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
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425 comments Add your comment
yuzeyurbrane
November 10th, 2012
9:01 pm
Kyle, the reason why your reasonable proposals will get nowhere lies in the nature of your most regular posters. Sorry pal. By the way, you have a certain flare for history–remember the Whig Party?
cc
November 10th, 2012
9:05 pm
Barack is the best is when he is out of sight, out of mind, out of contact and out of the country.
Linda
November 10th, 2012
9:20 pm
Let me repeat a former post:
What do pigs, Hannah Montanna, Elvis & Obama have in common? They all cause(d) squeals.
The GOP’s failure was not to consider that a huge segment of Americans is absolutely in love with Obama, regardless of what he says or does. Period. His campaigns & presidency have been based on lies, distortions, deception & scandals. Clinton said that O’s campaign was the “biggest fairy tale” he’d ever seen.
There’s yet to be one significant success under this president. He’s yet to create one single net job. The U3 unemployment rate is higher today than when he took office & the U6 rate reveals more Americans are out of work than at any time in decades. His adm. has added $6 T in new debt with nothing to show for it. His signature Obamacare bill is as unpopular today as it was when it was passed. Bush sent the 1st check to bail out the auto companies. The SEALS killed OBL. Etc., etc., etc.
Obama has a nice family, a charming personality, charisma, a great smile & a super walk. He’s handsome, smart & had the best speech coaches. He’s treated like Moses without the tablets. If he can stop the rise of the oceans, he can probably part the sea. “Lie to me!” “Gimme!” “We love your!” The segments of the voters his policies hurt the most were the largest segments who voted for him.
Like any other addict, America needs to reach rock bottom ,to get help & heal. The greatest threat to our natl. security is our natl. debt, caused by our leaders we elected. Therefore, our worst enemies are ourselves.
There has never been a time more important for the GOP to stand firm on it’s core principles of fiscal responsibility & limited govt. & to be there when the country fails.
Hillbilly D
November 10th, 2012
9:30 pm
cc
Well, I learnt something.
cc
November 10th, 2012
9:39 pm
“President Obama’s win in Florida is official. 332 electoral votes to 206 for Mittens. Landslide? You betcha! Mandate? You betcha! Let the good times roll…”
“As of this writing, Obama had a 58,720,700 (50.1%) to 56,145,950 (48.4%) lead on Mitt Romney for the popular vote.” . . . as of Thursday AM
Final Florida vote:
“The final tally was 50 percent for Obama to 49.1 percent for Romney, a difference of about 74,000 votes, outside the half-percent margin that would have triggered an automatic recount.”
Landslide? No.
Mandate? Not even close!
Your good times “rolling” started the day after the election . . . with the stock market sell-off.
cc
November 10th, 2012
9:41 pm
Hillbilly D:
I think you already knew it!
cc
November 10th, 2012
9:46 pm
“There has never been a time more important for the GOP to stand firm on it’s core principles of fiscal responsibility & limited govt. & to be there when the country fails.”
Very true!
. . . and fail it will!
cc
November 10th, 2012
9:59 pm
Hillbilly D:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buP4ZjXjOgA
cc
November 10th, 2012
10:03 pm
Hillbilly D:
. . . and another:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVR6LIvmvAU
bluecoat
November 10th, 2012
10:22 pm
If you shorted the market,good profitable times rolled.Long on guns and ammo.Monday take profits or raise your stops.Let the good times roll.
@@
November 10th, 2012
10:41 pm
MarkV:
You take me to Scott Mandia’s place?
The man has openly admitted to inaccuracies in his work.
The guy’s a hockey puck.
schnirt
MarkV
November 10th, 2012
10:53 pm
@@ @10:41 pm
Meaning, when you cannot attack the data, you attack the man.
@@
November 10th, 2012
11:07 pm
MarkV:
I gave you a target and you missed it BIG TIME!
Anyhoo…can you CONFIRM his data or are you just taking his word for it?
I’m outta here.
Jefferson
November 11th, 2012
2:02 am
still funny.
Jack ®
November 11th, 2012
7:01 am
All the GOP has to do to win is to promise more welfare.
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
November 11th, 2012
8:02 am
Obozo bought Ohio with the GM bailout. When do we get our $25 billion back?
@@
November 11th, 2012
8:05 am
Barack is the best:
I have an important message for you.
In his second term, Barack doesn’t need you anymore.
This go-round, it’s all about his legacy. You’re not a part of that.
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
November 11th, 2012
8:12 am
@@, does that mean that Obozo compromises with Americans, er, Republicans to actually get something accomplished? Or does it mean that Obozo sticks it to us so bad that even his receptacles feel it?
@@
November 11th, 2012
8:15 am
And…….
David Petraeus’ lover seems like an incredibly accomplished woman.
A woman who sacrifices her children for a roll in the hay is NOT what I call accomplished.
Enjoy your downfall.
@@
November 11th, 2012
8:16 am
LBB:
Either/or.
