BuchananFoster2000!
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Ezola Foster: The educator who would be Pat Buchanan's veep
By Kelley O. Beaucar, ConservativeHQ Staff Writer
The depth of the mainstream news interest in Pat Buchanan's running mate could be summed up in one line by a recent Time magazine article:
"The pick of a black female Bircher seems fitting - the perfectly weird coda to the Reform Party's weird year," waxes Matthew Cooper.
Indeed, most of the articles written about Foster since her selection by Buchanan two weeks ago seem to be interested mostly in her past membership in the John Birch Society and her workers' comp payments a few years ago.
What the mainstream press appears to have missed is a fascinating story of a woman who, because of the aforementioned personal characteristics - female, black, conservative - walks an arduous road, standing by some pretty unpopular ideas as admirably as the kid who defends the underdog at the risk of getting licked by the schoolyard bully.
And she has taken her licks. On Thursday, the Los Angeles Times reported that Foster was paid workers' compensation based on a mental health disorder in 1996, keeping her out of work at the LA Unified School District for a year and a half.
Foster said Friday to ConservativeHQ that she was not "insane," as the medical label suggests, but took her leave claiming "stress." She called the Los Angeles Times article a "hit piece" and elaborated on the story.
In 1996, Foster was featured on PBS's "MacNeil-Lehrer News Hour" in a debate in which she blamed illegal immigration into California for the declining education system in the state's poor inner-cities. She said young black children in her South Central district were affected the most, as extra help and attention were rare in overcrowded classrooms with children who were still being taught basic English.
She returned to school, she said, to find herself labeled as a "Nazi," hate-monger, liar, and racist, and was the wary recipient of anonymous hate mail from other teachers. The students were even turned against her, claims Foster. "It got so bad at the school...it drove me out of the profession," she says today, recalling that she had a police escort out of the building on her last day of work.
When taking such a paid leave, one has to claim a physical or mental injury. "At the advice of my doctor and lawyer," she recalled, she chose stress, listed as a mental injury claim.
So ended a 33-year public school career, in which she was a stalwart critic of fiscal mismanagement and a David to the Goliath of the powerful liberal establishment. A career that taught her invaluable lessons about what the federal government does for education, she says.
Absolutely nothing, is Foster's answer to that.
That first revelation prompted her to switch her political affiliation from Democrat over to the Grand Old Party in the mid-seventies. The Democrats, she said, "promoted the idea of taking God out of the schools, they promoted more sex education classes - they didn't represent my views.
"I believe in God, I believe in America, and I believe in traditional values," she added.
Foster strongly contends that the liberal education establishment has sacrificed the fundamental teaching of phonics in the glorification of high-minded but low producing teaching methods and "socialization programs." Programs, she asserts, where children "are taught more about racism, sexism, classism, atheism than they are the basics, the academics, and that's one of the biggest problems in our schools. Once a child knows how to read, it is so much easier for them to learn their other lessons."
That is why she is such a vocal critic of multiculturalism, the pervasiveness of which in today's public school systems has not only misdirected teaching from reading, writing, and arithmetic, Foster charges, but has created more division in the classrooms, faculty lounges, and school boards than any gains in tolerance and enlightenment among the cultures.
"Multiculturalism...that only means that our children are being taught hate and bigotry against other groups or cultures," she says. "They're being taught allegiance to foreign flags and foreign cultures."
Foster bemoans the statistics that show America's children reading at below average rates and reading less overall. She is particularly concerned that black inner-city students have consistently higher illiteracy rates than their white counterparts. This is where the focus should be at early grade levels - not learning about what homosexuality is and how to use a condom, she argues.
"If parents only knew what they're teaching children...," she muses. "Our children are no longer learning right from wrong, everything is relative today."
Her views on education closely mirror those held by conservatives, and her Republican membership lasted just under 20 years, in which time she became the first black woman to head a unit of the California Republican Assembly and the first black woman to appear on the ballot as a GOP candidate for the state general assembly.
