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Monthly Archives: June 2009

‘Culture Wars’ Still Disruptive in Texas

In an op-ed column that has run in various newspapers (including in Houston and Austin), Texas Freedom Network President Kathy Miller explains how the recently ended legislative session demonstrates that the “culture wars” are still a divisive and disruptive influence in Texas politics. We are to publishing the op-ed for TFN  Insider readers here. Legislative [...]

Posted in culture wars, religious right, Texas politics | 14 Comments |


Religious Freedom and Public Schools

The Texas Freedom Network has been stepping up efforts to protect the right of families to direct the religious education of their own children as the religious right’s assault on that freedom moves into high gear. The latest example of the right’s increasingly aggressive campaign: an Ohio teacher has filed a lawsuit claiming that public [...]

Posted in public education, religious freedom, science and religion | 9 Comments |


Stoking the Fires of Hate

One of the things you can safely bet on when it comes to the religious right: the worse the fund-raising goes, the more extreme the language gets. Oh sure, it’s not unusual to see nonprofits raise alarm levels in an effort to raise more money. But the religious right seems especially adept (and shameless) in vilifying their vicims, especially gay folks. Case [...]

Posted in religious freedom | 6 Comments |


Always Pushing the ‘Culture Wars’

Let’s see if we have this right. The Texas Legislature adjourned last week without passing legislation to keep five state agencies — including the Texas Department of Transportation and the Texas Department of Insurance — operating after Sept. 1, 2010. So now Gov. Rick Perry says he is going to call lawmakers back for a special [...]

Posted in abortion, Rick Perry | 3 Comments |


A Look at the Texas Social Studies ‘Experts’

We reported in April that the creationist faction on the Texas State Board of Education was moving to pack a key “expert” review panel for the social studies curriculum revision with like-minded ideologues. (See here and here.) We now have the names of all the “expert” panelists. As with the science “expert” panel, it appears that [...]

Posted in Daniel Dreisbach, David Barton, Peter Marshall, social studies | 41 Comments |


McLeroy: Still Arguing, Still Wrong

Don McLeroy, recently ousted as Texas State Board of Education chairman, is once again defending new science curriculum standards that dumb down instruction on evolution in public schools. Writing in a Bryan-College Station Eagle op-ed, McLeroy says “only science belongs in science class.” But he then launches once again into a series of creationist attacks [...]

Posted in Don McLeroy, evolution | 18 Comments |


Listen to the McLeroy Debate

Far-right pressure groups are still screaming about “religious discrimination” as the culprit in the Texas Senate’s failure last week to confirm Don McLeroy, R-College Station, as chairman of the State Board of Education. Today, for example, Free Market Foundation Focus on the Family-Texas is again making that absurd charge: We are outraged that SBOE Chairman, Don [...]

Posted in Don McLeroy, Texas politics | 17 Comments |


McLeroy Gets GOP Challenger for SBOE Seat

When it rains, it pours. Last week Don McLeroy failed to win Senate confirmation of his nomination as Texas State Board of Education chairman. Now he’s picked up what could be a very stiff challenge to his re-election next year. Paul Burka at Texas Monthly is reporting that Thomas Ratliff, son of former lieutenant governor [...]

Posted in Don McLeroy, elections | 18 Comments |


Repulsive

Sunday’s murder of George Tiller, a doctor who performed abortions in Kansas, has brought condemnation from many, including some anti-abortion groups and activists. But not all the “condemnations” have been particularly convincing. Doug Phillips of San Antonio-based Vision Forum Ministries, released a statement: “Tiller the Killer” is dead. Who will mourn for this man? . . [...]

Posted in abortion, religious right | 19 Comments |


TFN’s ‘Contrived Near-Riots’

We thought you might like to see one of the e-mails making the rounds. This is from a Texas religious-righter, who addressed his screed to “Texas Officials” and the “Texas SBOE.” The “BORKING” of Dr. Don McLeroy … !!! We have now seen it happen many, many times … a perfectly good and decent person [...]

Posted in Don McLeroy, Texas politics | 10 Comments |