

a history of talking like a mobster in a deposition?

Past is prologue.

[haikugal]

4. Thanks MADfloridian...K&R!

[AtomicKitten]

5. k&r

[HerbChestnut]

6. This is disappointing on so many levels.

Thanks for posting. It's revealing just how much is working against a Bernie nomination. This election has been an eye opener for me.

[99th_Monkey]

7. K&R - Glad this chicanery is being exposed. Members & state officials deserve to be represented! -nt-

[madfloridian]

8. Yes, they do.

[progressoid]

9. "In 2008, the union did not endorse Barack Obama until after he had wrapped up the nomination."

Wonder if they'll do the 'wait and see' game again this time.

[jeff47]

10. The invitation was used to wipe something. Like a cloth. (nt)

[Pastiche423]

81. !

[madfloridian]

91. .....

[BlueWaveDem]

11. Perhaps Phil Fiermonte needs to be fired?

Sounds like incompetence from a young campaign in its early days. Unlikely the union would believe it could get away with lying.

[madfloridian]

15. ....

[Doctor_J]

12. I find it hard to believe that Sanders would turn down ANY invitation (see Liberty U)

So I think the NEA version is probably bogus

[d_legendary1]

20. I was thinking the same thing

If there is one thing Bernie does exceptionally well is show up to wherever he is invited. Kinda tough to pass up an endorsement from the teacher's union since it would make the news. According to Common Dreams the NEA heads are doing this without the rank and file teacher's approval.

[JDPriestly]

34. He generally has not turned down invitations. He even went to a wrestling match.

If he turned something down, there was a very good reason for it. Let's wait and see.

[historylovr]

37. And it doesn't seem likely that O'Malley would have blown off this chance either.

Something is wrong here.

[hopemountain]

65. this reminds me of wasserman's claim

that the sanders and o'malley campaigns were asked for input on the number of debates. she stated this during a live interview with chris hayes. yet, both candidates have publicly stated they were never asked. wasserman also said only hillary's campaign responded. uh-huh.....

[madfloridian]

93. Very good point.

[madfloridian]

67. I agree so much with this.

Neither candidate would have ignored this chance. Doesn't even make sense.

[madfloridian]

68. Duplicate...deleted

Last edited Wed Sep 30, 2015, 08:54 PM - Edit history (1)

[bigwillq]

13. I think it's Hillbernea.

Yup. Hillbernea is lying.

[1StrongBlackMan]

14. Simple way of determining who is telling the truth ...

1) Produce the emails. If there were all these back and forth communications ... both parties should be able to produce emails to bolster their claim.

2) Some enterprising "journalist" could contact the M O'M campaign and ask about his treatment.

But I suspect people will just accept the word of the camp they support.

[madfloridian]

17. I think we should get to the truth.

No matter what.

[JackInGreen]

33. The more records we can see, the more transparency

The better, I say.

[glinda]

86. I agree. Get the emails or get proof and make it public.

[1StrongBlackMan]

88. It'll look really bad if the NEA spokesman is lying ...

it should/would be campaign ending if the campaign is lying.

But, either way ... it shouldn't have any effect on the O'Malley or HRC campaign.

[daleanime]

94. I would like that, but don't think it will happen.....

neither campaign wants to be seen as attacking the other, and the NEA wants to work with who ever the nominee is.

[dorkzilla]

16. Has O’Malley’s campaign said anything?

They were all three invited, but only Hillary responded? I find that REEEEEEAAAAALLLLLY unlikely.

[1StrongBlackMan]

22. Or, perhaps ...

M O'M responded and participated, and therefore, has nothing to complain about beyond being disappointed that he did not get the endorsement.

One would think that a competent "journalist" would have thought to contact the M O'M, unless the point of the article was to stir the crap ... in which case, unresolved controversy makes the story; doing ones job, possibly, kills the story.

[Luminous Animal]

23. From the OP the NEA says M O'M did not respond.

Quote: "Sec. Clinton was the only campaign to respond,"

And I find it very difficult to believe that neither Sanders or O'Malley would blow this opportunity off.

[Fawke Em]

30. That is total horseshit.

Like Sanders or O'Malley, neither one, would respond to the NEA.

Do they think we're stupid?

[1StrongBlackMan]

41. That, or ...

the journalist is hoping that people will choose "Conspiracy Theory for $1,000, Alex."

[dorkzilla]

56. YES! THEY DO!!!

They actually think we’re not going to do our due diligence on this.

They’d be wrong.

[1StrongBlackMan]

38. That is the journalist repeating what the HRC campaign said ...

Wouldn't a journalist follow up on that?