But Foster says she got tired of the party's inability to forward the concepts of local control, less taxes, less government, and "traditional values." She doesn't support the GOP's push for using tax-funded vouchers to give parents the opportunity to send their kids to private schools, believing the federal government will still be able to intervene in curriculum and administration.
Declaring herself an Independent in 1996, Foster says she is defining her own political ideology and helping to provide a voice for conservatives, and a new forum for minorities who are constantly told the only party for them is the Democrats. "Blacks have not had a voice," she says. "In me they see that they have that voice, and many of them are thrilled to have that choice."
Foster believes the party of Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton has highjacked that choice, and not all blacks want to see a continuation of affirmative action in education and hiring, despite what is reported in the media and promoted on the stump. Republicans, she notes, have failed to take advantage of that discrepancy (she points to the speech made by pro-ffirmative Action Colin Powell at the GOP convention) and can be accused of pandering to blacks and Latinos as much as the Democrats at election time.
"You look at the Republicans and Democrats who say they 'reach out' to the minorities. Would you look at what that means? The Democrats talk about reparations and affirmative action to blacks. To Latinos they talk about open border policies," she charges. "This is an American way that is not what the majority of blacks and Latinos want."
Nonetheless, Foster's role as Pat Buchanan's running mate has been described more as a black anomaly than as an expansion of black political options.
Her decision to join Buchanan's campaign has also made national her painful resistance to several educational and social initiatives in California politics. She is not hesitant about blaming her politically powerful detractors in California for helping to fuel the fire.
"I know a lot of people are upset that I'm out there and I've been talking on behalf of our children," Foster claims. "They don't want me to have this platform and that's why they're discrediting me."
But the national attention, she believes, is serving to highlight her strengths and firm resolve to fight the unpopular fight. And as one of five siblings whose single mother worked full-time to raise the family in Texas and Louisiana, Foster has the backbone and determination to plod on in what she says is the right path for reforming the country.
"Buchanan has character; and I was just elated when he asked me to join his campaign," she says, pointing out that she had been a supporter of the former Republican since 1992.
As for the Reform Party, she noted recently on the FOX News Channel, "I am so happy that I am with a party that will represent the opposing viewpoints, that will bring in the views of people that are disenfranchised from both of the other parties."
I totally agree with her and i've decided to vote for her!
Awesome woman!
In a world full of gutless wonders.
George, the feds are not educators, they are tax collectors and law enforcers. Their job was to protect America from foriegn intervention, and since the the republicrats have given our monitary system and military away, American is no longer a soveriegn nation. America is a meeting place for the world dictators to come and enjoy the vast wilderness that is now burning. Americans pay for all this until they run out of money and then what?
She returned to school, she said, to find herself labeled as a "Nazi," hate-monger, liar, and racist, and was the wary recipient of anonymous hate mail from other teachers. The students were even turned against her, claims Foster.
I wonder what Jesse Jackson would do to her if she ever got to Washington D.C. I'll bet Jesse and his buddy Al Sharpton would have all those nice government workers give her a great big gehto welcome. How long would it take them to make her run?
Can a V.P. get Workmans Comp?
I have spoken to Mrs. Foster and I am here to tell you, she is like the Battle Flag. Neither run.
CT, As VP, I imagine Secret Service would be available if necessary. Even in the work atmosphere. Peace and love, George.
MBBB, And THAT is what Pat has in mind to reverse. Peace and love, George.
All. Another indication of how YOUR children will be treated under a Buchanan Presidency with Ezola Foster as his VP overseeing an ever dwindling federal department of education.
Yes, I can see. They would be educated rather than indoctrinated. That would be bad. The whole socialist system that has been built up over the last 40 years might come toppling down, if there were no federal funds to teach our young pioneers.
Tim, I see NO WAY you could go wrong. Peace and love, George.
