The left is particularly adept at creating problems, then blaming others for the carnage left in their wake.
The Biden administration blamed Russia after failed policies led to high gas prices. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg blamed the pandemic of 2020 and 2021 for supply chain problems in 2022. Last Wednesday, Randi Weingarten was sharply criticized after taking no responsibility for the harm that resulted from the policies her union pushed.
Randi Weingarten, a progressive, serves as the American Federation of Teachers’ president. In a presentation titled, “Social Media Is Having Negative Effects on Kids and Teens,” Weingarten sounded the alarm noting that two years of inconsistent schooling during the pandemic had negatively affected students.
“Our kids are in crisis,” Weingarten declared. “And we had a mental health crisis before COVID … but for two years of disruption, two years of looking at the screens, two years of not having a normal kind of routine and rhythm, recovery is really tough.”
Noting a need for something to be done, Weingarten said, “It’s not a shock that a lot of kids, frankly a lot of adults, are still under tremendous stress and anxiety.”
Critics of school closures and mask and vaccine mandates for children quickly labeled Weingarten’s comments as hypocritical. Last year, her union worked closely with the CDC and supported school closures.
The American Federation of Teachers and the National Education Association, the two largest teachers’ unions in America, were found to have contributed to CDC policies that negatively impacted children, teachers and families.
Weingarten poorly defended her communications with the CDC, saying at the time that it was “routine” for stakeholders to offer feedback to the CDC, according to Fox News.
Fox News’ contributor Karol Markowicz told Fox News Digital:
“No one is more responsible for the damage inflicted on America’s kids than Randi Weingarten. She knows this; that’s why she continues to go on a soft-focus media tour with sympathetic news outlets. She blocked the schoolhouse door for so many American kids. These consequences are largely her fault.”
The outlet noted some of the harsh feedback Weingarten received following her “tone-deaf” comments.
The Free to Learn Coalition that condemned Weingarten said:
“The very policies Randi Weingarten pushed are exactly what caused so much disruption and harm to students across the country, and yet, she pretends to be completely unaware of where these ‘disruptions’ came from.”
Americans for Public Trust echoed the sentiment: “Our kids are in ‘crisis,’ because…Weingarten pressured the CDC into keeping schools closed…She deserves much of the blame.”
Moms for Liberty said, “The arsonist pretends to be the firefighter. Disgusting.”
The National Director of Research at the American Federation for Children, Corey DeAngelis, shared this pointed statement:
“This is peak gaslighting…Teachers’ unions fought to keep public schools closed for over a year. At least six studies have found that school districts with stronger teachers’ unions were significantly less likely to reopen in person.”
DeAngelis continued: “These union-induced school closures hurt kids socially, mentally, and academically. Randi Weingarten’s union even lobbied the CDC on school reopening guidance to prolong school closures. Teachers unions constantly engaged in fearmongering and hypocrisy while private schools, daycares, and other businesses reopened.”
Rep. Kevin Hern, R-Okla., said: “Parents, pediatricians, and mental health experts have been saying this for two years. What was Randi doing during that time? Lobbying the Biden Administration to keep schools closed and kids home. Her faux concern for our children now is insulting.”
Michele Perez Exner, Communications Director for House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy, said of Weingarten:
“She personally championed long-term school closures and is now pretending to be shocked at the predictable negative consequences it created for America’s students.”
American Federation for Children’s DeAngelis added:
“She must think parents are stupid. Thankfully, parents aren’t dumb and they won’t fall for Randi’s desperate attempts to rewrite history. They will never forget what happened over the past two years, the role that the union bosses played, and the damage it did to their own children.”
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