Over the weekend, the KC Star’s Bryan Lowry wrote a long article about Kansas Third Congressional District GOP nominee Sara Hart Weir’s support within the organization she led — the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS).
If you dig deep enough into this piece, you will find that it is relatively balanced — with quotes from six detractors and five supporters.
But one should start with the headline, and then the first few paragraphs:
’Hard to see her as an ally.’ Some in disability community wary of Weir’s campaign – blares the headline.
You see, while she was leading a national, non-partisan group, Weir had the temerity to meet with — GASP! — Secretary of Education nominee (at the time) Betsy DeVos!
Why…didn’t Weir know that DeVos was everything that Democrats…er…reasonable people…hated! She was for school vouchers! She came from lots of money! DeVos was seen as a mix of Barry Goldwater and Dolores Umbridge before she ever said a word in front of any committee.
But when she did speak, she didn’t have a sufficient understanding of the issues important in the down syndrome community.
So what did Weir do? She talked to DeVos. Educated her.
Seems like the sensible thing for the leader of that organization to do, yeah?
Wrong, you heathen! Because they hate, Betsy DeVos (oh, and Donald Trump too)! There’s no helping an evil Republican!
And that is the gist of your story.
Lowry quotes six Democrats:
Two were in the middle of office politics, and were (allegedly) bad-mouthing their boss on social media. You can hash out how that was handled, but any employee who does that, in most gigs, gets thrown out on their ear.
So, the other four?
Hallie Levine, “a Connecticut-based freelance journalist.” Take a quick look at Levine’s Facebook page, and you’ll see that while she, and all the others, are ardent supporters for those with down syndrome, their families and their issues, — she is also bitterly partisan against Trump on ALL issues. Which is fine. That’s her right, of course. But let’s not paint her as simply an advocate for the cause, who disagrees with Weir. She is an angry Democrat.
David Perry, “a Minnesota historian.” Who also spells out on his social media pages that he “supports Al Franken’s politics.” He noted that in light of also damning Franken for the issues that Franken resigned for. But once again, concerned about down syndrome issues, and a hard-core Democrat.
Rebecca Cokley, “the director of the Disability Justice Initiative at the liberal-leaning Center for American Progress .” This one is probably self-explanatory, but note that Cokley’s Twitter feed is full of, along with discussion of disability issues, support of Democratic candidates and hits on Mitch McConnell and other Republicans.
Kelly Kulzer-Reyes, “a California parent.” Without diving too deep into her background, just note that this California parent went ahead and Tweeted her support for…freshman Rep. Sharice Davids.
Now, as noted above, Lowry also quotes five supporters of Weir.
But you’ll have to dig just a little deeper past the headline and the first few paragraphs.
Because Weir’s first sin is that she worked with the new Trump administration. None of the rest apparently matters.
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