[dorkzilla]

59. You said it yourself - you referred to them as “journalists"

This is the kind of lack of follow up I thought only Fox did. Seems more like a journalist’s version of Legionnaires Disease that’s infected the whole lot.

[Luminous Animal]

69. The journalist is quoting the NEA spokesman

An NEA spokesman did not respond to a request for comment about the phone interview.

But the spokesman said that Clinton, Sanders and O’Malley have all met in person with NEA’s president. And on July 2, the NEA reached out to the three campaigns to invite them to participate in a tele-town hall with members. They said Sanders never responded. “After multiple attempts, the campaign failed to respond to our efforts to schedule a time and date for this tele-town hall during the back to school period. Sec. Clinton was the only campaign to respond,” the spokesman said. Sanders’ campaign refuted that claim.

[1StrongBlackMan]

70. My bad ... I mis-wrote ...

I meant the journalist was just quoting what one party to the controversy stated ... without delving more deeply.

[LiberalArkie]

39. Maybe the request went vis U.S. Mail to Bernie Sanders, General Delivery, Burlington VT

[NealK]

97. Or they used Pony Express.

[dorkzilla]

24. But the article says Clinton was the only one to respond.

Something smells rotten in Denmark. But it could just be a craptacular move by the “journalist” doing the “story”.

I guess we’ll have to wait and see.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

48. They're trying to claim everyone else is incompetent.

[dorkzilla]

55. Nice. How very, um, democratic of them.

This is beyond silly but I think its a preview of how they’re going to play this. I had this underhand tactic. It’s not at all attractive.

One thing that confuses me is that people don’t seem to be aware that with a slight bit o’digging around, we can probably find electronic evidence of who is stretching the truth.

Again...we’ll have to see where the trail leads.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

61. I remember when the Right infiltrated the AARP and went along with Dubya...

The result was a crackdown by members on the leadership.

This exposes a fundamental flaw in Right Wing psychology. They believe everyone will obey the leaders out of loyalty. It goes back to "king and country". These organizations are more like Unions where the members kick out the leaders if they believe they're selling them out.

[JDPriestly]

36. O'Malley is especially interested in education. Impossible that he would not have responded.

He is very proud of the efforts and successes he had in education in Maryland.

[TM99]

18. Of course there was corruption.

Was there ever really a question that this wouldn't occur as it has?

The establishment leaders might be in for a rude awakening when the rank & file vote Sanders over Clinton. Then they will be eating crow.

[KoKo]

19. K&R!

[theaocp]

21. Union teacher here.

I feel represented by shadowy interests that cower away from challenges. I want the truth and hope the light of day will cast the shadows clear. I do not trust establishment Democrats regarding public education. They follow the money. We don't need another basketball player in charge of education policy. I believe Clinton will give us this in the name of reform. Ugh.

[Duval]

27. I share your sentiments. eom

[madfloridian]

42. Active union member over 30 years, kept up membership a while after retirement.

No more basketball players in charge of education.

[PotatoChip]

50. Not sure what to make of this article from Sept. 21, 2015

but maybe there are some hints in it? I hope it's helpful.

/snip

Ironically, at the same RA meeting, the assembly voted specifically NOT to ignore rank and file membership before endorsing a Presidential candidate. New Business Item 79 states:

NEA, as an organization, will actively engage in conversation and outreach on the NEA endorsement process with all 2016 Presidential campaigns prior to the consideration of a primary recommendation.

It seems if the leadership goes through with the primary endorsement as outlined above, they may be violating NBI 79. The move is doubly troubling because of the strong-armed manner in which the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) endorsed Clinton in July.

Though the AFT Executive Board voted to endorse Clinton, there is little evidence it did so after adequately gauging members opinions through claimed multiple surveys and telephone town halls. The move caused an uproar and claims the AFT endorsed too early and without rank and file support.

More:
https://gadflyonthewallblog.wordpress.com/2015/09/21/the-nea-may-be-about-to-endorse-hillary-clinton-without-input-from-majority-of-members/

[madfloridian]

54. Read that.

The NEA did indicate that neutral stance.

[DhhD]

78. It seemed to me that the AFT president separated from the membership even before July.

AFT president has been issuing statements that, in my opinion, do not reflect the membership, thinking, and best interest of teachers. How could a union for public education have a leader that supports the privatization of public education and promotes testing and test scores, as a way to evaluate teachers. The organization has lost credibility in my eyes.

[Duval]

25. I already need a vacation!

If this crap keeps up, I'll lose myself somewhere even if I have to walk!!

[sabrina 1]

26. Well clearly someone IS lying. Since the NEA chief says the 'Sanders campaign didn't respond' but

the Sanders campaign responded to THAT claim with this:

Michael Briggs said. "To say the Sanders' campaign 'failed to respond' is simply not true. In fact, a request by the Sanders campaign to allow the senator the same opportunity as Mrs. Clinton to speak with the NEA's board of directors was denied."

