And the Right Wing Wurlitzer Plays On

Pinney’s Crusade Against Critical Thought has caught the attention of two of the Pioneer Press reporters in Barrington and Elk Grove.

From Corcoran:

In her successful bid to join the District 214 School Board, Leslie Pinney raised more than $20,000 while none of the four incumbents — Bill Blaine, Lenore Gonzales Bragaw, Miriam “Mimi” Cooper and, the board member Pinney replaced, Stanley Eisenhammer — raised enough to meet the fund-raising threshold that would have required them to register with the Illinois State Board of Elections.

How? In part because her campaign — like that of former U.S. Senate and GOP gubernatorial candidate Jim Oberweis — was backed by Carpentersville-based Family Taxpayers Network, a conservative organization headed by businessman Jack Roeser of Barrington.

Although now it is largely her opposition to nine books included in District 214’s curriculum setting her apart from fellow board members, Network executive director Lidia Downs said Pinney’s financial background led the Family Taxpayers Network to support her over other candidates.

“One of the things we were very impressed with was that she was very capable in the area of finances. We thought that was one area of expertise that she would be able to bring to the board,” said Downs.

According to Downs, Pinney was identified as a candidate the organization would support after she was vetted during a formal interview.

So read between the lines, the continuing attack on public education by Roeser is being done through recruiting and backing local school board candidates who will lead a crusade on any issue that will lessen public support for schools, and thus lessen support for taxes to pay for said schools.

From the Mohrman article:

She said her actions have not been influenced by the Family Taxpayers Network or Illinois Family Institute, two conservative organizations that supported her campaign and book proposal.

“They’ve never asked me to do anything,” Pinney said. “When I began my campaign, they saw what I stood for and wanted to help me. They aren’t asking me to do anything, but when … our goals intersect, then we’re working together. It’s certainly not something that’s coordinated (in advance).

All which is potentially true, but the larger point is that a well organized right wing machine is picking its battles through the funding of wingnut candidates and while they insist there is the big bad educational establishment against them, the problem is no one is taking the fight to them. This is where fighting a right wing intolerant agenda begins.