For those who missed this she was on Michael Medvid talk show on 8/30. Medvid kept asking her if she were not black would she have been selected as V/P. After prodding her several times she replied, I don't know, I'm not white but Pat & I share the same values, etc. Then Medvid questioned her on her qualifications & her comeback was, I thought the only qualifications were what were in the Constitution & I fullfill them. GOOD FOR HER. IMO what we have seen the recent past the most important issue is to uphold the Constitution as she will do effectively if chosen.
Here's the score so far:
Pat, Ezola, and the truth - 10000
Smearmongers - 0
What an article!
What a woman!
What a Veep!
What a President!
BuchananFoster2000!
Another anti-Pat, anti-Ezola, anti-Real Conservative smear is knocked down by the full truth. Just thought you'd like to know.
Pat, Ezola, and the truth - 10000
Smearmongers - 0
Be sure and ping me when we actually GET some truth on the workman's comp matter.
IS BUCHANAN's VP!
And I will vote for them both.
An Ezola-mania BUMP!
You have the truth she was threatened and harrassed for standing up for what is right.
Most crooked politicians in California don't have the balls to stand up to illegal immigration! Ezola did and still does.
You have the truth she was threatened and harrassed for standing up for what is right.
However, I would like to know if what she did regarding the workman's comp claim is legal or not - and I think that will take some kind of hearing.
Be sure and ping me when we actually GET some truth on the workman's comp matter.
Read the article, dirtboy. It gives the full story. Job related and work disabling stress sufficient to legally qualify for work comp need not and does not equate to mental illness, as the smearmongers tried to allege. Ezola told the truth at every turn and abided by the law. It's as simple as that.
FS, I'll be willing to bet that even Rhorbacher{sp} hasn't got that mush intestinal fortitude. Peace and love, George.
Read the article, dirtboy. It gives the full story. Job related and work disabling stress sufficient to legally qualify for work comp need not and does not equate to mental illness, as the smearmongers tried to allege. Ezola told the truth at every turn and abided by the law. It's as simple as that.
However, she claimed mental illness. Arator, the word of the accused is not, in itself, the truth - I would like to see independent verification as to the legality of her actions in this matter. I'm not planning on making a big deal on it until then - but when you go running around making statements like you have on this thread, that is little better than the "smearers" you are acting like you are rising above. If you were smart, you'd let it fade out - and I imagine Ezola would want some kind of proper legal vindication herself if she is in the right as she has claimed.
Republicans and Democrats support the Four Horsemen of America's Apocalypse
GOD BLESS AMERICA - IN GOD WE TRUST =========
I'll bet Jesse and his buddy Al Sharpton would have all those nice government workers give her a great big gehto welcome. How long would it take them to make her run?
Gee, there wouldn't be some racial stereotyping on your part, would there, Tator?
No wonder Republicans will always lose the minority vote.
BTW, what's a "gehto"? Is that anything like a Dan Quayle "potatoe"?
However, she claimed mental illness
Read the article again. She claimed job related stress -- stress that effectively prevented her from doing her job -- and she had every basis for claiming it given the violent, threatening, and hostile environment her workplace had become.
See, dirtboy, when you stand up for truth in today's America, all hell breaks lose and comes right at you. Pat and Ezola are brothers and sisters in the struggle for truth; they've experienced the same scars of battle. As such, they are soulmates as well as running mates, and exactly the kind of leaders this country so desperately needs.
Read the article again. She claimed job related stress -- stress that effectively prevented her from doing her job -- and she had every basis for claiming it given the violent, threatening, and hostile environment her workplace had become.
Arator, from the LA Slimes article, she claimed mental illness - now, the best way to resolve this is to get a copy of the actual form and see the actual wording. Get a couple of folks who understand California workman's comp law to analyze what she did. Then I'll be convinced one way or the other. Until then, since the story seems to be dwindling on it's own, perhaps you might want to let the drowsy dog go to sleep here.
Well George when one cannot handle fellow teachers, and even nasty students, there is no way to make it in Washington D.C.
Can you see the secret service taking after Jesse and Al Sharpton in Washington D.C.? I can just hear Ezola screaming .... they sent me nasty Email... and all the students in washington D.C schools are turned against me.
