by Bargain Citizen
Our latest video focuses on Texas Freedom Network, exposing their methods of engagement in the recent Texas State Board of Education social studies battle.
Any event in the La-La Land of Austin put on by the Texas Freedom Network is sure to be a crowd pleaser. How could we afford to miss it? The anti-religious freedom group is notorious for glorifying themselves as an objective mainstream source of information. President Kathy Miller and gang have long been darlings of the liberal press (Old Media), purporting to battle the religious-right zealotry that threatens our very way of life. Their shtick is along the lines of, “Just imagine where our dear children would be if not for TFN’s heroic efforts to properly educate them”…you get the idea.
We merely wade into the throng of TFN supporters and pose questions about the social studies standards they are there to protest. As is often the case with leftist causes, again, we find ourselves inside the “Matrix”, where reality and biased perceptions intertwine. Out the other end, we find manufactured narratives disseminated far and wide. Get it repeated enough times, build some momentum and the next thing you know, voila – you’ve got what passes for conventional wisdom in some circles.
Make no mistake TFN is adept at what they do; misinforming the public to ratchet up emotionalism, thereby garnering support for their efforts. They know how to play the game and they are well funded. TFN was founded by Cecile Richards, daughter of the late former Governor Ann Richards, in 1995. Richards appears to have an affinity for leftist causes.
Besides founding TFN, Richards is President of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, co-founder of the left-wing think tank New Politics Institute, founder of America Votes, and a founding member of Americans Coming Together. Her allies and associates include names like Harold Ickes, Hillary Clinton, Steve Rosenthal, Andrew Stern and Jonathon T. Soros. (Yes, that Soros family!) Richards’ husband, Kirk Adams is a SEIU labor organizer. For good measure, Cecile writes for The Huffington Post. Hardly mainstream, Richards’ background plays out more like a royal flush of hard-core lefties.
As has been shared on Ramparts previously, you can find more on Richards from Discover the Networks here.
Regardless of who is running Texas Freedom Network, the organization has radical ties of its own. During the recent social studies debate, TFN affiliated itself with the group Mecha; one of several seditious Chicano groups which believes America has no legitimate borders.
As TFN began to foresee losing the battle over social studies standards, they launched their current campaign to “reform” the Texas Board of Education and the processes by which it operates. Entitled “Just Educate”– the name is brilliant in its simplicity. Who could be against “educating”? For that matter, as TFN’s name implies, who could be against “freedom”?
Visit TFN’s website and you will find a link to TFN Insider which is marketed as “a mainstream blog”. There you will find Communications Director Dan Quinn along with his merry band of self professed saviors conducting a highly intellectual dialog, often laced with fond wishes for their adversaries’ demise. Though the conservative members of the SBOE are generally served as the main course, they delight in devouring anything from the right side of the political spectrum.
Be forewarned, the stench of lies and manipulation hangs thick in the air.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
The video is not entirely correct in regards to Capitalism…Texas statute requires teaching economic systems with an emphasis on Free Enterprise and its benefits. Since 1998 (voted on by the prior democratic led SBOE) the TEKS have used “Free Enterprise” and the current SBOE retained the terminology. While Capitialism was not removed it also was not added and it is NOT correct to say it will be taught as it is not a requirement.
It is a misrepresentation to imply the “experts” proposed omitting The Liberty Bell, Independence Day, Veterans Day & Christmas among other items when it was the review panels that proposed these changes. The SBOE has review panels and these members are made up of mostly teachers. The SBOE also has experts that advise them on curriculum…..review panels are a separate entity in the Texas SBOE system.
It is a good idea to make sure all your facts are correct when pointing out the misinformation generated by the other side….otherwise it is just the same story.
One must be involved in the SBOE issue and the curriculum debate to have a working knowledge and understanding of the way a simple word choice impacts the validity of the statement.
Thanks for the feedback Hal but we’re left confused. The respondent in our video claims that Capitalism was removed. We merely retort that it was not removed.
As for the “experts” implication, it was deliberate on our part and based upon the respondent’s remarks, thus our use of quotation marks…sort of toungue and cheek.
We too have a healthy respect for facts. Though our piece is somewhat informational, it is a commentary and obviously incorporates satire and opinion in addition to facts.