Cornerstone, the conservative advocacy organization whose mission includes “communicate truth,” has unleashed a blatantly deceptive attack on a House lawmaker.
In an email to supporters titled “Shocking Common Core Support,” Cornerstone quoted Rep. Mel Myler (D-Contoocook) saying he is “sick of hearing” from parents regarding the Common Core education standards.
Cornerstone claimed Myler made the comments during a committee hearing on Senate Bill 101, legislation that would prohibit the state from requiring school districts to implement the standards.
“During the House Education Committee hearing yesterday, Rep. Myler representing Merrimack District 10, rebuked the large number of parents who e-mailed him in support of SB101 saying he’s ‘sick of hearing from the people who are e-mailing him,’ “ the email read. [emphasis added]
Fortunately, Cornerstone included a link to video of Myler’s full statement which shows the group misquoted Myler – he did not use the word “sick” – and truncated the quote to change its meaning.
Here’s what Myler actually said: “I’m tired of receiving emails that are misinformed, that have wrong information in them. Much of the information that has come forward has been answered. Now some don’t like the answers, but those are the answers, and frankly I don’t think this bill is going to stop those emails from coming forth.” [emphasis added]
Myler, who has a 48-year career in public education, went on make a spirited defense of the Common Core standards. “I’ve checked with my school board. I’ve checked with my school,” he said. “They are deeply engaged in Common Core. They are doing the testing. There is no problem.”
“Change is difficult,” Myler continued. “It is not easy to move from one strand to another strand, but I am convinced that the strand that we’re moving in now is much deeper than what we’ve had before.”
“It’s challenging students,” he said. “There’s no question about that. It’s challenging parents. But in the world we live in today and the access to information that we have today, what we’ve had in the past is not going to meet the demands of the future.”
Cornerstone called on Myler to “clarify his statement.” We just did.