The Secretary of Education understands some of the root causes of the education quagmire:
Education Secretary Rod Paige called the nation's largest teachers union a "terrorist organization" Monday, taking on the 2.7-million-member National Education Association early in the presidential election year.Paige said later that his comment was "a bad joke; it was an inappropriate choice of words."
Asked if he was apologizing, Paige said: "Well, I'm saying that I'm sorry I said it, yeah." In a statement released to the media, Paige said he chose the wrong words to describe "the obstructionist scare tactics" of NEA lobbyists.No, he's not apologizing, and why should he? Personally, I think it's more accurate to characterize the NEA less as a "terrorist organization" than as an "extortion mafia". But let's not quibble over details. Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at February 23, 2004 03:53 PM
I'd say that's an utterly, offensively asinine remark coming from anyone, let alone a cabinet member.
Posted by: Otter on February 23, 2004 04:11 PMYeah, it's right up there with the slurs the Sierra Club mindlessly slings at the Bush Administration.
Posted by: Insufficiently Sensitive on February 23, 2004 04:14 PMOne man's terrorist is another man's NEA Lobbyist.
Posted by: Gary B on February 23, 2004 05:46 PMI wouldn't use the word "terrorist" because words should have specific meanings. But I think it's totally appropriate to point out just how selfish and obstructionist the behavior of this organization has been.
Posted by: David Foster on February 23, 2004 07:29 PMHe should have said "feckless crapweasels."
Posted by: Matt J Kurlander on February 24, 2004 04:35 AM