Pima County Democratic Party Chairman Jeff Rogers and Republican strategist John Ellinwood visit Arizona Illustrated’s Political Roundtable to discuss the resignation of state Rep. Daniel Patterson, the latest bills at the Arizona Legislature, next week’s GOP primary in the race to finish Gabrielle Giffords’ congressional term and the ongoing battle over ethnic studies in the Tucson Unified School District.

This article appears in Apr 12-18, 2012.

Getting hassled by The Man Mild-mannered reporter

8 replies on “Political Roundtable: The CD8 GOP Primary, Mexican-American Studies, Patterson’s Resignation & More!”

  1. The statement “This board has told [Hispanic students]: we don’t respect your heritage or history; and we don’t even want you to learn about your heritage and history” is misleading. The board has repeatedly said, in its votes and in statements from its individual members, that it wants more material about Mexican American heritage and history in the curriculum and moreover wants this in a way such that every student sees it, not a few hundred (the number who took the Mexican American Studies courses).

  2. Give me a break, Mark.
    I can’t understand why you would further embarrass yourself with these statements after your clownish and ignorant attempt to connect into the community at the Barrio Fest yesterday. It’s obvious that you take us all for ignorant peon fools.
    I challenge you to show – in broad daylight – where you and your posse has done or said any twinkle of the babble that you’re spewing now. And I don’t mean by quoting an opposing vote or statement from one of your fellow board members. Show me a written outline or transcript of what you’re saying about making things ‘better and broader’.
    Do you really think that by issuing a statement like this, that people are just gonna roll over and believe you? You are deeply disturbed, my friend.
    You have created a gauntlet of racism and hatred and you are harming and damaging the current and future educations and development of children. CHILDREN!! All to satisfy your own and a few others’ twisted and pathetic agendas.
    It’s a chupacabra of a challenge to put the toothpaste back in the tube, Mark.
    And your crap is all over the place.
    My advise to you is to take one of 3 options:
    1: You and your band of racist, ignorant and politically crippled compadres resign and get the hell out of the way – or we will remove you by the same means that you are trying to remove us from reality; or,
    2. Rescind and reverse 100% of what you have done so far to create this pit of socio-political and cultural vomit – or we will do it ourselves according to the Constitution that we are all protected under; or,
    3. Keep the status quo and continue to make a mockery of yourselves – in which case – I repeat – we will handle it from here.
    And please note – this will all come to full-circle without a trace or hint of the fictitious and hate-mongering rhetoric or actions that you and Hicks puke about – implying that others are less civilized and less-knowing in these matters.
    Keep your eye on the ball Buddy – the way you came in is the same way that you’re gonna go out. Just a bit tattered and shredded and unable to find work anywhere near a brown person.
    C’mon Pal – show me what you got……….can I bring you a burrito to munch on as you contemplate your options?
    Peace.
    Frank Escobar, Jr.

  3. Hey Mark, Don’t take Frankie too serious he hasn’t taken his meds yet and his head is somewhere that doesn’t get any sun.

    The vast majority of Tucson citizens are behind you 100% and appreciate your standing up for what is right.

    By throwing the race card and all the threats coming from the La Raza crowd it has become obvious that MAS classes ONLY breed hate and division from true Americans.

    Keep up the good work.

    Hey Frankie…..GROW UP! And please stop threatening people, your IQ is showing….

  4. Mr Escobar:

    To provide a partial answer to your first question, the board voted this statement in January: “The district shall revise its social studies core curriculum to increase its coverage of Mexican-American history and culture, including a balanced presentation of diverse viewpoints on controversial issues. The end result shall be a single common social studies core sequence through which all high school students are exposed to diverse viewpoints.”

    As for the Barrio Fest, I like the neighborhood, I liked the event, it was a perfect day, and I met many people I know there. Until someone I had never met started an argument, it was a very enjoyable afternoon. I don’t remember meeting any peons.

    – Mark

  7. Why don’t you guys grow up. American history classes should be all that’s required at the high school level and Mexican American studies should be a collage elective course. So if you want teach this in a course, have the students go to collage and pay for it.

  8. Mexecan AMERICAN history is “AMERICAN” history!!! I cant believ you people! You dont want american history, you want “YOUR” history!

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