Oklahoma GOP Rep.: Common Core Is Indoctrinating Kids With Socialism

AP Photo / Sue Ogrocki

Daniel Strauss – February 20, 2014, 11:05 AM EST

Rep. Jim Bridenstine (R-OK) offered a new example of modern day socialism: Common Core.
In an interview with the Family Research Council's Tony Perkins on Monday, Bridenstine, a tea party favorite, argued that Common Core educational standards are really socialism. The interview was flagged by Right Wing Watch:

You don’t have the federal government controlling opinions and indoctrinating students and teachers with what they want the public to learn, and basically what they want the public to learn is that which is ‘common’ – which is why it’s called Common Core. I believe in exceptionalism and I think what Common Core does is it brings it all down to the lowest common denominator. It’s much like socialism. Socialism has been spreading poverty equally across the world and that’s not what we believe in. We believe in exceptionalism and that’s what our country should be advancing, not commonality.

Common Core, it should be noted, was actually not created by the federal government. It actually originated with the Council of Chief State School Officers and the National Governors Association.
Meanwhile, a Republican lawmaker in Missouri is trying to have a little fun with opponents of Common Core. The lawmaker, House Education Committee Chairman Mike Lair (R), allocated money for two rolls of tin foil hats to an appropriation bill that removes language keeping Missouri from accepting federal money for implementing Common Core in local schools. The tin foil hats are meant to "protect" opponents of Common Core from "all the problems from the black helicopters and drones."