George just put this in your brain.
Teachers, students, and the administration of a school come after a teacher. She gets an attorney. He goes to see the school administration and says. We are bringing a law suit asking for 1 million bucks. You people are out to get my client and you are going to pay. The School administrator says, look have your client claim she is crazy, and I will not oppose her getting workmans comp for a year.
If Ezola had a case the lawyer would tell them, "I'll see you in court. You as an employee of the city school system have severly damaged my clients abiltiy to earn a living. We are going to win several years pay, plus punitive damages.But that is not what happened. Her lawyer said where does Ezola sign.
You can twist that until hell freezes over but no attorney I have ever met would let someone make such an admission if she were not nuts. At the very least he would have negotiated paid leave or a central office job or something other than the admission his client was crazy.
At the very least her attorney would have said, there are 15 bad back doctors in LA. None of them have ever examined a good back. If I take her to one and she has a bad back will you assist her geting bad back disablilty? If the answer was yes, then the attorney takes her to a bad back "doctor" and she gets a year of with pay for a bad back.
Lets put it this way. I am in no way smart enough to be Vice President. There is no way I am dumb enough to have done what Ezola did. She is either mentally unstabe or a lot dumber than tator. How could anyone dumb enough to hire a stupid lawyer be qualified to be V.P.
I have hired many lawyers and negotiated lots to deals. This one can best be described as CRAZY.
Guys, Pat's on in California AND MONTANA, where he lost the draw the other day. The secretary of state changed his mind. Peace and love, George.
BTW, what's a "gehto"? Is that anything like a Dan Quayle "potatoe"?
It is very similar to Ezola's mental disability.
"I have hired many lawyers and negotiated lots to deals. This one can best be described as CRAZY. "
"At the advice of my doctor and lawyer," she recalled, she chose stress, listed as a mental injury claim."
CT, Sorry bud, but Ezola doesn't seem to be the type to even bring such a suit in the first place. She had 33 years of service. She didn't need to get over on them. Teachers have GREAT retirement plans. Peace and love, George.
VOTE BUCHANAN / FOSTER - REFORM 2000 TO WIN!!!
Gee, there wouldn't be some racial stereotyping on your part, would there, Tator?
I just picked leaders of similar racial makeup to the ones Ezola is accusing in California. I figured if the leaders on the west coast didn't like her much the ones on the east might not either. It wasn't members of the white establishment she accused of doing her harm in LA... now was it?
She signed a paper that says she was mentally ill, now years later she calls these people of color very bad names and accuses them of criminal behavior.
She wasn't doing a little stereotyping was she? Read what was posted to start this thread.
At the advice of my doctor and lawyer," she recalled, she chose stress, listed as a mental injury claim."
Caused by E-mail from her fellow teachers.
Sounds like V.P. material to me.
"It is very similar to Ezola's mental disability. "
Truce Tator. Why don't you leave the mental compentency thing alone? There are a lot of mental Bushisms available on the internet which you have not seen the Brigaders post. Elevate the discussion - talk issues.
It is very similar to Ezola's mental disability.
So, in other words, you perceive it as unjust she could claim compensation, while you can't?
All of you commentators have a common denominator. You just don't like conservative. Go read a book.
Don't be surprised if, even with her reasonable explanation given for the clarification of the Slimes hit piece, Bushbots continue down their warpath against a NOBLE and GRAND LADY, who has done more active work for the cause of conservatism and took more knocks for it than a Certain Presidential Candidate who has been groomed as quack dentist to pull the teeth from Republican conservatism.
Not even the lame catcalls of toothless, tomcat-wannabe Arbustonistas (relying on the Gospel According to the Slimes) can erase Ezola's credibility OR the splendid work she has done for the cause of American patriotism all these years, no matter how loudly the spayed toms yowl.
Not even the lame catcalls of toothless, tomcat-wannabe Arbustonistas (relying on the Gospel According to the Slimes) can erase Ezola's credibility OR the splendid work she has done for the cause of American patriotism all these years, no matter how loudly the spayed toms yowl.
