Art Pope bankrolls candidates dismantling desegregation policy in NC school system

[deminks]

http://southernstudies.org/2011/10/art-pope-bankrolls-candidates-dismantling-desegregation-policy-in-nc-school-system.html

North Carolina's leading conservative benefactor, Art Pope played a critical behind-the-scenes role in the 2009 Wake County, N.C. school board race. At least one Republican leader called Pope the "architect" of a plan to elect a GOP majority committed to ending the county's nationally-recognized desegregation policy, which aimed to prevent pockets of high-poverty and racially-isolated schools.

With a new Wake school board election coming up on Oct. 11, Pope has emerged from the political shadows and gotten directly involved in this year's race as a top contributor to candidates who oppose the diversity policy and support a return to more demographically homogenous neighborhood schools.

An examination of his tactics in Wake County over the past few years offers a useful illustration of Pope's modus operandi: orchestrating strategies behind the scenes while also funneling money to a mix of candidates, party committees and advocacy groups that, while appearing separate, operate from the same playbook.

(snip)

Pope is also the founder of Americans for Prosperity's North Carolina chapter, which carried out voter education and volunteer work that benefited Republican candidates in the 2009 Wake school board race. Created and funded by the Koch brothers, the conservative oil billionaires who own Koch Industries, Americans for Prosperity gets significant support from Pope. Tax records show that since 2004 Pope's family foundation has given $2.2 million to AFP's sister group, the Americans for Prosperity Foundation, which shares some resources with Americans for Prosperity. In turn, the national AFP organization supports state affiliates, including North Carolina's.

(end snip)

Resegregation = Tea Party Education Reform.

Al Sharpton talked about this on his show this afternoon.

[OHdem10]

1. Rachel had a program which showed this A. Pople helped

bankroll the election of 20 something State Legislators
turning the Legislature in N.C. into an absolutely Republican
Majority. ONE MAN has huge contol in that Legislature. Funded
27 candidates campaigns.

Speaking of Democracy.

[INdemo]

2. And theres more..Koch Bros and public education and funding

school board members that agree with them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mbJhjCbwo8

[KoKo]

3. That Guy is the Ruppert Murdoch of NC! Glad to see there are

more articles including one in the New Yorker Mag..by Jean Mayer about how corrupt the guy is and his wide influence.

Thanks for this post!