Friday, May 9, 2008

DISCUSSION: HAS SCHURING GOTTEN PUBLIC EDUCATION RELIGION IN TIME FOR NOVEMBER?


Has Kirk Schuring the consummate Republican lost his "GOP-esque" memory?

Ohio media outlets reported yesterday that Schuring was one of three votes against a Republican-initiated Ohio General Assembly plan.

Paul Kostyu of The Rep described the effort as being "Senate Bill 57, which the Senate passed 17-15 Wednesday, would create a five-year pilot program in the Department of Education for "scholarships" to allow families of special-education students to choose a school that best fits a child's individual needs."

Another quote from Kostyu's piece is very revealing (reading between the quote marks).

"State Rep. Kirk Schuring, R-Jackson Township, said he has a 'longstanding' position opposing moving money for programs that are better suited for public school systems."

For those who have known Schuring for the better part of his 14 years in public office know that he has been a Legislature voting supporter of charter schools, community schools, vouchers and other Republican contrivances to undermine public education.

The STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report) takes this vote by Schuring to be a political gambit. He knew that the bill, even if it passes, will not see the light of day because Governor Strickland has promised to veto it. His friends in the political Right will soon forget this vote but Schuring has begun to and will continue to use this vote to confuse the voting public on his true position on the charter school versus public school competition.

These are desperate time for Schuring. Political wisdom says that Schuring is substantially behind Democrat John Boccieri in the race to become long time Congressman Ralph Regula.

The STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT spoke with Boccieri a couple of weeks ago when The Report did a piece poking a little fun at Boccieri over when he will move into the 16th District.

Boccieri who was mildly upset at the setting for the piece but seemed to settled down when there was no intended specific meaning of the make up of the crowd that Boccieri was seemingly lost in, told The Report that he would be moving into the district as soon as his childrens' school term ended.

Boccieri also said that "he hoped Schuring would continue to use the [carpetbagger issue - my phrase] as his main campaign issue." Meanwhile, Boccieri promised focus on issues he feels voters really care about: Iraq, the economy and healthcare insurance issues.

The Report notes that efforts to get a response from Kirk Schuring on various campaign issues failed. The Report notes that at least one other blogger experience similar experience from the Schuring campaign.

But all this makes sense. Last summer in a one-on-one talk with Schuring in Hartville (before the campaign began), Schuring confirmed that he knew he had favored status with The Repository Editorial Board.

So obviously Schuring is going to try to use The Rep as his public relations arm. Wise readers will read Rep opinion pieces on Schuring with skepticism.

A strange position for a man who is substantially behind in the race.

But the question remains. Will voters see how Schuring works the "chameleon effect" strategy of the Schuring campaign?


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