Madison School District Board member Bill Keys has inadvertently become the symbol of a growing trend throughout the United States'political intolerance. Though the ally around the flag"" mentality has always been present in America during times of crisis, rarely does it manifest itself as so politically opportunistic. Conservative groups throughout the country are targeting individuals like Keys for dissenting'and in so doing are attempting to stymie political debate.
In Keys' case, he became an unfortunate victim of forces well beyond his control. Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Scott Jensen, R-Waukesha, passed the law in the most recent state budget well before the events of Sept. 11. Wisconsin school officials didn't recognize the change until Sept. 1, when memos were sent out to public school districts requesting that students recite the Pledge of Allegiance or sing the national anthem every day.
The school board received numerous complaints about the new rules from parents and community members who said the pledge would intimidate students disagreeing with its content. Keys proposed a compromise that would conform with state regulations, but in a less invasive way. Schools would play an instrumental version of the anthem rather than reciting the pledge.
When news organizations incorrectly said the school board had banned the Pledge of Allegiance, conservative groups organized to protest the board's decision. Under pressure from pledge supporters, the school board reversed its decision'with Keys the lone dissenter.
Since then, conservatives in Madison such as former Republican U.S. Rep. Scott Klug have suggested that Keys lacks the patriotism needed to lead the Madison School District. Bill Geist, the Madison businessman looking to replace Keys, seems to be running on one theme'patriotism. He may not admit it; in fact he has emphasized specifically that the recall is not about patriotism at all. However, his main pitch revolves around whether ""these people on the school board represent this community's best interest.""
Such a statement is tantamount to saying that because you wanted an instrumental version of the national anthem rather than the vocal version or the pledge itself you no longer ""represent this community's best interest."" One can easily imagine a young Joseph McCarthy saying much the same thing over 50 years ago. Like Geist, McCarthy tried to use the political crisis of the time to catapult him into a leadership position.
The question now is whether the Madison political community will allow Geist's opportunism to spread unchecked. Although several prominent Madison politicians came out in support of Keys following the school board meeting, a notable exception was Progressive Dane member Stuart Levitan. In postings made on the Progressive Dane Web site and in Progressive Dane meetings, Levitan has suggested that Keys resign to avoid hurting PD members' chances in upcoming elections.
Levitan rightly points out that the recall process will mobilize a conservative base local Republicans could use against liberal candidates in the future. Yet, by suggesting that Keys resign, Levitan is giving Geist and his Republican allies an even greater gift. He is tacitly supporting political opportunism. Madison's modern-day McCarthy needs to be stopped now by a political community united behind its support of the right to dissent.
Allowing Geist to pursue a recall without a strong challenge from the Madison community may have implications that strike at the heart of Madison's tolerant community. Geist and his supporters are not only motivated by a heartfelt desire to protect the Pledge of Allegiance. His gripes against Keys and other liberal school board members can, in part, be traced back to their decision to create a new Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning liaison for the Madison School District.
If Geist succeeds, or even if Keys resigns, it will put conservatives one step closer to gaining the support they need to repeal the LGBTQ position and certainly cut much-needed school spending. What has been overshadowed by the vitriolic atmosphere of the current patriotic inquisition is that Keys and the entire school board have done a good job balancing the interests of Madison's powerful teachers' union with the demands of taxpayers for a more accountable educational process and the need to create a tolerant atmosphere in Madison's schools.
Recently, Keys voted for a resolution supporting the use of testing standards in Madison high schools as long as those tests were not the sole factor determining a student's eligibility to graduate. By supporting testing standards, traditionally a Republican issue, Keys has demonstrated his willingness to consider any suggestion that might improve education in Madison.
The school board has been doing a wonderful job; Keys has been an effective advocate for Madison teachers and students and has shown the courage to stand by his convictions. Keys deserves the support of the Madison liberal community and the teachers, parents and students who value a quality education. Political opportunism and intolerance must not be allowed to damage further efforts at improving Madison schools.
