My strategy at this point is the same as it was in 1999: notify the national and local media about what’s going on and portray them in the harshest light possible, as political opportunists, evangelical activists, ignoramuses, breakers of rules, unprincipled bullies, etc.

There may no way [sic] to head off another science standards debacle [sic], but we can sure make them look like asses as they do what they do.

The following message was posted on the Kansas Citizens for Science Web Site by Liz Craig, on February 10, 2005 at 7:35 pm. At http://www.kcfs.org/cgibin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=3;t=000017

Ms Craig is an officer and media and PR contact for KCFS. The message out lines the strategy that was used in 1999 and that is being used in the debate over the Minority Report in 2005.

We are posting this on our web site because the strategy outlined in Ms. Craig’s post explains why the opposition to the Minority Report is built on a campaign of misinformation.

WS. Harris, PhD
For the Authors of the Minority Report
May 2, 2005

******************************
http://www.kcfs.org/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=3;t=000017
posted February 10, 2005 06:53 PMFebruary 10, 2005 07:53 PM
********

Pat,

I admire your attitude. I feel the same way. However, the BOE answers to no one. They have no reason to resign. They are in the cat-bird seat, they have all the power, and they will do what they want to do.

My strategy at this point is the same as it was in 1999: notify the national and local media about what's going on and portray them in the harshest light possible, as political opportunists, evangelical activists, ignoramuses, breakers of rules, unprincipled bullies, etc.

There may no way to head off another science standards debacle, but we can sure make them look like asses as they do what they do.

Our target is the moderates who are not that well educated about the issues, most of whom probably are theistic evolutionists. There is no way to convert the creationists.

The solution is really political. And unfortunately, the creationists on the BOE are making their power grab so early in the game, it's far away from the 2006 elections. Think they didn't plan it that way?

In the meantime, let's shine a light on them and their motives, and let the press and public know what's really going on.

Posted by Liz Craig, Member no 70 KCFS .org Discussion Forum
Posts: 171 | From: Kansas | Registered: Jan 2005 | IP: Logged

"My strategy at this point is the same as it was in 1999: notify the national and local media about what's going on and portray them [the critics of evolution] in the harshest light possible, as political opportunists, evangelical activists, ignoramuses, breakers of rules, unprincipled bullies, etc.
There may no way to head off another science standards debacle, but we can sure make them look like asses..."

This is the Darwinists' idea of reasoned debate? Avoid at all costs any genuine discussion of science, and portray one's opponents "in the harshest light possible, as... opportunists... ignoramuses... unprincipled bullies, etc." In sum, don't bother the public with facts or rational arguments. Engage in a cynical smear campaign instead.

Later in her post, Ms. Craig also revealed her contempt for potential supporters, saying that her group's "target is the moderates who are not that well educated about the issues...."

The implication seemed to be that such supposedly less-educated people could be more influenced by the planned smear campaign.

Now we know the script that will be followed by Kansas Citizens for Science going into this week's science standard hearings. What remains to be seen is whether journalists in the national newsmedia will be credulous enough to allow themselves to be manipulated by Ms. Craig and her colleagues.

My strategy at this point is the same as it was in 1999 ... notify the national and local media about what's going on and portray [the school board majority] in the harshest light possible, as political opportunists, evangelical activists, ignoramuses, breakers of rules, unprincipled bullies, etc.

The "target" for Craig's propaganda, as she freely admits, are "the moderates who are not particularly well educated about the issues."  In 1999, the KCFS strategy was to scare the uninformed into thinking that any official resistance to Darwin would cause the state great embarrassment. To assure the desired outcome, the KCFS then prodded the media to portray the state school board – and by extension its citizens – as evangelical activists, ignoramuses and the like.

...[several paragraphs omitted]...

I would have asked him with the Alan Fleischner quote in mind and the fact that Kansas Citizens for Science, KCFS wants to be active in the discussion of science in Kansas would you agree it does seem strange that KCFS, media contact Liz Craig would have a memo stating the following: "My strategy at this point is the same as it was in 1999, notify the national and local media about what's going on and portray them the school board members, the school board majority, in the harshest light possible as political opportunists, evangelical activists, ignoramuses, breakers of rules and unprincipled bullies, and et cetera.

Further, the KCFS' memo also states that the target is moderates who are not particularly well educated about issues.  I would have asked Mr. Irigonegaray if--if he agreed with the idea that character assassination by KCFS and targeting uneducated moderates is the correct way to discuss and implement science education in the State of Kansas. He is impugning us when he states that I and/or the Board demean science teachers. However, by your statements Mr. Irigonegaray, you have adhered to the KCFS memo about character assassination and targeting uneducated moderates by saying we are coming against science teachers. In fact, you further demean the science teachers that testified last week by not acknowledging their testimony when they came and declared that some of them were fired, some were put on a short leash, some were just scared to death about what to do when the students come in and start presenting scientific evidence that seems to oppose biological evolution.

