Charter schools amendment points the way for Georgia GOP
Republicans are doing some soul-searching after losing the presidential election and some winnable U.S. Senate contests. The Georgia GOP should be similarly self-reflective after delivering the second-smallest margin among states won by Mitt Romney.
The same demographic trends Romney failed to overcome are increasingly apparent in Georgia. Republicans here must learn to win over voters they typically haven’t attracted. Fortunately for them, Tuesday also offered a template for doing so: the successful charter schools amendment.
The referendum to affirm a state role in creating these public schools was passed in a Republican-dominated Legislature with crucial, but limited, Democratic support; was endorsed by our Republican governor; was opposed by the state Democratic Party; drew much-scrutinized financial support from wealthy Republicans outside Georgia; and was slammed in a radio ad by a civil-rights icon, the Rev. Joseph Lowery, as a precursor to resegregation.
Yet in Clayton, DeKalb and Fulton counties, home to about a third of all Democrats and black registered voters in Georgia, 72 percent of voters backed President Barack Obama’s re-election — and 66 percent approved the charter schools amendment. And why not? The students and parents in those counties face some of the most dysfunctional school systems in the state.
In all, the amendment got 62 percent in pro-Obama counties, 56 percent in pro-Romney counties.
Georgia Republicans have big trouble in big cities, but the amendment won in every single county where at least 40,000 people voted on it. And it got 65 percent of the vote in the 10-county metro Atlanta region – where the T-SPLOST was defeated in July by 62 percent of the voters.
It may seem odd to liken the passage of the GOP-led charter schools amendment to the defeat of the GOP-created T-SPLOST. But the pairing offers some important lessons.
Each contest featured a coalition of mostly suburban “movement” conservatives and mostly urban black Democrats that has rarely, if ever, figured into Georgia politics.
Why did these groups come together? In part, it’s because the losing side in each referendum essentially argued, “Trust us.”
For the T-SPLOST, it was the state transportation apparatus and the politicians who like to meddle with it. For the amendment — despite opponents’ efforts to tie it to the same politicians — it was the educational establishment that runs local public school districts.
Decades of experience left Georgians wary of trusting either group. There’s an opportunity here.
Republicans often talk about financial waste in public services. They’re less adept at addressing these services’ failings from users’ perspective.
This is less true when it comes to education. The amendment was a chance to reach out to non-Republicans with a solution for improving public education for them. There will be more chances — soon, I hope.
On transportation, the Georgia GOP shouldn’t talk about privatizing MARTA, for example, purely as a way to save money. As long as DeKalb and Fulton have a sales tax for transit, MARTA isn’t likely to cost taxpayers less.
But Republicans could promote privatization as a way to improve transit without spending more money. In my 2010 series on MARTA, I estimated the agency could increase bus services by about one-eighth (over 2008 levels) without increasing spending, by privatizing buses the way some cities out West have.
If Georgia Republicans don’t find a way to promote conservative principles with new blocs of voters, the choice won’t be theirs much longer.
– By Kyle Wingfield
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
425 comments Add your comment
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
November 10th, 2012
12:36 pm
Four down territory.
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
November 10th, 2012
12:37 pm
Sorry, wrong blog!
Linda
November 10th, 2012
12:52 pm
Hurricane Sandy proved that Obama could not stop the rise of the oceans. Just another broken campaign promise? His minions might think he’s Moses without the tablets, but I wouldn’t follow him through a car wash.
MarkV
November 10th, 2012
12:52 pm
Dusty @12:01 pm
Please explain.
MarkV
November 10th, 2012
12:55 pm
Tiberius @12:22 pm
Ignorance neatly summarized.
Linda
November 10th, 2012
12:56 pm
The House passed his Cap & Trade legislation but the Senate, known for their “wisdom,” knew it was a hoax & tossed it. Obama is by-passing Congress by implementing it through the EPA.
Even if you believe in global warming & that it is man-made, you are an idiot to believe politicians can “fix it” by taxing it, swapping it around & burying it in the ground.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
November 10th, 2012
12:58 pm
MarkV, the wonderful thing about your posts is that they can never be considered intelligent rebuttal.
Mainly because they contain no intelligence whatsoever and there is never any attempt at rebuttal.
Not that any of us expect anything more from you than what you post. We know you haven’t the capacity for substantive debate.
