Earlier today, the news broke that the notorious Wall Street-funded corporate Stand on Children had selected John R. Connolly as their favorite for mayor and planned to give him $500,000-700,000.
But it must have played badly in Boston, because Connolly announced that he would reject their campaign contribution.
Surely there are enough successful hedge fund managers in Boston to pay for their guy’s campaign without seeking funding from out of state.
Let’s keep an eye on this and see what candidates actually say, as opposed to ads saying that they love little children and are devoted to improving education.
We have heard that song before.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
And in more heartening Bostn developments: http://www.otlcampaign.org/blog/2013/08/14/boston-truth-new-ed-coalition-launches-aug-21
Of course the hedge fund managers will now slip-slide in and make good on the loss of the $500,000, but maybe Stand and Stomp On Children will be seen out and about sporting a bit of a bruise on the chin.
Call me cynical but I’m betting this donation shows up again under a different form – perhaps from an affiliated organization that’s harder to spot.
The Indignant Teacher asks John Connolly to answer this:
***Why, if you did not “want” (or even, “request”) the money, did you participate in the multi-leveled, extensive screening process carried out by Stand For Children?***
Read how the process was explained when the news broke on WBUR here:
It kind of discredits his words, don’t you think?
I wonder if he’ll answer.
Typical Connolly – stuck his finger in the air to see how the wind was blowing, then said he was against it, though he had been for it.
This was guaranteed not to play well here in parochial Boston, Hub of the world, especially after the Elizabeth Warren, Scott Brown agreement not to accept outside money.
But I’m betting on Dienne’s observation – he’ll still get and accept the money -just by a more circuitous route, one that will be harder to see.
Stand on children? On their necks? Dreams?
On their very souls!!
Guess what?
Connolly signed the Boston Pledge.,.
Esquire has a good little write-up about it.
http://www.esquire.com/blogs/politics/massachusetts-education-reform-082113
Apparently Connolly hadn’t been so squeamish about taking DFER money. Maybe he’ll rethink that, too. I am extremely glad to see politicians realizing they’ll lose elections from associating with these sleazes.
RI’s treasurer, Gina Raimondo, decimated teachers and state workers’ pensions by privatizing them. She made a name for herself and was on the cover of Investor Magazine, and many other articles were written about her and her so-called pension reform. She had help from a shadow group with deep pockets called EngageRI. They won’t reveal their names and Raimondo won’t out them. She is now contemplating running for governor, had two fundraisers hosted by Rahm Emanuael and Bloomberg. Her husband is Andrew Moffit, ex-TFAer, whomis on the board of Stand on Children, and whose college roommate was Cory Booker. These cozy circles are very tight and must be stopped.