The next question for the NEA is 'why was the Sanders campaign DENIED access to the NEA's board'??

I think we won't get an answer to that, unless it goes viral on Social Media. That seems to be the only way these people can be forced to respond to legitimate questions these days.

Thanks for the OP, MF, very well researched as usual.

I do agree that the rank and file may revolt by ENDORSING Sanders with their votes, and that's what matters.

[LiberalArkie]

40. Probably denied, because they had already made up their mind, why waste the time with anyone else

[1StrongBlackMan]

43. Unfortunately, the article is NOT researched very well ...

Why would the journalist not attempt to add to the story by attempting to resolve the conflict by contacting the O'Malley campaign to determine how he was treated?

[sabrina 1]

71. We have two statements. Unless you are claiming these statements were never made, the fact is

that someone is lying. Now we need to know who. And since people really would like to know, an effort will be made to get to the bottom of it.

But as I said already, what the leadership does won't impact the rank and file who have indicated they support Bernie Sanders and have publicly objected to the endorsement in large numbers. Those will be votes for Bernie so no harm done actually, not to him anyhow. He has the Vt Teachers Union and several other unions coming forward over the past week.

And more to come.

[1StrongBlackMan]

75. What? ...

We have two statements. Unless you are claiming these statements were never made,

How did you get that out of what I wrote.

We have two statements. Unless you are claiming these statements were never made, the fact is
that someone is lying. Now we need to know who. And since people really would like to know, an effort will be made to get to the bottom of it.

Agreed ... and that was my point. And unless, we now subscribe to the Chuck "Not My Job" Todd School of Journalist "thought" ... is not the getting to bottom of it part, the job of the journalist?

[Yallow]

28. Turnout Is The Key - No Hillary Turnout Massive Bernie Turnout

Democrats will only win if there is good turnout.

Good turnout only occurs when people have something to vote for.

Bernie is that something.

Hillary is not.

Choosing Hillary to be the nominee insures the Pukes
keep control of both houses because people won't
be climbing fences to vote for her.

NEA is too stupid to know the difference between "safe" and losing is.

[kristopher]

89. Yep. nt

[daleanime]

96. You mean their leadership is....

I think the membership might do better.

[msanthrope]

29. There's no crying in baseball. nt

[Scootaloo]

35. But steroid use is grounds for penalties.

[FloriTexan]

31. Kick!

It will be interesting to see how the NEA's handles this.

[floriduck]

32. Fortunately, it is the NEA member's that cast votes.

The union leadership can endorse Hillary, or Trump or Humpty-Dump. But their actions will likely result in higher membership voter participation for Bernie.

[Enthusiast]

44. I would like to hear Bernie Sanders come out strongly against the privatization of public education.

[AzDar]

45. Jesus.

Gonna send Bernie another donation...

[Honeylies]

46. Bernie's remarks to the NEA RA on education, posted by NEA

In case you were curious what his views are. I do feel he could have been more specific in this video, but a town hall could have allowed them to drill down into details. According to NEA's website, he has an A rating (as does Hillary), so I think they are very cognizant of his voting record and where he stands on education.

[madfloridian]

49. Yes, I knew he was against the high stakes testing.

Seems like he has concentrated more on the college level. He's spoken out before about NCLB, and I like his stance on that. I don't think he has made education a priority which to me is better than making "reform" a priority.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

47. I wonder how many Hillary supporters have a "whatever it takes" reaction.

[Zorra]

51. Great post. How perfectly predictable.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1251&pid=635155

[Jackilope]

52. One of the NEA executives elected to a top post...

Yesterday began posting on Facebook Sanders and Clinton comparisons and concern that he wasn't electable .... and commented that he hasn't picked up big endorsements from other Governors or unions, etc. I fear the fix was in. I am beyond angry.

At a time when union membership is dropping, and for all the good I have witnessed NEA do -- this is a very WRONG move.

I did call NEA today, they claim they haven't endorsed Clinton or anyone..... my fear is that she is the preferred and coronation one. Especially the tone of the Facebook Postings of NEA person last night. They aren't even giving Sanders an honest shake.

Time for grassroots to buckle down against several machines.

Heartbroken, dismayed, and disappointed. That is not how a Democratic organization is supposed to work.

[madfloridian]

53. Thanks for that. Is that NEA person on Twitter?

I have trouble seeing a lot of facebook pages as I am not a member. Many do both.

[Jackilope]

64. Not on Twitter that I know of.

I am a member and did serve on a committee that this person was on.