It’s a win/win from my perspective.
cc
November 11th, 2012
8:20 am
LBB:
“Or does it mean that Obozo sticks it to us so bad that even his receptacles feel it?”
I’d venture that this is the most likely . . .
cc
November 11th, 2012
8:21 am
Good morning, all!
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
November 11th, 2012
8:30 am
The “Grand Bargain”: Obozo agrees to extend all Bush tax rates for another year. In return, Obozo supporters will be able to upgrade to Obozophones with email and web.
Beverly Fraud
November 11th, 2012
8:37 am
A question to Joe Lowrey:
When one (according to this very paper; correct me if I am wrong Kyle) han secret meetings with Kasim Reed trying to strong arm Board of Education members into keeping as board chair, a person who actively conspired with Beverly Hall to hide evidence of cheating (according to this very paper, correct me if I’m wrong Kyle) don’t you kind of lose the right to speak, with any credibility about what’s “good for children”?
In fact, might your actions be best characterized as advocating for what’s best for the black power structure, if even those actions are diametrically opposed to what’s best for children in Atlanta?
Numbers-R-US
November 11th, 2012
8:48 am
Republicans have two years to mourn their losses before they can start mourning their next round of losses if they fail to compromise. Your call, losers.
DannyX
November 11th, 2012
8:57 am
cc- “Landslide? No.”
cc, no, Mitt didn’t win in the landslide you predicted about 500 times. You have been wrong about most everything! Its fun to watch.
Beverly Fraud
November 11th, 2012
8:59 am
Why this amendment passed: Because the locals are, by and large, ignorant and uninformed. (Not stupid mind you; willfully ignorant.)
No not about the amendment; most know it’s a Deal with the Devil™. But voters are fully aware that many if not most of their fellow “locals” will continue to vote in status quo lackeys like Eugene Walker in DeKalb.
They sit in disgust as status quo apologists like Cecily Harsch-Kinnane, who, if memory serves, defended the likes of Beverly Hall to the bitter end and with other lackeys actually applauded (yes applauded!) Hall on her last day. When you applaud Beverly Hall do you really wonder why voters want an option to you? Seriously? (And you don’t think NAHS parents aren’t already looking to take advantage of this amendment?)
These voters knew that if they “got to the point” with the likes of Harsch-Kinnane and Walker, and their fellow WILLFULLY ignorant neighbors, they needed an option even one as ripe for abuse as this one.
The status quo got exactly what they fully and richly deserved. It remains to be seen what the privateers will do with it.
Del
November 11th, 2012
9:07 am
Happy Veterans Day to all who’ve served and are serving with special recognition of those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
cc
November 11th, 2012
9:09 am
DannyX:
“cc, no, Mitt didn’t win in the landslide you predicted about 500 times. You have been wrong about most everything! Its fun to watch.”
I was wrong in my prediction, as I posted the day after the election.
As regards my political philosophy, I prefer to be right in a losing cause than wrong in a winning cause.
History will judge the cause of conservatism, not the “winners” of this election.
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
November 11th, 2012
9:18 am
Come on, cc, get on the bandwagon. It’s so uncool to be for personal responsibility, working for a living, and free market capitalism. You need to just lay back, turn on American Idol, get out your People magazine, and just enjoy it. Just like an unwanted child who is the product of rape, Obozo is a gift from God, after all.
DannyX
November 11th, 2012
9:21 am
“I was wrong in my prediction, as I posted the day after the election.”
cc, you weren’t just wrong in your prediction, you were acting like a fool.
carlosgvv
November 11th, 2012
9:22 am
Barry
Your posts here tell me you have an open mind – so open ideas pass right thru it.
Heckle and JayKyle
November 11th, 2012
9:23 am
Now hold on just a doggone minute. Arming any side in Syria or Libya or any of the region’s “countries” is arming a jihadist militant Islamist radical terrorist hate-filled monkey-stank swarthy bunch of mutants. COME ON.
Obama has to choose a side. There’s always more than two sides, btw. And letting a monkey Throw a dart at a dartboard is probably the best way to choose a side.
What’s funny is that few Americans understand that pandora’s box of Islamic Mutants was opened by President Cheney when we invaded Iraq in 2003. Iraq is not a country. It’s a border holding in multiple intersects of etho-sectarian tribes with liasons that don’t respect the arbitrary borders that French Cartographers drew after WW1.
But Americans think that a map is a map is a map and that’s all there is to it.
cc
November 11th, 2012
9:32 am
LBB:
I stand corrected!
Can I apply for food stamps and an Obamaphone on Sunday?
cc
November 11th, 2012
9:37 am
An Obama fan:
You are defending the party involved with “General Betrayus”, as you liberals called him not so long ago?
Or are you merely on the attack?
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
November 11th, 2012
9:42 am
Obama fan, are you going to be hanging around Kyle’s place for an extended period of time?
