Wasilla Candidate “Can’t Handle the Truth.”
Remember they guy from the other day who’s running for State House in Wasilla? The guy who said, “We are spending millions and millions of dollars educating children that have a hard time making their wheelchair move and, I’m sorry, but you’ve got to say, ‘no’ somewhere. We need to educate our children, but there are certain individuals that are just not going to benefit from an education.” Remember that guy?
Well, apparently House Republican candidate Mark Ewing didn’t like the fact that nobody cared for what he said after they read about it in The Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman, and other places. And he wished he had said something else, instead of what he did say. As a guest on right-wing talk radio’s Dave Stieren Show, the host (who also moderated the recent Anchorage Tea Party Candidates Forum) tried to give Ewing an out at The Frontiersman‘s expense:
Stieren: “Was that your first response to the education question or did the Frontiersman delete your initial response?”
Ewing: “Actually, you know, that was a response that isn’t politically correct. But I’m going to use a quote from Jack Nicholson and that is, ‘most people can’t handle the truth.’”
The Frontiersman didn’t much like that insinuation, nor comments left by Ewing on his Facebook page. And so they wrote an editorial, and took Mr. Ewing to task.
No matter what state House hopeful Mark Ewing would have you believe, he did in fact — in a public setting — say that the state should consider moves to stop providing education to “children that have a hard time making their wheelchair move.”
We have the digital audio file of the debate. We got it from the Greater Wasilla Chamber of Commerce. [snip]
Ewing, in comments he made Friday on talk radio, would have you believe that what he said was that the children “can’t even figure out how to make their wheelchair work.”
Truth is, he did not say that. The audio of the debate proves our reporting was correct and Ewing is now backpedaling, trying to rewrite the record.
How his revision makes the quote any better we will leave to Ewing to explain.
The editorial included the audio clip of Ewing’s statement, which was exactly how they reported it. It also went on to say:
Seemingly, it would have been better for Ewing — when confronted with his publicly stated views on special education funding — to simply admit to what he said. That would have cleared the way for him to explain in more detail, or backtrack. It’s not a crime to simply tell voters, “You know what? That was a boneheaded thing to say, and I’m sorry.”
The entire smack down, entitled Can You Handle the Truth? is quite delightfully done, and worth a read.
But the story doesn’t end there. Mr. Ewing, who has received commentary from voters, parents of special needs children, and other appalled people, responded to The Frontiersman‘s editorial in the comments section. This is his response in its entirety. Unless he misquoted himself.
“You are 100% correct after calling the radio talk show and posting on Facebook the next day I then checked the Wasilla Chamber web site and realized the words in the paper were mine, and I should have made that point clear and apologized to the Frontiersman, Mr Welner and also to the public. It was a poor decision on my part to not remember what I said used to describe children with special needs. I know now that what I meant to say and what I said were completely different and after reading comments from a broad parental base that all children can learn regardless of their handicap I am not against teaching special needs children and clearly not trying to hurt any students or parents that have a child in that situation.
This election is not worth my creditably or using a bone headed remarks that may hurt others.
I am sorry and thank you for pointing this out. I do feel we should have special needs schools for those that are severely handicap with programs more directed to their necessities. If this cost me the election then so be it, I felt there were many other issues I could have pointed at regarding the budget during this question.
Mark Ewing”
We spend millions and millions of dollars educating children about proper spelling and grammar that have a hard time even making the spell check work.
This is appalling! It would be nice if people like Mr. Ewing would just admit what they said and apologize for it, rather than pretend what they said was not what they meant.
Also, please don’t lump him with the whole Republican party–he’s a bad apple.
Was there an apology somewhere in there? I wasn’t quite sure what I was reading most of the time. And did I miss it or does he think that special needs kids should be in separate schools? Clearly, he hasn’t been keeping up on what goes on in the schools.
Okay, I can’t use a spell checker either. Crap.
So – he doesn’t like “retards”? Why hasn’t $arah outraged and in his face?? Oh – never mind.
Ok, I read his response three times and then needed several aspirin. All I can say is “huh?” Actually that is my polite response.
Our education system is broken but I can assure you it’s not because of special needs children. I work as a safety assistant in a high school and love my job and the kids. At times the students in my school astound me. We have a class of special needs students. Last year one of those kids had a medical emergency that required us to go into a clear the halls and sit tight mode so that EMS could effectively respond. It happened during one of the lunch periods and afterward student after student after student asked me if the young man was going to be ok. They were upset. Why? Because he is a valued member of our student population.
