Jeb on Blaine: 'anti-Catholic bigotry'

In an interview with the National Review Online, former Gov. Jeb Bush says he hopes Florida voters will approve the constitutional amendment repealing the Blaine Amendment -- which he calls "an antiquated religious discrimination clause rooted in anti-Catholic bigotry."

He said educators and politicians must get "beyond rhetoric" to support "audacious" school reforms and policies. Just last week, he tells the NRO, he signed on to a group formed by the Rev. Al Sharpton and NYC schools Chancellor Joel Klein to bridge the achievement gap in schools.

Comments

[McCain dislikes the Catholic Church]

John McCain sought the endorsement of Rev. Hagee who has said for the past few decades, that he has waged an unrelenting war against the Catholic Church. For example, he likes calling it ‘The Great Wh*re,’ an ‘apostate church,’ the ‘anti-Christ,’ and a ‘false cult system.’

Source:
http://www.catholicleague.org/release.php?id=1393

And why wouldn't a fine son of Erin, such as McCain, be Catholic?

49th out of 50; Oh yeah, Jeb’s all about education!

Hey, let’s ask Hannibal Lector what’s for dinner!

49th out of 50; Oh yeah, Jeb’s all about education!

Hey, let’s ask Hannibal Lector what’s for dinner!

Oh so what, the Pope says all noncatholics are going to hell!

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/308522/pope_youre_going_to_hell.html

[Obama dislikes America]

Barack Obama sought the endorsement of admitted, unrepentent terrorist William Ayers, who has said “I don't regret setting bombs; I feel we didn't do enough.” (New York Times in 2001).

[Karl Rove]

RUN AWAY; THE DARKMAN COMETH TO TAKE YOUR WHITE WOMEN!

Jeb is a has-been just like Mel Martinez is going to be.

How can anyone take him seriously when his last name is Bush? Jeb, go away; your neo-con education schemes have been abject failures. We will not catch up to the foreign systems without a solid PUBLIC education system, not your corporatist, elitist, "my rich kids are genetically superior" crap.

ps. 10:36 beat me to the Hagee reference. McCain/Hagee, hating on the Catholics in 2008.

Jeb, Jeb, Jeb. Grandpappy Prescott must be spinning in his grave.

[dr. freud]

jeb haters = angry little men

For some of you with short term memories, or tied to the Teacher's Unions, here's a refresher course in FL History!

http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/012/293ppytu.asp

Governor in Chief

Jeb Bush's remarkable eight years of achievement in Florida.

by Fred Barnes
06/12/2006, Volume 011, Issue 37

Tallahassee

IF ONLY HIS LAST NAME WERE SMITH. He'd not only attract national attention as the popular and successful governor of a difficult-to-govern state. He'd be viewed sympathetically as a leader who had dealt with family issues--his wife's aversion to politics, his daughter's bouts with drug addiction--without losing his grip on the governorship. And he'd be the prohibitive frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008.

But his last name is Bush. So Jeb Bush, nearing the end of his eight years as governor of Florida, has to settle for being the best governor in America. Not proclaimed the best governor by the media and the political community. But recognized as the best by a smaller group: governors who served with him and experts and think-tank and conservative policy wonks who regard state government as something other than a machine for taxing and spending.

WHY IS JEB BUSH THE BEST?

It's very simple.

His record is the best.

No other governor, Republican or Democrat, comes close.

Donna Arduin, perhaps the most respected state budget expert in the country, has worked for four big-state Republican governors--John Engler of Michigan, George Pataki of New York, Arnold Schwarzenegger of California, and Bush. Even while she worked for Schwarzenegger, she told me Bush is "absolutely" the nation's premier governor. "He's principled, brilliant, willing to ignore his pollsters, and say no to his friends," she says.

Engler, now head of the National Association of Manufacturers, knows Jeb Bush well and has watched the course of his governorship. He says flatly:

"Jeb Bush is the finest governor in the country."

[dr. darwin]

jeb lovers = puffed up little toads

11:47 Fascist Neo-cons endorse Bush. So what else is new?

