Following the Money Trail in Chicago

July 18, 2013 //

This investigative article by Steve Horn traces the money trail that ties together the major players in the corporate reform movement in Chicago. From President Obama to Arne Duncan to Rahm Emanuel, the thread that ties them all together is the Joyce Foundation. As the privatization movement advances, its path has been well prepared by the city’s power brokers, who have decided not to support public education.

Categories Charter Schools, Chicago, Closing schools

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Dienne says:

July 18, 2013 at 11:44 am

Let’s not leave the Chicago Tribune out here. A while back Diane linked to a post from a guy who got a “survey” call that turned out to be more of a push-poll about Chicago Public Schools, the (alleged) budget crisis, “failing schools” and school closings. It was a joint project of the Joyce Foundation (which funded it) and the National Opinion Research Center (which conducted it) and the Chicago Tribune (which happily spewed the “results” all over its news and editorial pages).

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Stern Advice says:

July 18, 2013 at 11:59 am

Sorry to say, but who did both the AFT and NEA support in the last two presidential elections? And are we so naive HAD NO IDEA? You’re kidding right. The folks at the top of education did NOT suddenly change their credentials. They just kept more quiet than the Republican party about education. The amount of shock and surprise from us at this point is a little pointless; it’s just a matter of pressing back from ANY administration going forth.

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M.Schneider says:

July 18, 2013 at 12:54 pm

This is a fine piece of investigative journalism. Privatizers are bound together by their funders– right up to the Oval Office.

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jo says:

July 18, 2013 at 1:10 pm

I am right again!

I call them the Chicago thug crew of three -three muskateers..three deliquents of democracy .

Rahm Emanuel, Duncan and Obama run this country…not Wash DC ‘but Chicago…and that’s why we are in deep trouble…

I have been saying this for so long, it is nice to see others agree

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- Cee Mor says:
  
  July 18, 2013 at 3:14 pm
  
  Amen….I know I live in a very corrupt state (IL) but now I live in an equally corrupt nation! Is there no where to escape to?
  
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  - jo says:
    
    July 18, 2013 at 6:44 pm
    
    I bet when you look at Blago he wasn’t so bad after all!!! I heard he wants to make a deal and get out of serving the 13 years… I wonder if that black hair of his is all white now since he’s been in jail!! You know, I thought my state was corrupt (RI) but we don;t hold a candle to your state! And to answer your question, to escape this country’s corruption and now incited racism due to the radicals of the Demnocratic Party, you would have to leave the country to find a bit of solace!
    
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M. Schneider says:

July 18, 2013 at 3:27 pm

There is another Obama-Valerie Jarrett connection in an earmark Obama made as an Illinois senator, with even bigger connections. This from a 2008 Chicago Sun-Times article:

http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2008/03/sweet_scoop_obama_after_initia.html

WASHINGTON–After refusing since June to make public earmark requests from 2005 and 2006, Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) is releasing Thursday all the earmark requests he has made since he entered the Senate in 2005.

This disclosure was made just before the campaign starts a conference call with Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) to discuss congressional earmarks. This interest in earmarks comes as Obama and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) –knowing one of them will face anti-earmark Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) in the fall–have signed on to a bill calling for a one-year earmark moratorium. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) is against an earmark moratorium.

Here’s one highlight: Obama sought money for the University of Chicago Hospitals. Wife Michelle works for the University of Chicago Hospitals, appointed in spring 2005 as vice president for community and external affairs at the University of Chicago Hospitals. She is now on leave from the job to campaign for her husband. Top campaign adviser and friend Valerie Jarrett is the Chair of the University of Chicago Medical Center Board and also Chair of the Executive Committee of that board. She has also been named Vice-Chair of the University’s Board of Trustees. Obama taught at the U. of Chicago law school and the Obama’s two daughters attend school there.

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DeeDee says:

July 18, 2013 at 4:17 pm

People now know the Democratic Party is a joke. Obama is clueless. Anybody that has ever worked in a charter knows they are nothing more than cash cows that aren’t improving education in this country. All these people are crooks that never talk to people with legit experience. How many dog and pony bs shows have they held. If Duncan really believed in accountability he would have fired himself years ago. They are a bunch of fools. Our govt is so fouled up.

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gailj2 says:

July 18, 2013 at 5:11 pm

What interests me in the Joyce Foundation being the glue. We all need to bone up on Joyce. I only had know of it as a support of visual arts

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George Buzzetti says:

July 18, 2013 at 8:16 pm

Started through Annenburg right when Daley took over and Obama ran it helped by Bill Ayres. Games they play. The Destroyer in Chief is what Obama has become. By the way I held my nose and voted for his as the other guys were just way too terrible we had the choice between the devil and the super devil that is all. Many in the black community also do not like him. I heard it from them to Obama’s people before the last election. Mercedes thanks for the earmarks. Did you see the ones for the military also. Why not just put them in a separate bill. Have the committees see which ones they will go for and what they will not and send it up in daylight for a vote on the package like normal. Why all the sneaky stuff? I suggest everyone go to their favorite civil rights group or the urban league or such and look at who their funders are. You are going to be surprised. Then compare it to the ALEC list especially the original one before some ran away when it hurt their business. Then think what if they cross their funders interests? What would happen. Now you know why things are the way they are. Do the same with those who are on each others boards. Same answer.

Obama and Duncan are not clueless. They know who will fill their pockets with money like Clinton when they leave if they stick to the plan. That is how it works. Do our bidding and you get a lifetime job. Don’t and guess what happens.

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JoanneS says:

July 19, 2013 at 9:32 am

Wow, I feel naive. The massive amounts of money involved are mind-boggling. Especially when you consider how starved for resources most schools are. Teachers are buying crayons, pencils, and Kleenex out of their own pockets while fat cats and self-appointed do-gooders on self-serving boards toss millions hither and thither on “projects” with earnest-sounding names. Disgusting.

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joanneS says:

July 19, 2013 at 2:01 pm

David Axelrod on Andrea Mitchell, MSNBC, Friday Roundup. Repeats claim that Chicago schools face $600 million shortfalll as aside to story on Detroit bankruptcy. These guys are good. They know how to sell their story.

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