A Democratic State Legislator from Wisconsin was blasted online for an insensitive tweet dismissing parents’ concerns about their children’s education.
“If parents want to ‘have a say’ in their child’s education, they should home school or pay for private school tuition out of their family budget,” Wisconsin state Assemblywoman Lee Snodgrass tweeted Thursday morning. She quickly deleted it, but the tweet was screenshotted and shared by a number of conservative Twitter users.
Wisconsin Representative Lee Snodgrass (@RepSnodgrass) tweeted and then quickly deleted a powerful reminder that Democrats believe you have no say in your children’s education if you send them to a public school. pic.twitter.com/464x9HUeng
— Dan O’Donnell (@DanODonnellShow) February 10, 2022
Snodgrass backtracked on Twitter. “I deleted my Tweet since it was lacking in nuance and easily misinterpreted,” she wrote. “I wouldn’t want anyone to think that parents do not have a role in their child’s public education-I sure did. I encourage all parents to engage in voting for school board, join PTO and meet with teachers.”
I deleted my Tweet since it was lacking in nuance and easily misinterpreted. I wouldn’t want anyone to think that parents do not have a role in their child’s public education-I sure did. I encourage all parents to engage in voting for school board, join PTO and meet with teachers
— Rep. Lee Snodgrass (@RepSnodgrass) February 10, 2022
“To clarify, My point is we should be fully funding our public schools and that diverting funds away from our public schools only makes it harder for parents to have the relationships we deserve with our kids’ teachers and their schools. Of course parents need to have a say in their kids’ education and their classrooms! I’m a parent, and I have a say, as should every parent. I shouldn’t have been cavalier or glib—that wasn’t my intention, and I apologize. Carry on!” she added.
To clarify, My point is we should be fully funding our public schools and that diverting funds away from our public schools only makes it harder for parents to have the relationships we deserve with our kids’ teachers and their schools.
— Rep. Lee Snodgrass (@RepSnodgrass) February 10, 2022
Of course parents need to have a say in their kids’ education and their classrooms! I’m a parent, and I have a say, as should every parent. I shouldn’t have been cavalier or glib—that wasn’t my intention, and I apologize. Carry on!
— Rep. Lee Snodgrass (@RepSnodgrass) February 10, 2022
Snodgrass’ comments and subsequent deletion came just a few hours after she mocked a Republican gubernatorial candidate for a typo on his website. “But screen caps live forever, baby!!” Snodgrass tweeted Wednesday night in response to a screenshot of the error.
But screen caps live forever, baby!! 😂
— Rep. Lee Snodgrass (@RepSnodgrass) February 10, 2022
Twitter users blasted Snodgrass for her insensitivity.
“When people show you who they are, believe them,” conservative activist and podcaster Kyle Kashuv tweeted, with a screenshot of the deleted tweet.
When people show you who they are, believe them. pic.twitter.com/CGn34bfxfs
— Kyle Kashuv (@KyleKashuv) February 10, 2022
“No, we didn’t misinterpret this,” conservative columnist Kimberly Ross wrote.
No, we didn’t misinterpret this. pic.twitter.com/ORCLIUMa0r
— Kimberly Ross (@SouthernKeeks) February 10, 2022
“Someone should ask the representative who exactly pays for public schooling,” conservative commentator Stephen L. Miller wrote.
Someone should ask the representative who exactly pays for public schooling. https://t.co/xV5vwt7pJR
— Stephen L. Miller (@redsteeze) February 10, 2022
“Parents already pay for their kids’ education through the taxes they pay,” Media Research Center and NewsBusters Deputy Managing Editor Nicholas Fondacaro pointed out. “They should be able to take that money and spend it on the education they want. But what you were saying is that parents should go pound sand.”
Parents already pay for their kids’ education through the taxes they pay. They should be able to take that money and spend it on the education they want.
But what you were saying is that parents should go pound sand. pic.twitter.com/DXO1gL99WO— Nicholas Fondacaro (@NickFondacaro) February 10, 2022
Conservative grassroots activist Scott Presler responded to Snodgrass by pointing out the case of failed Virginia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe, who infamously said that he did not believe “parents should be telling schools what they should teach” in a debate in October, then went on to lose the race against current Virginia Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin. “I know a lot of parents in Appleton & they vote,” Presler warned.
Hi, Representative.
The last time a democrat said parents shouldn’t have a voice in education, he lost the governorship in Virginia.
I know a lot of parents in Appleton & they vote.
— #ThePersistence (@ScottPresler) February 10, 2022
“[O]nly rich people should have school choice!” added Corey DeAngelis, National Director of Research for the American Federation for Children.
“only rich people should have school choice!” pic.twitter.com/PwQryrd0e3
— Corey A. DeAngelis (@DeAngelisCorey) February 10, 2022
“Honestly thought @RepSnodgrass was a parody account when I first saw it because I can’t believe Democrats are still doing this to themselves,” corporate strategist and former Georgetown Institute of Politics Fellow Rory Cooper tweeted.
Honestly thought @RepSnodgrass was a parody account when I first saw it because I can’t believe Democrats are still doing this to themselves. (she deleted it) pic.twitter.com/sDXUGnQN2I
— Rory Cooper (@rorycooper) February 10, 2022
In addition to her role in the Wisconsin legislature, Snodgrass is also a longtime Democratic activist and party leader. She previously served as a volunteer for multiple Democratic politicians, including current Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin’s campaign for State Assembly, and Russ Feingold’s first Senate campaign. She also volunteered for John Kerry and Hillary Clinton’s presidential runs. Snodgrass currently serves as chair of the Democratic Party of Outagamie County, Wisconsin, first elected in December of 2016. Snodgrass is also 2nd Vice Chair to the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, elected in 2019.
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