By Bill Britt
Alabama Political Reporter
This week, former Gov. Bob Riley, now lobbyist-in-chief for the highest bidder, has taken to the pages of the National Review to explain why he supports Common Core Standards.
Anyone who knows the least bit about Bob Riley knows that he is not interested in anything that doesn’t pay him.
Riley says that the folks back home in Alabama are against Common Core Standards because of a “misconception.”
So, Riley, with high minded standards of his own, explains that, “Common Core does not allow the federal government to prescribe what our children learn.” He also wants to make it clear that he understands “our deep distrust” of President Obama. But, that should not cloud our judgement because, according to Riley, the President isn’t behind Common Core. No, it’s the good conservatives like his friend Billy Canary over at BCA and we should trust him. According to Riley, the BCA, “represents over 5,000 independent businesses across the state,” and they are all big supporters of Common Core Standards.
Oh, Bob, you sexy beast. You’re trying to slip your hand up our skirts again aren’t you?
The National Republican Party is against Common Core, the ALGOP is against Common Core, many teachers and the National Education Association are against Common Core.
Are you telling us that just because the Business Council of Alabama (BCA) and the Chamber of Commerce wants Common Core, the conservative base of the Republican Party should rollover and let you rub their bellies until they fall asleep?
Riley says in his article, “There is simply no evidence that national education standards will lead to a national curriculum, or that they will stifle the ability of states to teach subject areas that matter to parents residing there.”
That funny, because many real conservatives would disagree.
Michelle Malkin, one of the thought leaders of the conservative movement recently wrote, “The foundational myth of Common Core is that it’s a “state-led” initiative with grassroots support that was crafted by local educators for the good of our children. But the cash and power behind the… campaign tells you all you need to know.”
Malkin shows that all one has to do is follow the money and Riley’s intentions, as well as others, become abundantly clear. In her article, Malkin points out that former Gov. Jeb Bush is going all out for Common Core. “The former GOP governor’s foundation is tied at the hip to the federally funded testing consortium Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers, which pulled in $186 million through the Obama administration’s Race to the Top program to develop Common Core tests.”
One has to wonder if Riley is eyeing how he can get his hands on that kind of cash.
Bush’s foundation is also sponsored by Pearson, “the multibillion-dollar educational publishing and testing conglomerate.”
Pearson is also in the Charter School business.
(Is the picture coming into focus?)
According to Malkin’s research. “Pearson snagged $23 million in contracts to design the first wave of PARCC test items and $1 billion for overpriced, insecure Common Core iPads purchased by the Los Angeles Unified School District, and is leading the $13.4 billion Edutech cash-in catalyzed by Common Core’s technology mandates.”
Oh, Bob, what a disappointment you are. You say Common Core is going to be good for us, but you forget to tell us why it is going to be great for you.
So, while Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh, Speaker of the House Mike Hubbard and Billy Canary of the BCA block Common Core opt-out in Alabama, you are drooling like a 18 year-old at a peep-show.
Of course for Riley, Hubbard, Marsh and Canary it is about the money, not the kids.
Oh, those sexy beasts.