Couldn't have said it much better myself... ;) No doubt this BLACK, FEMALE, is quite an intimidating figure to our old, stalwart, "conservative", Republican men... Little did I know that if you are not willing to sue someone, you are not qualified to be the VP...
I know some of what Ezola believes in...You have no idea how difficult this was for me (and probably millions of other white males) but I became convinced that Ezola would not only be far superior than Al Gore as the VP, but she also outdistances Cheney by a great margin...She will get my vote...
Shoot, I'm confident I could do a better job for the country than Al Gore...
The more I learn about this lady.... the more I like her. It takes some real guts to speak out as a teacher in LA. And to be a Bircher? Well that’s really saying something. My folks left the JBS in the 60's.... not far enough to the right for us.... if you can believe that! LOL. They came to believe they were a ‘Make Work’ group.( I have a baby picture of me..... with a ‘Buy Your Communist Imports At Gerts’ balloon tied to my toe.) I have known a lot of Birchers, and they are fine people.
Sadly this is far from the general perception. My in-laws.... all good republicans.... thought they were bunch of Nazis. I fear this is common. It’s uphill all the way for us..so bring a good walking stick.:^)
CT, Oh, you mean like, "Just 'cause I can't spell potatoe." Peace and love, George.
Merc, The demonization is a thing to look forward to and challenge. Unlike the Republican consultants who really{?} seem to think{?} that the media aren't going to slime any Republican candidate whether or not he/she is a "compassionate conservative". Bring 'em on. Between Pat, Ezola, and a bunch of their supporters, we can handle 'em. Peace and love, George.
VOTE BUCHANAN / FOSTER - REFORM 2000 TO WIN!!!
LONG LIVE THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA CONSTITUTION WITH ITS ATTENDANT AMENDMENTS!!!
BUMP! Great inspiring lady!
Very inspiring lady.
She is a real America.
You despicable little squirrel. You quote the Los Angeles Times as your source for damning information about Ms. Foster? Give me a friggin break! How many years have we read the carp that comes out of that rag? And you use it for your source to denigrate Ms. Foster? Geez, fella, you've got about as much credibility as a road apple on this subject. Go back to your play pen.
I get such a kick out of you guys. You jump on Ezola when the likes of the LA Times bashes her. Then when a reasonable explanation is made, you aren't satisfied with it either. I'll wager you'd find it rather intimidating to have to be escorted out of your business by a police office, for fear of your life. But then perhaps you're not smart enough to realize what that means.
HEARING BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON IMMIGRATION AND CLAIMS OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, JUNE 10, 1999
PREPARED STATEMENT OF EZOLA FOSTER, RETIRED SCHOOL TEACHER, LOS ANGELES, CA, AMERICANS FOR FAMILY VALUESPREPARED STATEMENT OF EZOLA FOSTER, RETIRED SCHOOL TEACHER, LOS ANGELES, CA, AMERICANS FOR FAMILY VALUES
...I am a perfect example: A Public Broadcasting System program debating the Gallegly Immigration Bill Amendment giving states the right to decide if they wanted to pay for education of illegal alien children, was televised on Memorial Day, May 27, 1996.
As a proponent of the bill I appeared on The Jim Lehrer NewsHour with Congressman Gallegly. The opponents were Congressman Xavier Becerra and Los Angeles School Board Member David Tokofsky.
Two days after it aired, the Los Angeles School District and the teachers union, United Teachers, Los Angeles, circulated throughout the campus and the community ''hate-mail'' referencing the program and calling me a liar and a Nazi.
Despite requests from state and local officials, organizations, and individuals, my School District and my union took no steps to either investigate or end the ''hate campaign'' against me during the five week period I was away from the school (May and June are vacation months on the year-round schedule).
Our first day back July 1st, my students were getting into verbal fights with teachers who were telling their classes, ''Mrs. Foster is a racist'' and into physical fights with students who believed these teachers.
