What was Mike Mazzei thinking?
On the eve of what should have been the biggest moment of his gubernatorial campaign, the former state senator and Stitt administration budget czar stepped on his … uh … long red tie.
In public. With video rolling.
It happened at a recent debate in Lawton featuring the leading Republican hopefuls for governor. Responding to a question about the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority’s uncertain future, Mazzei jumped the rails and ended up insulting local superintendents and the teachers and support staff they lead.
“What nobody is really talking about,” he opined, “is how do we change an education system that has been hijacked by the radical left? … We’ve got 541 school districts that are run by liberal, left-leaning radical socialists.”
That last phrase – run by liberal, left-leaning radical socialists – was straight out of ex-state Superintendent Ryan Walters’ disgraceful playbook. And it would be news to many clear-eyed folks across Oklahoma who actually know their local superintendents, teachers and staff; attend church with them; like them … and know damned well they aren’t liberal, left-leaning radical socialists, but instead are mostly Republicans.
Firing the political equivalent of a Tomahawk missile into the state’s public ed establishment may have thrilled the hardest of a hard-core GOP base that embraces the fantasy of woke lefties lurking ‘round every corner, scheming to destroy all that makes America great.
Here’s the reality: Those Kool-Aid guzzlers were destined to be Mazzei voters anyway, especially since he was endorsed the very next day by their hero, President Trump.
So, rather than build on Trump’s support and expand his base, Mazzei gave June 16’s undecided Republican primary voters reason to doubt he is the one to help Oklahoma climb out of the nation’s cellar in most socioeconomic categories, including education.
The Trump endorsement generated headlines in traditional media – newspapers and local television. But on social media, Mazzei’s bombast drew rebukes from some high-profile uber-conservative and libertarian voices.
“I have my beefs with public education,” James Davenport, Rose State College political science professor, wrote on Facebook, “but Mazzei is simply out of his mind if he thinks all 500+ OK school districts are run by ‘radical, left-wing socialists.’
“You can bring up legitimate criticisms of a system without insulting and outright lying about the people in the system.”
Though not mentioning Mazzei by name, state Superintendent Lindel Fields – Stitt’s nominee to replace Walters – also took to Facebook to counter the bombast.
“One of the great privileges of serving as state superintendent,” he wrote, “has been the opportunity to meet the people who make Oklahoma’s schools work,” specifically citing board members, superintendents, principals, teachers, support staff, parents and community leaders.
“Over the past eight months, I’ve visited schools and communities across our state, and one thing has become abundantly clear: Oklahoma is filled with people who care deeply about children.
“Much of their work happens quietly and behind the scenes, but their impact is felt every day in the lives of Oklahoma children.”
The blowback must have stung, because at least twice last week, Mazzei jumped on Facebook seeking to clarify his unambiguous remarks.
“I was not talking about Oklahoma teachers as a whole,” he insisted. “I was talking about some superintendents and teacher unions that have pushed political and educational agendas many Oklahoma families disagree with.”
There’s an old saying in politics: If you’re explaining, you’re losing.
Trump’s support alone may help Mazzei secure a spot in what’s almost certain to be an Aug. 25 Republican runoff. But his intemperate remarks are sure to hound him so long as he’s in the running to be Oklahoma’s next governor.
