Journalist Glen Ford explains and eviscerates the corporate education movement. He shows how black leaders like Corey Booker joined the rightwing effort to destroy the key pillars of progressivism: unions and public education. He shows the important role of Michael Joyce of the Bradley Foundation in figuring out how to use black leaders to achieve far-right goals.
Glen Ford is editor of the Black Agenda Reprt.
This is a brilliant analysis of the co-opting of black politicians by the corporate movement.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Diane: I’ll watch this video later today; however, I’ll do so with the question in mind: In his busy-ness, did Booker just thoughtlessly “buy” the Orwellian “choice is good” argument (as I think Obama may have)?
Or does Booker really think public education needs THAT kind of reform? Does he really embrace the privatization-of-everything argument, and the encroachment of the capitalistic mindset onto what should remain the “public sphere” where the common good (and commonwealth) and its relationship with its democratic government is worked out?
LikeLike
An ambitious politician in need of money goes where the money is, like Willie Sutton. He said he robbed banks because that is where the money was.
So in a nation with no meaningful campaign finance laws and Citizens United, you have a choice: you can vote for a multimillionaire or vote for someone bought by the millionaire-billionaires.
LikeLike
YEP!
LikeLike
At Yale, Booker roomed with the guy who became Gov. Gina Raimondo’s, husband. DINO, Gov. Raimondo, of R.I., is very cozy with hedge funds and ed. dephormers (helps both). Reporter, Matt Taibbi, described it, in an article about the plunder of pensions. It’s naive and, an error, to assume that Booker would try to achieve anything for the 99%, if it didn’t benefit him, in some way.
Booker was one of a handful of Democratic senators who voted recently, to allow big pharma to continue to set drug prices, without negotiation for lower prices.
LikeLike
Everything that Linda said and then some.
Ford is always spot on . Dismal democrats have turned the country over to the right . This election and the nation was not lost because the Democrats were to progressive they were lost because the democratic alternative was not progressive enough.
Booker should be booted.
LikeLike
100% right Linda!
LikeLike
“The DNC can’t Afford a Ford”
They can’t afford a Ford
He’ll ruin well-laid plan
Exposing the adored
In Democratic band
LikeLike
The Bradley Foundation may have been the biggie in the 1990s but there is no doubt that Gates also wanted to purchase some “goodwill” from black leaders.
Gates poured millions into that effort. He did the same for Hispanic groups and other “voice groups.” He payed for some measure of loyalty/gratitude from each while using them as advocates for his agenda. We see the same pattern from the likes of Broad, the Walton, Dell, and so on.
Foundation payola has helped to disguise the political influence-peddling secured from the “voice groups.” This fusion of corporate and political influence happens under the cover of a 501(3c) tax designations and has been extended to coordinated activity by “Grant makers in Education.”
LikeLike
As always, Laura, spot on!
LikeLike
The president of Gates-funded NCTQ is the sister of the founder of Conservative Leaders for Education.
A former president of evangelist, Pat Robertson’s university, was a Gates Foundation education consultant.
LikeLike
Reblogged this on David R. Taylor-Thoughts on Education.
LikeLike
Take the time to listen. I listened while I prepared and ate breakfast (yeah, more like brunch). Glen Ford is one of this country’s leading intellectuals and his Black Agenda Report is an excellent read (even though I don’t always agree with his take on things).
LikeLike
The thing that is refreshing about Glen Ford is that he has zero tolerance for phonies and their BS.
He is among an increasingly rare breed of honest reporters.
LikeLike
Thank goodness for the NAACP!
LikeLike
Absolutely fascinating.
DeVos is surely just a mouthpiece.
LikeLike
More background on Corey Booker’s involvement with vouchers:( an old article before he was mayor of Newark, NJ)
http://www.blackcommentator.com/poisoned_tree.html
LikeLike