An anonymous poster responded to my story about Loretta Sanchez (pictured at right in education mode) backing a new tax by asking me to prove that Loretta has put herself forward as an expert on education. You asked for it!
Let’s start with her congressional home page. There you will find out that she learned about education by visiting “each and every public school in the 47th Congressional District.” Impressive!
Next let’s go to calvoter.org, specifically their “Archive of Campaign Promises.” There we find that Loretta “has fought to make sure that schools can spend federal funds on pedestrian and bicycle safety education. ” So, although she admits that California is 49th in education, she wants to shift spending from math and reading to walking around and riding bicycles?
Now let’s visit “Loretta Sanchez on the Issues,” where we find a litany of votes Loretta made, regarding education, including these:
- Voted NO on allowing school prayer during the War on Terror. (Nov 2001)
- Voted YES on requiring states to test students. (May 2001)
- Voted NO on allowing vouchers in DC schools. (Aug 1998)
- Voted NO on vouchers for private & parochial schools. (Nov 1997)
- Opposes requiring schools to allow school prayer. (Jan 2001)
What do our friends at NOW (the National Organization of Women) have to say about Loretta? Apparently they believe that she is “working to save our national gender equity in education programs.” Huh?
Even the poindexters at the Cyber Security Industry Alliance have something to say about Loretta and education, “While serving on the Homeland Security Committee, Congresswoman Sanchez took a leave of absence from the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, which oversees education and labor issues. ” So, education took a backseat to Homeland Security? Oh no! Education is not Loretta’s top issue after all!
I do have some bad news for those of you who don’t like Loretta. It turns out that she has a Doctorate in Education! Who knew? Apparently the fine folks at William Howard Taft University gave her one in recognition of her “service to public education.” Wow. I am sure that the many OC teachers who had to work their butts off to get similar degrees are very appreciative that Loretta got one without taking one class, or one test. Si se puede!
Let’s close this discussion with an excerpt from Loretta’s own campaign site, “Improving the education system in Orange County is one of Loretta’s top priorities in Congress. It is what got her into politics in the first place.”
There you go Anonymous! I rest my case.
9:05,
Did you read my first paragraph? An anonymous poster challenged me to prove that Loretta fashions herself to be an expert on education. I did that.
On to your points then. Loretta is a federal representative. Education should be a local issue – and that’s why we vote for school board members. If she wants to visit the schools, great. But that is not her job.
Yes, improving education should be a priority for everyone. My point is that what the Democrats are doing, Loretta included, cannot be called an improvement when California, according to Loretta herself, is 49th in education.
Rohrabacher is not the issue. He has not put himself out there as an education expert.
Re the degree – it is a joke. AS for gender equity – what the heck is that? Let’s put gender aside and ask why so many other countries are doing a better job than ours is when it comes to education of our children.
Well, at least Loretta works to bring funds home for Orange County schools while the OC GOP cabal does NOTHING (as usual)!
Loretta brings money home for after-school programs.
Rohrabacher, on the other hand, seems to be more interested in providing movie deals (And Homeland Security at that… What a joke!) for his Hollywood friends!
Loretta brings funds home for new programs at Cal State Fullerton.
Royce, on the other hand, seems to be more interested in setting up a “hospitality” program at Cal State Pomona’s sister school… IN RUSSIA!!
Loretta may not be perfect, but at least she tries to stay in touch with her constituents.
Campbell, on the other hand, would prefer to spew out some nonsense that “Baghdad’s safer than Washington, DC.”
Give me a friggin’ break!
Andrew,
Well, you got me there amigo.
By the way, didn’t Carona engage in some of his own brand of hospitality when he went to Russia?
Also, you forgot to rip on Gary Miller – c’mon now you’re slipping!
I believe the anon. poster asked you to identify where Loretta explicitly identified herself as an education expert. I’ve looked at your response post and can’t find anything.
Where’s the beef?
Art –
I agree with Northcounty here.
In your big expose on Sanchez, you spend most of your time talking about what others (Cyber Security Industry Alliance, NOW, Taft U.) say about Sanchez — very little of it proving your claim: she styles herself as an expert in education.
Maybe you need to revise your argument to reflect your evidence: Sanchez styles herself as someone who is concerned about education.
Can’t you see this?
Art-
You are the only one insisting that Loretta calls herself an expert on education or puts herself out there as an education expert. Then you fail to present any EVIDENCE to back up this argument.
Instead you present facts to show that she works on education issues at the federal level, seems to be passionate about education, and makes it a priority. (All admirable, from my perspective.)
THERE IS A DIFFERENCE.
I’ll clarify and give you another shot at this:
I’m still waiting to see you dig up anything that shows the Congresswoman proclaiming herself an expert on education.
[jeopardy theme plays in the background]
Art seems happy with his poor argument – why aren’t you?
OK folks, the fact that Sanchez pursued a bogus doctorate in education, and features education prominently on her House and campaign sites is not evidence enough for you. Fine. Let’s see what her campaign mailers have to say this year – assuming she bothers to print any. As I am not a Democrat, I am relying on you folks to let me know what she has to say on her mailers. I am quite sure she will be presenting herself as the education expert that she so clearly is not…
Arte,
Pray tell, how does one “pursue” an honorary doctorate?
I want to know; if I can get a doctorate, my salary will take a jump up.
Ok, OK: Art Pedroza, noted expert on Loretta Sanchez.
Art is so cute when he gets all het up.
Semper Fi
Art doesn’t like us anymore.
7:19,
Of course I love you all – I just live picking on Loretta. BTW, I got a hold of one of her mailers today – it is a doozy. The front page says “A quality education can help put the world at tehir fingertips.” It shows a picture of kids looking at a globe. Below that is says “An update on education issues from Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez.” The back cover is priceless. “I am working to find ways to direct federal dollars toward creating quality teaching in our classrooms.” Hey Loretta, I know my President is goofy on this, but education is not a federal issue! It gets better, “Full federal funding would enable local school districts to focus their scarce resources on other pressing needs.” Like what? Riding bikes? Please, someone make her give back that doctorate degree in education!
Art!
You forgot to tell me – how does one “pursue” an honorary degree?
I need to know!
Actually, Art, I think Loretta has a point about federal funding. Some very big expenses for California schools come from unfunded federal mandates such as No Child Left Behind (aka No Child Left Untested).