Please let me know, so that I can begin dumbing down my writing skills to the fourth grade level so that you can understand them better. Don’t get me wrong – I’ve had plenty of practice responding to AmVet and MarkV due to their obvious handicaps – but if you’re going to be a more permanent presence I might need to write that way full-time.
Brosephus™
November 11th, 2012
9:43 am
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.
So, Georgia’s GOP is going full tilt into offering “Big Government” now? Just when you think you’ve heard it all. Well, at least this segment of the GOP is being somewhat honest with it’s love for government regulation and big government
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
November 11th, 2012
9:51 am
Brosephus, you know better than to engage in hyperbole on this issue. The fact is that there is no “Big Government” with the Charter school amendment.
It’s a 7 member appointed appeals board when local schools refuse to approve a school for biased reasons.
Nothing more.
Not Big Government by any stretch of the imagination.
@@
November 11th, 2012
9:53 am
Brosephus:
Five words….Clayton County Board of Education.
In jeopardy of losing their accreditation yet again.
Normally, I would say “NO” to the state’s interference. There are, however, exceptions to every rule.
The only reason we were able to turn it around, though briefly, was because Sonny Perdue intervened.
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
November 11th, 2012
10:06 am
White House officials insist the President did not know of the affair until last Wednesday, the day after the election.
Aahhh, what a tangled web we weave, when we practice to deceive.
So much tangle that it catches the spider, hehehehe
Numbers-R-US
November 11th, 2012
10:13 am
For-profit Charter schools are just what the children of the corn (aka, the Bible belt Republicans) need. The parents of those children will now be able to get saddled with the for-profit cost of their children’s education. I’m good with it since I have no grade school children.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
November 11th, 2012
10:24 am
“You couldn’t be any more dumbed down than you already are.”
Oooh, I wounded by the rapier wit of the half wit Dem.
Color me shocked . . .
@@
November 11th, 2012
10:25 am
Obama fan:
@@ – I suspect you are 1/1,000,000,000,000 of the woman Mr. Petraus’ lover is.
The woman was looking for something outside herself which leads me to believe she was lacking…..or a lackey.
Power and fame through osmosis? Fame is fleeting. Power resides from within, not without. Turns out he was seeing another woman while he was boinking Broadwell….a catfight ensued. Nothing to be proud of there. Two stoopid women in my opinion.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
November 11th, 2012
10:27 am
“The parents of those children will now be able to get saddled with the for-profit cost of their children’s education.”
And if their kid’s education ends up being better than the one they got in the no-better-than mediocre public schools, who cares.
What’s the goal here, Numbers? Education or profit? Why can’t there be a way to get both?
More important: Why do you care if someone makes a profit while delivering a service?
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
November 11th, 2012
10:29 am
C’mon, @@, these Dems will always defend the sluts of the world.
It’s why they want us to pay for their contraceptives.
Brosephus™
November 11th, 2012
10:40 am
It’s a 7 member appointed appeals board when local schools refuse to approve a school for biased reasons.
If a local board decides to not approve a charter school, the board can override the wishes of the local government. There is no need for state intervention into the loca affairs in this nature. We already have charter schools in the school systems all accross the board. If the local people want charters and the local boards don’t approve them, we have these things called elections where you can replace the board with people who will do what the locals desire.
I can’t see any justifiable reason to have the state intervene into local affairs in this manner. Maybe there might be an emergency situation or something, but I don’t like it being the status quo. There are far too many things that could go wrong with it. Ask yourself if you would allow a complete Democratic Party controlled government to wield that kind of power.
Brosephus™
November 11th, 2012
10:41 am
@@
That’s why I think it’s good for an emergency route, but not for everyday operation. Clayton County is the perfect example.
@@
November 11th, 2012
10:49 am
Brosephus:
If board members stand between parents and their choice for a charter school, I’m betting the parents would see that as an emergency.
The committee is there to review decisions made by the local board…nothing more. I’m sure there will be instances where they agree and some where they don’t.
MarkV
November 11th, 2012
10:59 am
@@ @11:07 pm
“I gave you a target and you missed it BIG TIME!”
cc Adopting Tiberius’ method #X: When in a corner, proclaim victory.
“can you CONFIRM his data or are you just taking his word for it?”
Learn some rules of polemics. I have shown you data. Unlike in the case of an opinion, in this case it is up to you to disprove the data, not up to me to confirm them.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
November 11th, 2012
11:03 am
“If a local board decides to not approve a charter school, the board can override the wishes of the local government.”
Exactly.
“There is no need for state intervention into the loca affairs in this nature.”
Yes there is. Local boards are notorious for protecting their turf, sometimes to the detriment of local students.
“We already have charter schools in the school systems all accross the board.”
And no way to approve them if the local boards continue to protect their turf.
“If the local people want charters and the local boards don’t approve them, we have these things called elections where you can replace the board with people who will do what the locals desire.”
And as I pointed out, communities NEVER voluntarily get rid of their school board members, no matter how badly they perform. The only way they get replaced is through death or they leave on their own terms. In the case of school boards, elections are not a solution.