State Sen. Robert Ford has turned the debate over parental choice in the Palmetto State on its ear, invigorating supporters of the movement (like us) while at the same time shattering the status quo’s monolithic hold over South Carolina’s African-American leadership.
Ford’s emergence as a parental choice supporter is a “game changer.”
In a rousing speech at the S.C. State House yesterday – one that was surprisingly well-received by the mainstream media – the “Ford Factor” was on full display in front of a packed lobby and wide bank of TV cameras.
Simply put, he rocked.
It’s not just that Sen. Ford is black.
Or that he’s a Democrat.
It’s that he’s uncompromising, unapologetic and totally unfazed by the attacks that have already started coming his way.
With a “bring it on” swagger and plain-spoken earnestness, Ford’s sponsorship of the Education Opportunity Act has already substantially shifted perception in South Carolina on the parental choice issue.
It’s also formed unlikely alliances – and not just the famed “Ebony & Ivory” label that surprised insiders have slapped onto Ford’s partnership with State Rep. Eric Bedingfield, the primary sponsor of the House version of the bill.
“Many times I have butted heads with Sen. Ford,” State Sen. Kevin Bryant (R-Anderson) wrote on his blog yesterday afternoon. “The definition of marriage, pork barrel spending, gambling and capital punishment to name a few. Our voting records would probably show the most differences (between) any other two members of the Legislature. Yet, today, we’ve found an issue that we both feel passionate about; school choice.”
Sen. Tom Davis – who along with Bryant is co-sponsoring the Education Opportunity Act – said Ford’s support of the bill demonstrated “courage and toughness.”
“He is standing up knowing full well that he is going to be attacked for what he is doing,” Davis said. “In fact he is daring his critics to attack him.”
Davis noted that Ford’s support could open the floodgates and “move the margins” for an idea that he said “isn’t a fix-all, but can no longer be excluded from our fix” for academic advancement in South Carolina.
“When Florida’s education tax credit program became law seven years ago, only one Democratic legislator voted for it,” Davis said. “Last year, however, a third of statehouse Democrats, half the black caucus and the entire Hispanic caucus voted to expand the program.”
Davis also noted that Arizona, Iowa and Pennsylvania have all passed education tax credit programs under Democratic governors, and Rhode Island recently passed a program in a Democratic-controlled legislature.
“Contrast Sen. Ford’s strong position with the limited public school choice plans that Superintendent Jim Rex has proposed,” Davis said. “I’m for expanding parental options across the board, but Ford is truly standing up for those choices whereas Superintendent Rex appears to be paying them lip service.”
Indeed, Rex’s reintroduction of recycled public school choice plans was scarcely noticed amid the “Ford furor.”
Like Bryant, we too have butted heads with Ford in the past, and we suspect we will butt heads with him again in the future.
But on this issue, there is no denying his leadership, his courage and the impact he’s having on the debate.
By mr. fits March 25, 2009 at 2:39 pm
Tracy Edge is the main House sponsor.
By Nope March 25, 2009 at 5:33 pm
For God’s sake, you’re a shill.
By Nope March 25, 2009 at 5:36 pm
“Courage and toughness.” I liked Tom Davis before he said that. Ford is buying money for the governor’s race with yet another whacked out position.
By Maria March 25, 2009 at 5:37 pm
Does anyone have a link to video of Senator Ford’s speech at the press conference?
By fitsnews March 25, 2009 at 5:56 pm
“Nope,”
You’re right – we are shills for parental choice, and proud of it.
Of course, unlike La Socialista shilling for the cigarette tax, our coverage of Ford’s speech yesterday actually referenced a dissenting view.
-FITS
By Gillon March 25, 2009 at 6:11 pm
So Howard Rich picks up the tab for the printing of 400,000 mailouts to African-American parents apprising them of Senator Ford’s epiphany regarding school choice. It would be interesting to know who or what company received the contract for the printing. Could you put your crack investigative team on that Sic Willie?
By Nope March 25, 2009 at 6:14 pm
Ok, I don’t mind that. But could you answer this question from a previous post?
“Does anybody here know what income level you’d have to be at before you’d get $2,500 back in tax credits under this legislation? I’m not poor, but I don’t pay anything approaching that in state taxes. And if it’s not per child, I’m guessing I’d pay around $6,600 for two children to attend the private school closest to me and save a whole heap less than that in taxes.
“And I wouldn’t qualify for scholarships.
Who would this legislation actually help?”
By flipnut March 25, 2009 at 6:17 pm
So when school choice fails. Can we get on with blaming the parents?
Stupid people make stupid kids. School choice and fights over spending does nothing but shift the blame.
Why are Fort Mill and Dutch Fork schools so good compared the rest of the state ? It’s not some magic formula of teachers and money, it’s parents who care. They are drawn to the those districts by good test scores, but the good test scores are the result of the parents who care.
By Nope March 25, 2009 at 7:35 pm
Dammit. Does no one know the answer to my question?
By BIN News Editorial Staff March 25, 2009 at 9:25 pm
As we’ve said, Ford was as effective as giving CPR to two-week-dead sun-baked ‘possum stretched across the centerline of a two lane SC back road.
The voucher scam is dead in S.C. no matter how many times Howie renames it.
Ford knows what he’s doing. He’s soaking up some of Howie’s carpetbugger money and getting a little manly lov’in from sic(k) willie and Howie’s other voucher clowns. He’s also getting a little free publicity and hoping some of the “good’ole boys” will remember this when he runs for gub’ner.
Just remember. Ford insisted Howie give him some “political cover.”
He’s going gto need all the cover he can get.
Vouchers are dead in S.C. Particularly in this economy.
By James the Foot Soldier March 25, 2009 at 9:40 pm
Flipnut: Add a healthy dose of yankee “ingenuity” and there’s your answer.
By Nope March 26, 2009 at 5:51 pm
“In fact, most South Carolinians don’t pay enough income taxes to benefit: A third of the people who file state income tax returns pay no income taxes. Half of the filers pay less than $250. Two-thirds pay less than $800.”
The State
So there’s the answer. The tax credit would benefit a small subsection of the the top third income-earners in South Carolina — the top 10 percent of income tax filers, if that — and no one else. What a farce.
By andre March 27, 2009 at 6:28 am
Ford the best car :)
By baker March 27, 2009 at 10:31 am
Question:
Does this bill include an income cap? The old PPIC cut it off at 75,000 in income or something approximating that.
By Marshall March 30, 2009 at 7:22 am
Ford the best car for this money :)
By ?????????? April 2, 2009 at 10:12 am
Ford is a good car :)