It ain't so Joe

June 21, 8:47 PMDC Ward 5 Community ExaminerRobert Vinson Brannum

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Writing in the Sunday, 21 June 2009 edition for the local opinion's page of The Washington Post, Senator Joseph Lieberman (ID-CT) expresses his support for private school vouchers, DC Opportunity Scholarship Program, in the District of Columbia.  This is not new information. Senator Lieberman's views have often appeared on the op-ed pages of The Washington Post and the editorial board of The Washington Post is a staunch supporter of private school vouchers in the District of Columbia.

While there may be a local argument for private school vouchers in the District of Columbia, Senator Lieberman is not the one to make it. Nor has The Washington Post editorial board presented a balanced and fair argument about private school vouchers.  From the comfort of his Capitol Hill office and its editorial office on 15th Street, NW, Senator Lieberman and The Washington Post editorial board seek to claim the moral superiority for public education of District children.  Since they do not and will not meet with local District residents to discuss reform of District public education, it is obvious their arguments are not designed to convince or to persuade District residents.

No, Senator Lieberman and The Washington Post editorial board are focusing their efforts on President Barack Obama, U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan, and Democratic members of Congress.  They want to build a movement for a cause where none exists and speak for a people who have already expressed its opposition to their view. Moreover, both Senator Lieberman and The Washington Post editorial board share an evaluation about the District public education reform accomplishments of Mayor Adrian M. Fenty and DCPS Chancellor Michelle Rhee which exceeds reason, common sense, as well as the truth.

In their argument for private school vouchers, Senator Lieberman and The Washington Post editorial board seek to portray those who do not support private school vouchers as persons who want to deny high quality public education to District children.  This is not true and they know it. 

There is something profoundly hypocritical for Senator Lieberman and The Washington Post editorial board to profess support for District home rule and voting rights, yet want to keep silent or block alternate voices from District residents on reforming District public education.  What is even more outrageous is their attempt to argue the Council of the District of Columbia should not have any local right to provide legislative oversight of District public education.  

Senator Lieberman and The Washington Post editorial board are positioned to ignore the concerns of District residents and influence the fate of District private school vouchers and District public education. However, they have used their positions with reckless disregard for principles of fairness and balance.  Their intellectual hands are unclean.

"Say it ain't so Joe."

E-mail contact: rbrannum@robertbrannum.com