MarkV
November 10th, 2012
1:07 pm
“It’s name has to be changed a couple if times to fit it’s new data,”
Can that even be called argument?
“The proponents alternately claim that warmer temps will cause less snow, but when more snow is generated they claim that is a result of climate change as well.”
What “proponents claim” is not the issue; what the climatologists say is.
“Their temperature sensors are strategically placed in and around known “hot-spots” such as urban areas.”
A lie.
“The Atlantic Ocean heats up, but the Pacific Ocean cools down.
And?
“They can’t explain a leveling off of temperature rises.”
They can.
“They think that having companies pay fines for their carbon generation will fix the problem.”
Political issues do not change the science.
“The only people studying this “problem” are people who get their funding from the very governments who can continue their income stream.”
A lie.
“And they can’t explain exactly what man is doing to cause their data, but they just know it has to be us – hence the term “theory”.”
A lie – they can, as well as an expression of ignorance about what a theory is.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
November 10th, 2012
1:14 pm
All absolutist statements without a shred of fact behind them.
Way to continue your uninterrupted streak of useless posts, MarkV.
I’ll post the next retort from you following my next post:
Tiberius: “The sky is blue”
MarkV: “A lie”.
See? I can “debate” just like you can!
Dusty
November 10th, 2012
1:14 pm
MarkV
Tunnel vision is when you see only one small direction and nothing else. Blindness is seeing nothing at all.
Your complaints about bloggers are always about conservatives. Tthere are just as many “ill-gotten” comments by liberals. But you never “see” the indiscreet liberals.
See your ophthamologist.
Linda
November 10th, 2012
1:16 pm
Less than 24 hrs. after Obama was re-elected, he directed his adm. to fast-forward an international treaty to regulate gun control.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/07/us-arms-treaty-un-idUSBRE8A627J20121107
I’m citing Reuters, but google other sites to obtain the truth, that our second amendment rights are in jeopardy. Gun sales are soaring all over the US.
Banderson
November 10th, 2012
1:17 pm
A lot of teachers were against this amendment. Of course, they forget that they helped get Sonny Perdue elected over Roy Barnes, which got this whole GOP governor thing rolling.
@@
November 10th, 2012
1:18 pm
I could REALLY get behind this guy’s suggestion.
As a result, I have a suggestion for the Republicans, one they won’t hear from anyone else: give Barry and Company everything they want, without an iota of resistance. Let ‘em raise taxes and the debt ceiling, gut the military, and run up trillions of dollars of additional deficits and debt. Then stand back, and let an utterly corrupt media chronicle the demise — without being able to pin an ounce of the ensuing socialist catastrophe on an “obstructionist” GOP.
Harry Reid wants to end the filibuster? Tell him it won’t be necessary. For the next four years, Republicans will do what a certain Senator from Illinois made a career of doing: they will simply vote “present” on every bill put before them in both houses of Congress. In effect, give Democrats they same unassailable majority they had in 2008 — the same one that led directly to the passage of ObamaCare.
Radical? Compared to what? Watching a president get re-elected, despite four major scandals, the worst recovery on record, and the explosion of entitlements — all of which was blamed on the aforementioned Republican obstructionism? Being blamed for everything that will go wrong from 2012 to 2016, completely irrespective of reality or the truth?
It’s time to get real: the only thing Republicans can do is delay the inevitable. Why bother? The sooner progressives and the media bring America to its knees, the sooner the people who know better can put the nation back on its feet.—Arnold Ahlert
Any liberals wanna get on board the bullet train?
Banderson
November 10th, 2012
1:22 pm
Linda – did you not read the article you linked? Here’s a quote:
“An official at the U.S. mission said Washington’s objectives have not changed.
“We seek a treaty that contributes to international security by fighting illicit arms trafficking and proliferation, protects the sovereign right of states to conduct legitimate arms trade, and meets the concerns that we have been articulating throughout,” the official said.
“We will not accept any treaty that infringes on the constitutional rights of our citizens to bear arms,” he said.
U.S. officials have acknowledged privately that the treaty under discussion would have no effect on domestic gun sales and ownership because it would apply only to exports.”