Fliers were widely circulated on campus to students and teachers that read ''Ezola Foster . . . is using her job to build racism with lies . . . Foster shouldn't teach at Bell-or anywhere!''
I had to have a police-escort from campus because I had received a death threat from a notorious Mexican gangster student. July 2nd, 1996 was the last day of my teaching career.
The August, 1996, issue of the school's newspaper, carried a front page article presenting me as a racist. The Editorial page, contained an editorial referring to me as a racist and a Nazi.
And all of this, because I simply said what I saw. That a double standard exists for American citizen students, and illegal immigrant students. That the emphasis on cultural holidays that the illegal immigrants celebrate has created resentment with American citizen students. And that racial violence is sometimes the result. That the overwhelming numbers of illegal immigrant students that swell California schools threatens to collapse what was once the best public school system in the country. For speaking these truths I was attacked professionally, both at school and in the media. And, ladies and gentlemen, this is all the truth.
I ask that you, and all of the Congress, ''do the business of the American people.'' Take whatever measures are necessary to halt the flood of illegal aliens coming into our country.
http://commdocs.house.gov/committees/judiciary/hju62494.000/hju62494_0.HTM#86
Don't look now Al, but Buchanan's about to get $12.6 million dollars. Thanks George.
Roscoe, THANKS!! I'm tempted to post that by itself. Peace and love, George.
DOne, I think he is. By the way, I see where the California Secretary of state came to his senses concerning the Reform Party Candidate. Congratulations! Peace and love, George.
Post #18. With all the liberals there are in the Workers Comp. area in Calif., if she had done anything wrong, they would have been all over her like white on rice!
No, Ezola is the genuine article who can stand up for herself and America. I hope the CRA people remember her when they step into the voting booth on 11/7.
You despicable little squirrel. You quote the Los Angeles Times as your source for damning information about Ms. Foster? Give me a friggin break! How many years have we read the carp that comes out of that rag? And you use it for your source to denigrate Ms. Foster? Geez, fella, you've got about as much credibility as a road apple on this subject. Go back to your play pen.
Oh, bite me. I'm sure if the LA Slimes printed something bad about Bush, the brigadiers would be falling all over themselves to post it here. I am not claiming that, since the LA Times has printed it, it is therefore true. What I am saying is that, IMO, vindication comes not from what the accused said but from an impartial hearing into the matter - and Foster's contradictions in her statements about this don't exactly command confidence.
Sorry for the flame. Labeling a stress leave as a mental illness leave is a bit of a stretch. Foster was likely caught off guard. She's not been exposed to the media like this before. Perhaps some would have jumped all over a Bush story in the Times. Others of us wouldn't have.
At the advice of my doctor and lawyer," she recalled, she chose stress, listed as a mental injury claim."
Caused by E-mail from her fellow teachers.
The people I work with are terrible! I can't take it! It has stressed me to where I can not
function as a teacher! Sob! Sob! Sob!
I had to have a police-escort from campus because I had received a death threat from a notorious Mexican gangster
student.
Looks like you didnt' look carefully enough into the matter, eh? Have you ever received a death trheat from a notorious Mexican gangster, and required a police-escort to-from your place of work?
Paul Harvey opined that Pat Buchanan chose Mrs. Foster to help him with the veterans vote. As a form teacher in the Los Angeles school system, she is the only candiate with combat experience.
Paul Harvey opined that Pat Buchanan chose Mrs. Foster to help him with the veterans vote. As a former teacher in the Los Angeles school system, she is the only candiate with combat experience.
"As a former teacher in the Los Angeles school system, she is the only candiate with combat experience."
MandM, That works. Peace and love, George.
Ezola would do wonders for the school system. She understands the problems socialization has caused and has the backbone to fight.
If we don't get to the children there is no hope for a future American.
Time to turn back the clocks on education to a time when America was First in Science and Math.
"Time to turn back the clocks on education to a time when America was First in Science and Math"
LMF, YUP!! Rather than first in misplaced "self-esteem". Peace and love, George.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
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