Thanks, Kansas! Now Back to Ohio

Posted 4 August 2006 by Richard B. Hoppe

The success of the recent election in Kansas, in which pro-science moderates took back control of the State Board of Education, depended in part on the willingness of citizens to get out and work on behalf of pro-science candidates, and in part on having strong pro-science candidates on the ballot. Kansas isn't the only state that will be electing members of its State Board of Education this fall. Ohio will, too, and people and organizations in Ohio are seeking strong pro-science candidates to oppose the ID creationist members of the Ohio Board. One such organization is HOPE -- Help Ohio Public Education. HOPE is actively talking with potential candidates. For example, HOPE is in discussions with a potential pro-science candidate to run in District 7, in northeastern Ohio. That seat is currrently held by one of the two ID creationist thought leaders on the Oho State BOE, the member who made the original "two modesl" motion to the Ohio Board in 2000, first foreshadowed adding global warming to the list of topics to be "critically analyzed" by Ohio school children, and continues to push trash science. HOPE has been impressed with how much the potential candidate could contribute to solving problems of school funding, state BOE and DOE governance, and curriculum, specifically including science education. He comes with a strong background on education issues and would be an outstanding member of the state board. Regardless of whether you're in or out of Ohio you can help. Contact Ohio newspapers, and in particular write a letter to the editor of the Akron Beacon Journal explaining why we need good candidates for the State BOE. Help HOPE improve Ohio education and do it today. If HOPE can persuade good candidates to run we have a good chance of taking out Ohio's answer to Connie Morris. Help HOPE get a strong candidate on the ballot this fall. Thanks!

22 Comments

Coin · 4 August 2006

Huh. When exactly is the deadline for all of this? Google seems to be telling me that Ohio's primaries were May 2. But it's not too late for this Sawyer fellow to enter as a candidate? Are the OBOE members elected as part of the general election or is this something separate?

Deborah Owens Fink, one of the two ID creationist creationist thought leaders

Oho! Well, I guess at least she wasn't an ID creationist creationist creation scientist.

RBH · 4 August 2006

Coin,

The deadline for filing for the general election is August 24. Elections for the State BOE in Ohio are "non-partisan" and thus party primaries are not a factor.

RBH

(And I'm still editing -- I wanted to get this up sooner rather than later!)

Coin · 4 August 2006

Oh, I see.

RBH · 4 August 2006

OK, I'm done editing. :)

RBH

wamba · 4 August 2006

My previous experience with Tom sawyer was not good. He suckered me into helping him paint a fence.

Ohio Voter · 4 August 2006

Coin wrote:

"'Deborah Owens Fink, one of the two ID creationist creationist thought leaders'

Oho! Well, I guess at least she wasn't an ID creationist creationist creation scientist."

She's a creationist's creationist. Very quick off the mark with obfuscation.

Anonymous_Coward · 4 August 2006

Then what's Hovind?

Ohio Voter · 4 August 2006

Then what's Hovind?
— Anonymous_Coward

A creationist's dinosaur?

Yuel · 4 August 2006

I am sure of course, that like KCFS, HOPE is not a tax emempt organization?

Yuel · 4 August 2006

I am sure of course, that like KCFS, HOPE is not a tax exempt organization?

RBH · 4 August 2006

Note that I have edited the original post to make it less candidate-centric.

HOPE is not a tax-exempt non-profit.

RBH

Jeremy Mohn · 4 August 2006

RBH-

I can't help but wonder whether the title of this thread has actually been uttered by a certain major player here in Kansas. I think you probably know who I'm talking about.

Only time will tell...

Dale Austin · 4 August 2006

Then what's Hovind?

I'll take (alleged, alleged) tax-dodgers for a thousand Alex. . . .

steve s · 4 August 2006

Comment #116985 Posted by Dale Austin on August 4, 2006 07:10 PM (e) | kill I'll take (alleged, alleged) tax-dodgers for a thousand Alex....

"Creationists for $100, Alex." "This man's supposed 'Intelligent Design' paper actually shows that Irreducible Complex structures could evolve every day." "Who is Michael Behe?" "Correct." "Creationists for $200, Alex." "This man lards his books up with unnecessary math to confuse his readers, because he knows it's snake oil." "Who is William Dembski." "Correct." "Creationists for $300." "This man occasionally admits that Intelligent Design hasn't accomplished anything, though he thinks maybe it will in the future." "Who is Paul Nelson?" "That's right." "Creationists for $400." "ooooo, that's our Daily Double. This man admitted that the Kansas "Teach the Controversy" initiative was really "ID in disguise", giving Casey Luskin a stroke." "Hmmm...Uh...hmmm...Joel...uh...Joel...Broflowsky?" "ooo, I'm sorry, you have to answer in the form of a question. And Broflowsky is the last name of Kyle on South Park."

Patricia Princehouse · 4 August 2006

For more on Sawyer, see:

www.thechiefsource.com/2006/04/no-rookie.html

Patricia Princehouse · 4 August 2006

For more on Sawyer, see: www.thechiefsource.com/2006/04/no-rookie.html

Where has he been for the last 4 years? Since losing his seat due to a combination of redistricting and an unpopular vote for NAFTA, Sawyer has been teaching and working with non-profit organizations in NE Ohio. One thing he did not do --- become a lobbyist. That means a lot to Ohioans who have seen the effect lobbyists can have on our state. Sawyer made it clear that his goal ... was to promote civil behavior ...through thoughtful discourse and respect of the law.
— Chief Source

Peter Henderson · 5 August 2006

Just in case anyone is interested, here's AIG's reaction to the election results:

http://www.answersingenesis.org/docs2006/0805ntn.asp

fnxtr · 5 August 2006

From Peter Henderson's link to AIG:

Of course, despite the fact that the curriculum in question doesn't include references to creation, AiG still supports more open inquiry in science classes. But the events in Kansas are a reminder that Christian parents must ensure that their children are taught properly about the Bible's record of history.

Well, at least they've given up the outright lie that the standards aren't about religion.

wamba · 5 August 2006

This man occasionally admits that Intelligent Design hasn't accomplished anything, though he thinks maybe it will in the future." "Who is Paul Nelson?"

Nelson's latest about the top secret ID research program is a real humdinger.

fnxtr · 6 August 2006

I guess there's no fair way to compare Nelson's comments with that other historical claim about how new secret weapons are on their way and will snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. The only comparison I'm trying to make is the bogus claim of non-existant materials. That's all.

Peter Henderson · 7 August 2006

I found this article today while browsing on the web. Lots and lots of views from a lot of Kansas citizens. The folks here should find it interesting !:

http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/08/02/1611.aspx

Patricia Princehouse · 10 August 2006

HOPE now has a website:

http://ohiohope.org

Suggestions welcome!

-Patricia
evolution@case.edu