Hillbilly D
November 10th, 2012
1:22 pm
Dusty @ 12:19
As I understand it, all the posts at Downey’s blog go into moderation, if she’s not around, unless you’re a “regular” poster. Happens to me all the time. For the most part, it just ain’t worth the trouble over there. It’s mainly just teachers talking to other teachers and most of them think non-teachers have no right to comment on education. There are a few exceptions to that, though.
MarkV
November 10th, 2012
1:23 pm
Dusty @1:14 pm
Dusty,
Do not make me laugh so much. As if you were known for complaining about conservative comments. As I have told you before – which you mocked, incidentally – I do not pretend to be a neutral observer, some kind of arbiter of truth. Of course I attack those on the opposite side. Perhaps you should examine yourself first, before you make snide remarks.
Linda
November 10th, 2012
1:24 pm
There are 3 types of believers in Global Cooling (from the ’70s), Global Warming (from the ’00s) & now miscellaneous Climate Change, listed in order of decreasing smarts:
1. the never dids
2. the dids but now don’ts, &
3. the stills dos.
MarkV
November 10th, 2012
1:26 pm
Tiberius @1:14
There were no facts in your post.
Banderson
November 10th, 2012
1:28 pm
Deniers of climate change are sort of like the captain of the Titanic – There aren’t any icebergs out here and, if there are, we will be quickly rescued.
Linda
November 10th, 2012
1:28 pm
Banderson@1:22, Did you not read what I wrote about the Reuters article?
cc
November 10th, 2012
1:30 pm
“Even if you believe in global warming & that it is man-made, you are an idiot to believe politicians can “fix it” by taxing it, swapping it around & burying it in the ground.”
I never subscribed to the man-made global warming farce . . . until about five years ago. After hearing and witnessing all the hot air expelled by Hussein, I’ve come to believe that it might exist.
Cap and Trade was and is nothing more than another redistribution of wealth from the United States to other countries via the United Nations.
Hussein continues his course toward the collapse of the American economy.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
November 10th, 2012
1:31 pm
MarkV, you are, as always free to debunk my posts with your own facts.
However, simply replying “No it isn’t” or “You lie” are ineffective debating actics.
Here’s our next debate:
Tiberius: The grass is green”.
MarkV: “And?”
Thanks for proving your worthlessness to this blog and to intelligent conversation everywhere, MarkV.
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
November 10th, 2012
1:32 pm
Still no answer as to why the science-denying Democrats didn’t pass cap-and-trade during Obozo’s first two years.
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
November 10th, 2012
1:33 pm
(other than Linda’s that is)
Banderson
November 10th, 2012
1:33 pm
Tiberius don’t need no stinkin’ facts
He just needs excessive spacing
and bullet points that don’t seem to stand on their own
and the perception that, because he’s “pulling the chain of the left AND right” that he’s not really a righty
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
November 10th, 2012
1:35 pm
What happened to cap and trade, Banderson?
KZguy
November 10th, 2012
1:36 pm
Yeah right! Just follow the same path the Charter School admendment took. Out spend the other guy ten to one and make such the ballot wording is all BS. Then pray for another hurricane.
MarkV
November 10th, 2012
1:44 pm
People unable to make logic rational arguments, like Tiberius, always resort to insults, bluster, and stupidities.
Here are some examples. Tiberius claims that he presented facts. So let’s examine some his “facts.”
Tiberius: “Their temperature sensors are strategically placed in and around known “hot-spots” such as urban areas.”
Tiberius calls it a fact. I call it a lie. Those are two alternatives. Tiberius has made that claim, so it is up to him to document his “fact” with evidence.
Same with ““The only people studying this “problem” are people who get their funding from the very governments who can continue their income stream.”
Most of the rest of Tiberius “arguments” are inanities, not even worth a debate, but I would be glad to show explain that to those, who do not grasp that on their own.
Jefferson
November 10th, 2012
1:46 pm
stopped by for a laugh
Dusty
November 10th, 2012
1:47 pm
Oh my goodness,
MarkV wants to play TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCEs! And snide remarks!!.(Shall I hide my snide to save your hide?)
Perhaps you did not notice earlier that I thought Kyle was “chilly” on Romney. That means I thought he was not a strong supporter of the Republican candidate. I doubt that he thought that was a compliment if he bothered to read it. (Conclusion: I sometimes object to what conservatives say.)
When’s the last time you complained about a liberal comment? Or have you ever?