Two years ago, at our homecoming dance. two of our special needs students, were voted Prince and Princess. The kids went wild and cheered and clapped. They danced with each other and then the King and Queen danced with them. There wasn’t a dry eye amongst the staff. Why did the kids vote for these students? Because they are valued members of our student population.
We certainly haven’t attained nirvana in our school. I break up fights. I find drugs. I listen on an almost daily basis to incredible stories of hurt and heartache that leave me wondering how some of these kids even get to school.
However, when a student with downs syndrome walks over and sits with the football team and then is included, I want to hug each and every one of those kids.
Our students have learned, in spite of the Mark Ewing’s of the world, that different is, well, just different. They understand that people are people and are to be honored and included no matter the color of their skin, or the clothes they wear, or how they look or what they use to move around.
Shame on Mr. Ewing. I have written him up and yes, it does go on his permanent record!
Oh dear . . . . .
hahahahahahaha he said it not me, “This election is not worth my creditably or using a bone headed remarks that may hurt others”
First Palin and now this? Is it the Mat-Su School District or something in the water?
/WC
Word salad and crow? Is that all Wasilla Republicans eat?
Oy, vey.
My dear departed Norwegian grandmother the English teacher, of blessed memory, is spinning in her grave, er, churning in her urn. I know just how she feels. I’m churned up by this myself; the grammar/spelling/punctuation mess is ugly, but the opinion of children with special needs is far, far uglier.
Gobsmacked.
*shaking head, yet taking inspiration for the new school year ahead*
I have one biological child, my darlin’ daughter littlebird.
She has many brothers and sisters, though.
I was brought up to believe that the human race is all One Family,
so I believe that as a teacher, as a librarian,
Every Child in my care IS my child.
*stepping up on my Union Soapbox*
Public school employees work for a quality education for ALL Children.
for ALL Children.
for ALL Children.
Election year, and you can bet we are talking with our families, friends, and neighbors about education issues and the candidates who support our efforts.
GOTV.
*stepping down*
I’m working (and I do mean Working) to internalize Tim Russert’s motto for this school year:
Thou Shalt Not Whine.
Thou Shalt Not Whine.
For every whine/complaint I make or hear,
I’m going to collect 5 cents (ala Lucy from the funny pages).
I’ll give the nickel back for a suggestion/solution/idea to address the whine-inducing whatever
OR
a joke or bit of good news/success.
That’s my plan.
I believe in working hard, but I also believe in having a good time while I’m at it.
Here’s to a new school year, ripe with possibilities for us and for ALL Our Children.
*and the mudflats choir sings Amen*
🙂
thatcrowwoman
Amen!Amen!
Oh, Crow, I’m glad the library/school/union has you and people like you! Amen, amen, amen. I had no children, and do my best to leave all the children the best of all possible worlds, in deeds as well as words.
Mark Ewing, after the election, I hope you’re an also-ran. You have no business making decisions for others, particularly children. On behalf of my special-needs brother, of blessed memory, may you fail spectacularly in your bid for public office.
Your students are blessed to have you in their lives. Have a wonderful school year and keep spreading those good vibrations! 🙂
His sentences are almost as convoluted as Sarah’s….
In China, there IS a competency test for everyone seeking public office.
“This election is not worth my creditably or using a bone headed remarks that may hurt others.” Heh heh, it doth appear that he has just himself incredulously flushed his own CREDIBILITY straight down the crapper. And, by the way, how’s that singular/plural grammar thingy-ma-bob working out for you too also Mark?
It’s times like these that I really think there should be a basic competency test for anyone running for elected office.
Re; “creditably” v. “credibility”, he’s just being consistent, I think. Isn’t it obvious he flat doesn’t recognize “ability” in any shape or form.? 😉 beth.
He clearly went to the George W. Bush School of Grammar (or is it grammer?).
“Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning?”
Aiiiiiiii! He’s none too fond of punctuation or proof-reading, is he? The little reading voice in my head –and my eyes– are surely gasping for breath! beth.
Perhaps he wrote it on a smartphone? I know that’s where I write all my important documents.
Thanks for posting the follow up.
Well, I guess Mr. Ewing’s response cleared that up, eh?