ScreamingEagle
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- Jul 5, 2004
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Mitt Romney and his surrogates are accusing President Obama of quietly giving Chicago teachers the green-light to strike, as the historic standoff affecting nearly 400,000 students enters its second day.
The White House is not taking sides in the dispute, but Republicans claim that by keeping a low profile on the issue the president is enabling the teachers unions to walk off the job. They point out that Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Obama's former chief of staff, is fighting against the strike -- without public support from Obama.
"Yet again, President Obama is allowing special interests to put their agenda ahead of serving our nation's students," Virginia Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell said in a statement. "This is Chicago-style politics at its worst. Even the president's former chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, recognizes that this strike is wrong. It's disappointing that the president has decided to stand idly by as the Chicago Teachers Union walks out on thousands of schoolchildren."
Both Romney and running mate Paul Ryan weighed in on the clash Monday. Romney, in a statement, said Obama "has chosen his side in this fight."
Ryan, speaking at an Oregon fundraiser, said that despite his differences with Emanuel, "on this issue and this day we stand with Mayor Rahm Emanuel."
Ryan claimed the strike raises questions over where Obama's loyalties really lie.
"We stand with the children and we stand with the families and the parents of Chicago because education reform, that's a bipartisan issue. This does not have to divide the two parties. And so, we were going to ask, where does President Obama stand? Does he stand with his former Chief of Staff Mayor Rahm Emanuel, with the children and the parents, or does he stand with the union?" Ryan asked.
Members of the Chicago Teachers Union -- the AFT's oldest local -- walked off the job Monday for the first time in 25 years over issues that include pay raises, classroom conditions, job security and teacher evaluations.
They are pitted against Emanuel, who wants to extract more concessions from teachers while the school district faces a nearly $700 million deficit.
...
Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty said that by "refusing to condemn" the strike, Obama "has sent a clear message that the hundreds of thousands of children who are suffering because of this strike take a backseat to his political allies."
Read more: Republicans accuse Obama of giving Chicago teachers strike green light | Fox News
The White House is not taking sides in the dispute, but Republicans claim that by keeping a low profile on the issue the president is enabling the teachers unions to walk off the job. They point out that Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Obama's former chief of staff, is fighting against the strike -- without public support from Obama.
"Yet again, President Obama is allowing special interests to put their agenda ahead of serving our nation's students," Virginia Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell said in a statement. "This is Chicago-style politics at its worst. Even the president's former chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, recognizes that this strike is wrong. It's disappointing that the president has decided to stand idly by as the Chicago Teachers Union walks out on thousands of schoolchildren."
Both Romney and running mate Paul Ryan weighed in on the clash Monday. Romney, in a statement, said Obama "has chosen his side in this fight."
Ryan, speaking at an Oregon fundraiser, said that despite his differences with Emanuel, "on this issue and this day we stand with Mayor Rahm Emanuel."
Ryan claimed the strike raises questions over where Obama's loyalties really lie.
"We stand with the children and we stand with the families and the parents of Chicago because education reform, that's a bipartisan issue. This does not have to divide the two parties. And so, we were going to ask, where does President Obama stand? Does he stand with his former Chief of Staff Mayor Rahm Emanuel, with the children and the parents, or does he stand with the union?" Ryan asked.
Members of the Chicago Teachers Union -- the AFT's oldest local -- walked off the job Monday for the first time in 25 years over issues that include pay raises, classroom conditions, job security and teacher evaluations.
They are pitted against Emanuel, who wants to extract more concessions from teachers while the school district faces a nearly $700 million deficit.
...
Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty said that by "refusing to condemn" the strike, Obama "has sent a clear message that the hundreds of thousands of children who are suffering because of this strike take a backseat to his political allies."
Read more: Republicans accuse Obama of giving Chicago teachers strike green light | Fox News
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