It is one thing posting personal feelings about a candidate, but if one of the top leaders in a union like NEA and posting things like questioning Sanders electability ... it created some blowback and ruffled feathers from the person's followers. Then reading your posts about NEA's endorsement -- or soon to be announced endorsement -- it makes me think this became a done deal when connecting dots from last night to today.

[liberal_at_heart]

57. I love his proposal for college education. I would like to hear more about how he would

improve K-12. One thing we know about Bernie, he is not afraid to spend money on important public services. I have no doubt he would support spending more money on K-12. What I'm unsure of is his stance on Race to the Top, tying funding to state standardized tests, and charter schools. I would like to know more of his proposals on those educational issues. I do know this. I trust Bernie on keeping corporations out of public services a hell of a lot more than I trust Hillary to do so.

[madfloridian]

60. Well, he's really against NCLB so he's likely not fond of RTTT either.

It's just that I've never found in-depth analysis of his "reform" views.

[liberal_at_heart]

63. Good to hear. I'm not surprised he's against NCLB. He seems to hit the mark on most issues.

[left-of-center2012]

58. Lies and Clinton seem to go together

Lies and Clinton seem to go together,
and that's why many Americans are sick of her.

[aspirant]

74. "Thou Shall Not Lie"

Where are the Christian NEA members and all the Liberty U grads?

[jalan48]

62. The sounds a lot like the good ole boys approach to politics.

[madfloridian]

66. ....

[glinda]

87. Looks like the teachers Pensions investments are the real clout here. Monsanto, Pharma, Fossil Fuels

Gates has his fingers in the Monsanto and Pharma pot to be sure.

[WillyT]

72. HUGE K & R !!! - Thank You !!!

[sulphurdunn]

73. Goddammit,

the fix is in again. The NEA desperately needs new leadership.

[Ford_Prefect]

76. Gaming the system yet again! Money doesn't talk, it swears!

[Thespian2]

77. HRC

[Fred Sanders]

79. When you have a long history of support for an organization you get their support. Scandalous!

[FlatBaroque]

80. Just like Bernie, isn't it, to not respond to an opportunity to get his message out.

He's such a recluse.

[Iwillnevergiveup]

82. But take a look at this

http://www.aft.org/resolution/aft-2016-presidential-endorsement

That union is much more militant than the NEA.

[MindfulOne]

83. But wait, did AFT endorse Hillary before or after endorsing nobody?

Compare yours with this:

http://www.aft.org/resolution/endorsement-hillary-clinton

[madfloridian]

84. I thought they endorsed. But no date on either resolution.

[MindfulOne]

85. I checked archive.org. The Hillary endorsement came out this summer.

The resolution not to endorse early was there at the beginning of this year.

But both are present on their resolutions page. They really should date them.

[Tommymac]

90. Another Establishment Endorsement by the 1%'s lackeys...

that will not carry 1 ounce water in a Movement. And have no doubt - Bernie Sander's is a Movement.

I saw one Hillary T-shirt in the Pittsburgh Labor Day parade...on a Union official. We watched every single Union in the parade march by us...and not one potential Hillary supporter commented about our 'Feel The Bern' sign...not one. Her presence was just not there.

But over 60% of the regular Joe and Jane union members who were marchers smiled and gave us a thumbs up or beeped or shouted their support. And at least 10% grabbed our buttons and flyers to learn more about him...we were out before 1/4 of the Unions had passed us by.

THAT is a Movement endorsement by ordinary folks - by the 99% - which will put Bernie over the top in the end.

[madfloridian]

92. How they buy influence.

Gates wants it– he buys it.

That’s not so complicated. But it certainly does afford Gates some power-wielding influence. Indeed, the day before Gates’ speech to the National Board, he dined with 80 senators.

Think about that.

Billionaire Gates has the ear of scores of influential individuals. It’s a great exchange: You give us money; we give you an audience. Another example: in summer 2008, Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) President Gene Wilhoit asked Gates to fund CCSS. In November 2010, Gates offered a CCSSO keynote on CCSS. Gates was listed as a CCSSO “co-chair and trustee.”

By way of his wallet, Gates is allowed time and again to voice his ideas on test-score-driven, market-friendly education “reform.”

Since 2003, Gates has given the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) $2.3 million. In 2009, NCSL “co-chair” Gates gave a keynote in which he said, “Without measurement, there is no pressure for improvement.”

https://deutsch29.wordpress.com/2015/05/18/neas-lily-eskelsen-garcia-remains-faithful-to-gates-funding/

[Hepburn]

95. When I was a teacher many, many, many years ago...

...I joined the Union and NOT the NEA. Never have regretted the choice. Out of my huge district, Chaffee Union HS District, Upland, CA, I believe that only two of us joined the Union and not the NEA.