The Jeb bashers pursue the classic Hitlerian technique of repeating a lie so frequently that that they hope it is eventually accepted as truth. Sorry, ain't working. The truth is that under Florida's exalted Democrat governors the teachers' union managed to keep the state mired in the bottom of the educational rankings for decades. Jeb broke their stranglehold and performance --here's a novel idea-- actually began to count for something when parents were made aware of a school's test scores and ranking. As a result, test scores improved. Students in Florida actually began getting a real education for the first time, and the union has never forgiven Jeb for pressuring teachers into doing their jobs.

"His record is the best" - best at what - turning Florida schools into drop-out factories? Making Florida's #1 growth industry private prisons (where the drop-outs ultimately end up)? Or is he the best at privatizing goverment activites to companies of his friends or where he now sits on the board?

Remember in November and kick the party of Jeb Bush to the curb!!!

11:51 This is new

Florida History Professors endorse Bush!

[N.O. Morebush]

No More Years. None! Not for any Bush, especially Jeb!

[terminator]

this is almost too funny!

Jeb coming to the Catholic church's rescue? Concerned about anti-Catholic bigotry?

Yeah, Jeb's a real Christian loving kind of guy...hahaha.

Just ask teachers, union members, school employees, state government workers or the sick, elderly, abused children, etc. what a tender Jesus loving Catholic the old Jebster is!

Jeb, please get a life. You are irrelevant. No we're not going to endorse anymore of your schemes.
Can't you go join brother W and clear some brush on his ranch?

We thought you had to get out of government so you could finally start making some money cause you were so broke from being Gov? (Oops, sorry forgot about those scams with Lehman Bros and Tenet Healthcare).

Jeb and Al Sharpton, now that's a couple of n's in a wood pile!

Sticking to the point of the thread, which no one else seems to be doing, I would agree 100% with Jeb that historically this amendment was placed in the Florida Constitution because of a fear that Catholics were going to raid the state treasury. It was a unfounded and bigoted movement at that time.

However, why does it need to be repealed now? The only reason is so that one of the two reasons that Jeb's vouchers are unlawful (and he knew they were unlawful when he pushed for them) can be removed. Without amendment #9, amendment #7 doesn't actually do anything of consequence. Still, I would prefer to leave the Constitution alone, as it seems that every change over the past two decades has been a mixed bag at best.

Some examples: term limits for legislators; class size reduction; malpractice and tort reform; pregnant pigs; property tax reductions . . .

As such, I am going to vote against amendment #7 even though my vote has nothing at all to do with the Catholic church or its members.

As a Catholic, I demand an apology from the state for all the bigotry inflicted upon me for all these years.

Not really bigotry, just spiritual ignorance and there's still plenty of that around in Florida.

Vote YES on 7 to prevent Florida's students from being stuck in F schools.

[terminator]

ironically, alot of the Cathloic schools are involved with the charter/voucher school movement.
seems like they would have much to gain if this thing goes through (students and money)!

The citizens are against vouchers, but both amendment #7 and especially #9 are designed as bait and switch to understate the only reason for having them because they know the people don't agree with vouchers.

Amendment #7 (according to Jeb) is about reversing a historical wrong to the Catholic Church. He doesn't mention the current issue of vouchers at all.

Amendment #9 according to the ballot language is about making sure that 65% of public education funding goes to the classroom and allows the legislature a little flexibility in meeting its paramount duty to provide for free public education for every citizen. The 65% issue is moot because every district in the state already exceeds the standard, and the little flexibility contains no mention of vouchers which is the ONLY reason for the amendment. Well, hear this, Floridian . . . Jeb and his friends on the Budget Reform Commission believe that you are stupid. They think that they can trick you into voting for Amendment #9 by emphasizing the part that they know doesn't do anything. Send the carpetbaggers home with a negative vote that is bigger than 50%.

Then, we just need to find one two-bit attorney to get the courts to look at the other two unconstitutional voucher programs that still exist in Florida.

[Omega83]

Tell me, Jeb. If the Blaine Amendment is repealed, would you favor the use of vouchers at madrassas? What sort of other state programs would mosques be eligible for?

http://www.pfaw.org/pfaw/general/default.aspx?oid=8024