Archive for Saturday, October 14, 2006
Ed board chairman: Sebelius an ‘elitist’
Abrams says governor owes apology over Phelps comparison
October 14, 2006
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Topeka — Calling her an “elitist” and a “big-government liberal,” the state school board’s chairman on Friday criticized Gov. Kathleen Sebelius over her proposal to strip the board of its power to set education policy.
Steve Abrams, an Arkansas City Republican who is part of the Kansas State Board of Education’s conservative majority, took the Democratic governor to task for suggesting that its adoption last year of science standards seen as anti-evolution had damaged Kansas’ economic development efforts.
Abrams also attacked Sebelius for saying that the state has to deal with negative publicity created by the board, just as it does with the anti-gay picketing of the Rev. Fred Phelps Sr. and his followers.
“The governor owes the Kansas State Board of Education as well as the citizens of the state of Kansas an apology,” Abrams said in a statement sent by e-mail to news organizations across the state. “Personal insults from this liberal governor are the only arguments she can make due to the lack of her own accomplishments.”
“I expect a big-government liberal like our governor to oppose conservative politics. But to infer that the State Board of Education is responsible for the lack of economic development in Kansas is laughable,” he added.
Sebelius is seeking a second term this year and has proposed to push for a state constitutional amendment to make the 10-member board elected but advisory. She wants to have the governor appoint a secretary to run the Department of Education, rather than have the board appoint a commissioner.
The current setup is the product of a constitutional amendment approved by voters in 1966. Voters have rejected proposals to strip the board of its power or allow it to be eliminated in 1974, 1986 and 1990.
GOP gubernatorial challenger Sen. Jim Barnett, of Emporia, has said he opposes Sebelius’ proposal, arguing that the current setup makes the board accountable to voters.
Sebelius spokeswoman Nicole Corcoran said having a discussion about the issue “is exactly how good government is supposed to work.”
“Unfortunately, the chairman of the State Board of Education doesn’t seem to realize the connection between good schools and a strong economy, which kind of proves the governor’s point,” Corcoran said.
Echoing criticism from Barnett, Abrams described Sebelius’ proposal as “an unadulterated power grab from the voters by an elitist.”
“But that is typical for an elitist, thinking they know better than the voters,” Abrams said. “The governor has yet to talk about her vision for Kansas; she apparently prefers innuendo, name calling, deflection of responsibility and an attempt for a power grab.”
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14 October 2006 at 6:57 a.m.
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coldandhot (Anonymous) says…
Finally, someone takes Sebelius to task!
14 October 2006 at 6:59 a.m.
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james dick (james dick) says…
Abrams is an idiot. We are the laughing stock of the scientific world. We are seen as the anti-intellectuals of the nation. The ed board is the ayatollah board and our ed commissioner is the lead ayatollah.
14 October 2006 at 8:21 a.m.
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just_another_bozo_on_this_bus (Anonymous) says…
Sounds like he's looking for a guest slot on the O'Reilly show, so he can use other Faux News code words to attack anyone who thinks that education and reason are necessary in designing and implementing public policy.
14 October 2006 at 8:55 a.m.
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tanzer (Anonymous) says…
ahhh the elitist attack mode. i bet a lot of kansas loves this - because we are all equal in every aspect of our being. there is no difference between a person who makes burgers for a living and one who teaches children. there is no difference between a person who only reads and recapitualtes school finance law from private sector researchers and someone who has extensively studied and researched (using scientific process - not just reading about it) educational process, including school finance… they are all the same. the same thing??? mmmm…
14 October 2006 at 9:33 a.m.
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Paul Decelles (Paul Decelles) says…
Hmmmm let me see, Steve Abrams' world view means that the vast unsaved masses of humanity are going to Hell whereas Steve and his cronies are among the saved. And he has the gall to call someone else elitist?
14 October 2006 at 9:56 a.m.
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oldgoof (Anonymous) says…
Abrams wants somebody else to apologize. How rich!
14 October 2006 at 10:24 a.m.
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drewdun (Anonymous) says…
“Liberal. Big-government liberal. Liberal elitist. [Now foaming at mouth] Aren't you listening? She's a big-government liberal! listen to me! wahhhhh!”
As if we needed further proof of the utter bankruptcy of the Republican Party. Can you say desperation?
14 October 2006 at 1:20 p.m.
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Tychoman (Anonymous) says…
Bitter much, Abrams? Boo f-ing hoo that Sebelius called you out on your B.S.
15 October 2006 at 3:37 p.m.
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Wilbur_Nether (Anonymous) says…
Inigo Montoya to Abrams, who just (inconceivably) pronounced someone “elitist.”
“You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.”
15 October 2006 at 3:48 p.m.
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Katara (Anonymous) says…
From the article “Abrams also attacked Sebelius for saying that the state has to deal with negative publicity created by the board, just as it does with the anti-gay picketing of the Rev. Fred Phelps Sr. and his followers.
A website I frequent is working on a Kansas tag for any articles that pertain to our state or anyone associated with it. The only state that has one so far is Florida which is a state frequently ridiculed on said website.
If you travel anywhere outside of Kansas and happen to mention that you are from Kansas, you get 3 responses.
A reference to Wizard of OZ.
A reference to Fred Phelps.
And a reference to Intelligent Design or the lack of evolution in Kansas.
16 October 2006 at 2:41 p.m.
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LarryFarma (Anonymous) says…
Sebelius is a stupid fathead. That's like me blaming the demise of Southern California's aerospace industry on the University of California's disaccreditation of Christian-school biology courses that use “creationist” biology texts.
The last I heard, the aviation industry in Wichita, the “Detroit of the general aviation industry,” was still doing fairly well.
16 October 2006 at 3:05 p.m.
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prioress (Anonymous) says…
Sebelius is a stupid fathead.
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Not nice; I presume you do not follow the teacher. On the other hand, I do believe Ms. Kathleen was less than intelligent to make this type of charge. She generally displays more class in public.