Fighting in the trenches

A conversation with Ken Mercer

“Such is the irresistible nature of truth that all it asks, and all it wants, is the liberty of appearing.” – Thomas Paine

 

Ken Mercer is an elected member of the SBOE and has 1.5 million constituents in 12 counties. He is a comrade in arms, so to speak, with Bill Ames. Ramparts wanted to get his input on the current situation and spoke with him on October 31.

“We conservatives,” he said, “have fought and won many battles in math, phonics (English and reading). These landmark changes are due to appear in text books in 2010. But this current creation of curriculum standards for history and social studies will be the biggest and most important battle of them all. If the far left is allowed to rewrite and revise history, it’s all over.” 

He is very concerned that an incremental globalist agenda that overlooks American exceptionalism and achievements would ultimately obliterate American sovereignty itself.

“We want textbooks for kids that encourage and promote American patriotism and the free market system,” says Ken. The high ideals and the motivation for competition, innovation, higher quality and lower prices are the basis for American prosperity. “Without exception this is the greatest country in the world. People come here for opportunity.” But as far as the leftist bureaucrats are concerned, “We caught them changing [the historic storyline] and deleting key parts of American history.” 

Prosperous societies formerly had to protect against barbarians at the gates. But at the present moment it appears that the enemy has penetrated so far that it is within the school board. 

Ken refers to what he calls “the Big Five Print Media Mafia” (Austin American Statesman, San Antonio Express News, Houston Chronicle, Dallas Morning News and Fort Worth Star Telegram). Big Five Mafia for short. “The far left attacks constantly without mercy. And within the educational system there seems to be an academic and journalistic assassination of conservative leaders in science and history, even to the point of denying their degrees or professional influence.” 

Their accomplice is a group with the Orwellian moniker “Texas Freedom Network” and the Big Five Mafia is constantly quoting the group members as authorities on education. These are the indoctrinators for whom the term “religious freedom” doesn’t mean freedom OF religion as much as it means freedom FROM religion. Big difference. 

“Conservatives need to know that the TFN is not your friend,” says Ken, further explaining his belief that they are the activists behind the push to revise American history. 

“Bill Ames is a great leader and I’ve taken a lot of strength in that. 

“This is a nationwide culture war and the ‘line in the sand’ is drawn here at the Texas Capitol.  The establishment of 2010 history standards is the most important battle – and liberals know Texas standards will impact the rest of the United States. Again, if the far left is allowed to rewrite history standards and curriculum, it’s all over.”

What can parents and concerned Americans do?

“What I tell the people to do is to call or email their officials. Tell them that you want Texas books that encourage American patriotism and the free market system.” He further says to tell them how important our heritage is to you and that you are strongly opposed to arbitrary, meaningless revisions and deletions.

This makes sense. History is after all the world as it actually was – regardless of how any ideologue thinks it should be. 

On his own campaign for re-election

“People have already asked me,” said Ken, “‘You are a true conservative and you’re doing everything on the Republican platform.  Why do you have a Republican opponent?’ 

“Which I think is a great question but I will only quote what the Express News said. My Republican opponent, Tim Tuggey, is described as a ‘lawyer lobbyist’ who ‘has given to some Democrats.’  

“Most Republican conservatives strongly believe that a lawyer lobbyist should NEVER run for office.  Period. 

“I’m surprised the paper went that far. And it described me as ‘the conservative in the race’ – even though they are supporting my opponent. 

“And according to the Federal Ethics Commission, lawyer-lobbyist Tuggey has given as much as $40,000 to Democrats, but he will run as a Republican.” 

When that happens, Ken says, “Never mind your party affiliation. You kind of wonder which side are you really on?” Conservative primary voters deserve to know the answer. 

Future trends

Coincidentally, today the news came across the wires that Dede Scozzafava was dropping her bid for NY Congressional district 23, despite her endorsement by Newt Gingrich. This comes after a period of overwhelming support from across the country for the conservative candidate Doug Hoffman. 

The implications here are tremendous: the Republican Party leadership is faced with the new reality that it can no longer disregard the people’s voice and simply nominate whomever the leadership sees as fitting or viable. Maybe the GOP should stop focusing on winning elections and start focusing on defending the nation – meaning the people, not the central government. 

On the other side the darts and daggers from the opposition will in all likelihood continue to fly. But the Tea Party movement (formerly the Silent Majority) will take it all in stride because they have learned one thing from our recent Summer of Discontent: the power is with the people when we stand up and unite. All we have to do is own it and continue to tug in the right direction.
 

Please visit www.VoteKenMercer.com. Because we can’t afford to lose him.

Related: The Real Story (of NY-23)

Base sends GOP warning shot in NY-23