Looking into possible Culver violation

http://www.dmcityview.com/skinny.shtml

Looking into possible Culver violation

Chet Culver's recent announcement at Hoover High School during a school day that he's running for governor walks a very fine line in the use of a school building for political purposes, a top state source told us, who said officials are looking into launching an investigation. "Politicians visit public school all the time, but these visits are often orchestrated to have some educational benefit for children and generally overt political advertising is not permitted," our source said. "Culver's announcement was nothing but for his own benefit." According to district policy: "The Board of Directors recognizes the rights of its employees, as citizens, to engage in political activities during non-working hours. School property, school time, or other school resources shall not be used by employees for political activities except as provided for in uniform policies and regulations pertaining to the use of school property." We're told initial questions that could be asked are which school official made the arrangements for the announcement, did school employees participate in the announcement and did Culver pay for the facility as is dictated in another policy? "I wonder if the district would allow an evangelical Republican candidate to announce during the school day onsite?" a political consultant asked us. "Or what about a candidate who thinks public education should be abolished and wanted to use a school as a backdrop?"

------------------

I think one could make the argument that any candidate announcing during school hours made available to students would be educational if used as part of any class. Did any teacher ask that the students write on the visit? I bet they did.

I think it's a bunch of crap. Back when former Deputy Secretary of State John Gilliland was running against Culver for the spot (1998), he had an ad made that used a young man from one of the Des Moines schools to pose as Gilliland as a child. The school held a pep rally of sorts and showed the ad prior to the ad run on TV. (This is seven year old news, so all my facts may not be exact, but I do know that a rally was held and the ad shown). I wonder what educational value THAT held for the school - unless the kids watched the election results and realized that a cute ad doesn't necessarily translate into a successful campaign! :shrug:

I guess I can see the root of the issue...it pisses me off when tax-exempt churches are used to spout right-wing talking points and campaign propaganda....but I think this one is a stretch.

I'm sure somebody on Chet's staff got an ass chewing for this.

Don't look for the investigation to find any broken laws, just a black eye for the son of John Culver. Looks like Chet might be Iowa's version of Dan Quayle. Good looks, great political connections, smart wife and a poor media image that gets more fuel every other news cycle.

Look for calls of investigation to come from some other campaign.

I'd say someone isn't raising as much money as Chet, isn't getting as much GOOD press as Chet, is battling their own demons (or not so popular positions on the issues)and can't seem to get their campaign to take hold.

Chet's not the problem here. I'd look at someone with an 'R'behind their name for this one.