Come on now: the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth!!!
cc
November 10th, 2012
1:49 pm
“When’s the last time you complained about a liberal comment? Or have you ever?”
AND . . . produce the evidence of such comment!
Dusty
November 10th, 2012
1:50 pm
Let me answer an earlier question I placed. I was moderated at Maureen Downy’s education blog. I asked why. Mauren kindly answered that all FIRST TIME blogger comments are moderated so she can check them. I was a first time blogger there. My comments have been released.
Dusty
November 10th, 2012
2:12 pm
Hillbilly
While I was wandering around I missed your comment on the DowneyEducation blog. I don’t usually stop there but saw her subject was Ann Coulter and Fordham. So I stopped and was surprised to be “moderated”,
Her subject was interesting today but I don’t think I’ll stop there often. Kyle gives us plenty of education facts.
By the way, she liked your comment on speakers. Wow! $15,000 a speech for TALKING. Who said that “Talk is cheap?’ Doesn’t sound like it.
dahreese
November 10th, 2012
2:12 pm
Mr. Wingfield; I do not understand for a second how anyone with journalistic integrity, knowing full well the right-wing GOP propaganda that went in to the passage of the charter amendment, can support it and do so with a straight face.
This is nothing but a ploy by the governor to sellout this states public education to corporations – supported by Republicans in our GOP controlled state legislature who haven’t any backbone to oppose the governor no matter what he wants.
This isn’t about the improvement of education in this state.
It is about corporations, with the support of governor Deal, getting their hands into the financial coffers of the state’s education system.
Making private money off of your children.
You don’t have to be a blind conservative not to see it, just an ignorant one to deny it.
MarkV
November 10th, 2012
2:23 pm
Dusty @1:47 pm
“When’s the last time you complained about a liberal comment? Or have you ever?”
If you insist, I will do my best to find at least two instances, when I complained about the liberal comments exceeding the boundary of decency. But I wonder, why you are asking for that. Did you read my post @1:23 pm? Can you comprehend, what I wrote? I was explaining to you, that I am NOT here to criticize impartially liberal and conservative comments. One more time, of course I write against those on the right wing, who use this blog to spread misinformation, lies and insults.There are many comments from liberals I do not agree with, but why should I complain about them?They can fight their own battles.
As for your claim that you earlier wrote that you thought that “Kyle was “chilly” on Romney,” is that again an attempt to be funny? You compare that with the barrage of rudeness and insults, that you found no problem with? I have already given you some examples, but here are some more linesf rom the one you defended and called” clever:”
“Scumbag Obozo wasn’t thinking of the country or our public servants overseas.”
“Because Obozo is promising the parasites more of other people’s money than Romney.”
“Welcome to Handout Nation, a Barack Hussein Obozo Joint.”
“Reid’s a lying scumbag.”
“Democrats should be embarrassed for focusing on that while ignoring Scumbag Obozo’s failed foreign policy and his lies regarding the Libya attack”
Bottom line: Your klown messiah is a failure.”
.”Obozo supporters: Chumps and willingly ignorant.”
“Obozo: Fascist. Liar.”
“Obozo supporters: Idiots or chumps–you tell me.”
“And I bet she laughed her fat ass off, too!” (About Hillary Clinton)
“Welcome to Handout Nation, a Barack Hussein Obozo Joint.”
(And no, I do not keep any “dossier.” We live in a digital age, and I can pull those fairly quickly from the archive.)
cc
November 10th, 2012
2:25 pm
dahreese:
Kyle writes an opinion column. If you don’t care for his opinion, shuffle along somewhere else.
You DO know the difference between an opinion columnist and a reporter, do you not?
If not, you were most likely educated in a government school, not a charter school.
dahreese
November 10th, 2012
2:29 pm
@cc; The purpose of this site is for discussion, else you wouldn’t be on here, nor would I.
I do not have to agree with Mr. Wingfield and I do not have to agree with you.
You don’t have to be a blind conservative not to see it, just an ignorant one to deny it.
cc
November 10th, 2012
2:34 pm
“When’s the last time you complained about a liberal comment? Or have you ever?”
“I was explaining to you, that I am NOT here to criticize impartially liberal and conservative comments”
“There are many comments from liberals I do not agree with, but why should I complain about them?They can fight their own battles.”
Got to hand it to you, MarkV. That certainly is a heartfelt, well-expressed complaint.
cc
November 10th, 2012
2:36 pm
“You don’t have to be a blind conservative not to see it, just an ignorant one to deny it.”
You must have a strong emotional tie to this sentence! You used it in two successive posts.
dahreese
November 10th, 2012
2:44 pm
@cc;”When’s the last time you complained about a liberal comment? Or have you ever?”
Liberal comment, conservative comment, it’s all the same disussion to me.
I also have respect for Mr. Wingfield who is expected to write a column everyday and I understand his conservative points of view whether I agree with them or not.
But the fact is that Mr. Wingfield has hedged on this charter amendment – unless he will deny that he has no knowledge of the outside of state, and inside of state, propaganda that went into the passage of this proposed amendment.
Linda
November 10th, 2012
2:54 pm
@@ @1:18, This is the idea I had a couple of days ago. However, if the House Republicans vote present, can a bill pass with only aye votes from the Democrats? 240 presents & 190 ayes? Doesn’t seem right.
This is the only way the Republicans can prevent being blamed for raising taxes on earners under $250K.
Does anyone know this parliamentary procedure?
MarkV
November 10th, 2012
2:56 pm
cc @2:34 pm
It appears you do not even have an understanding of the word “complaint.”
@@
November 10th, 2012
3:06 pm
MarkV:
Tiberius calls it a fact. I call it a lie.
Not to come between you and Tiberius, but you might wanna read up on surface stations here. Go to archives, July 2012.
Linda:
It’s time to hit the donkeys with a 2X4. Nothing else will get their attention.
We’ll ALL suffer but I’m willing to take one for The Gipper.
@@
November 10th, 2012
3:10 pm
And Linda?
Did you notice that none of the libs accepted my invitation to ride that bullet train? I took that as a no confidence vote. They are, afterall, libs….self-confidence isn’t one of their strong suits.
Linda
November 10th, 2012
3:11 pm
I see no problem with corporations educating our children. Unions have been “educating” them for years all over the country. Doesn’t more education money already go to corporations than to teachers? Schools, buses, textbooks, utilities, food, etc.?
cc
November 10th, 2012
3:18 pm
“I do not understand for a second how anyone with journalistic integrity, knowing full well the right-wing GOP propaganda that went in to the passage of the charter amendment, can support it and do so with a straight face.”
“I also have respect for Mr. Wingfield who is expected to write a column everyday and I understand his conservative points of view whether I agree with them or not. ”
Certainly sounds like respect to me! After reading it again, I’m sure it seems respectful to you, too.
cc
November 10th, 2012
3:33 pm
“It appears you do not even have an understanding of the word “complaint.”
Unfortunately for you, I do understand the word, and I submit that you’ve offered no evidence whatever that you have ever EXPRESSED discontent with a liberal comment TO a liberal commenter.
Prove me wrong.
dahreese
November 10th, 2012
3:35 pm
@Linda; “I see no problem with corporations educating our children. Unions have been “educating” them for years all over the country.”
So, you wouldn’t mind a liberal corporation teaching your children?
And think about it for minute before you answer.
Linda
November 10th, 2012
3:35 pm
@@ @3:10, Maybe they didn’t understand it. They are ready for a fight & a much bigger blame game. Remember who said that elections have consequences? Let the Dems. live with them.
The bill will be to extend the Bush tax cuts on everyone except over $250K. If the Reps. vote no, they will be blamed for raising taxes on everyone. If the Reps. vote yes, they will be blamed for raising taxes on those over $250K, employers. If they vote present, the Dems. can blame only themselves when the economy tanks.
Obama said, “…You don’t raise taxes in a recession…because that would take more of a demand out of the economy & put us in a further hole…” The economy is no better now than then, the fiscal cliff is approaching & another recession is predicted.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uoE_NicaMY
Raising taxes on those making over $250K might bring in $80-90 B, leaving a gap of $1 T. This is not about revenue. It’s about “fairness,” punishing success & class warfare. It will kill jobs. It’s part of the progressives’ big picture.
Linda
November 10th, 2012
3:45 pm
dahreese@3:35, Are all corporations liberal?
I’ve had better experience with private sector employers & employees than with govt. entities & employees. Is there much difference between teachers who are employed by the govt. & those by the private sector? Isn’t it easier to hold private sector employees accountable? Isn’t there more competition for jobs within the private sector?