At issue is an Internet post by Liz Craig, a spokeswoman from the group Kansas Citizens for Science. In it, she delineates her plan for dealing with those on the Kansas Board of Education who fall on the creationist side of the science standards debate.

In the online discussion, Craig described how she intended to use the press in an effort to portray creationist and intelligent design advocates as uninformed and foolish. Her strategy, she remarked, is "the same as it was in 1999: notify the national and local media about what's going on and portray them [critics of evolution] in the harshest light possible as political opportunists, Evangelical activists, ignoramuses, breakers of rules, unprincipled bullies, etc."

"My Our strategy is the same as it was in 1999: notify the national and local media about what's going on and portray them in the harshest light possible, as political opportunists, evangelical activists, ignoramuses, breakers of rules, unprincipled bullies, etc.

There may (be) no way to head off another science standards debacle, but we can sure make them look like asses as they do what they do.

Our target is the moderates who are not that well educated about the issues informed, most of whom probably are theistic evolutionists. There is no way to convert ...there is no way to convert the creationists."

(Transcribed from Video available on AEI website)

A: The organizations that oppose the changes are unwilling to publicly debate evolution because they falsely claim it is not scientifically controversial. To avoid a discussion of the real controversy they unfairly demean those who seek it. This strategy is explained by the media and public relations officer of the Kansas Citizens for Science, the organization that is leading the opposition. The boycott of the May hearings is an example of an implementation of the strategy.

Q: Where can I find the “strategy” you speak about?

A: Go to www.kansasscience2005.com).  The February 10, 2005 post by the Media and Public Officer of Kansas Citizens for Science states:

“My strategy at this point is the same as it was in 1999: notify the national and local media about what's going on and portray them in the harshest light possible, as political opportunists, evangelical activists, ignoramuses, breakers of rules, unprincipled bullies, etc.

"There may [be] (sic) no way to head off another science standards debacle, but we can sure make them look like asses as they do what they do. Our target is the moderates who are not that well educated about the issues, most of whom probably are theistic evolutionists. There is no way to convert the creationists.” 

Original Post

My strategy at this point is the same as it was in 1999: notify the national and local media about what's going on and portray them in the harshest light possible, as political opportunists, evangelical activists, ignoramuses, breakers of rules, unprincipled bullies, etc.

FAQ  "quote"

our “strategy is to portray” those who seek an objective discussion of evolution “in the harshest possible light, as ignoramuses, religious activists, unprincipled bullies, etc.”

(see below for update)

Why do we get conflicting reports about the changes to the science standards?  This was published by the Media and Public Relations officer of Kansas Citizens for Science in February of 2000.  We have copies of it.  We went to the website after we got it.  Liz Craig’s name was listed as an officer and I’ve known her, I mean we’ve been fighting that organization for six years and she is an officer, a card-carrying officer, and she has been involved with the organization for six years.

Your hand out shows a very early dialogue that she had on a website designed to quote debunk creationism, to treat is as if it was a myth like the Spaghetti Monster.  And this is the strategy…it’s the same as it was in 1999, she has published this in February 2005.  “…notify the national and local media about what’s going on and portray them in the harshest light possible as political opportunists, evangelical activists, ignoramuses, breakers of rules, unprincipled bullies"...they question our credentials to teach, or to speak…uhh…"there may be no way to head off another science standards debacle, but we can sure make them look like asses when they do what they do."

This is not a strategy designed to discuss the scientific substance of the issues.  This is a strategy to label those who want the discussion as ignoramuses.  I submit the ignoramuses were the people outside of the hearings, not the ones that were in the hearings in May, the 23 experts that testified.

Who is the targets of this?  I mean, this strategy works for two reasons.  It is being promoted by institutions of science, institutions that are in positions of authority.  And so when you get this message from somebody in authority you’re inclined to believe them, particularly if you are a moderate who’s not that well educated on the issues…extraordinarily effective strategy.

(Transcribed from a recording obtained by an attendee)

(Transcribed from a recording of the program)

(Transcribed from a recording of the program)

A couple of weeks before the hearings…um…I was, uh, sent an email which, um, sent me to a website, the Kansas Citizens for Science website, and on the website, I found this memo.  The memo was published by Liz Craig, the media and public relations officer of Kansas Citizens for Science.  And, uh…the memo is pretty self explanatory.  It says,

My Our strategy at this point is the same as it was in 1999: notify the national and local media about what’s going on and portray them…and I, I think, uh, in the film we just showed that portrayed the conservatives of the Kansas State Board, I think that’s probably not quite accurate…portray them in the harshest light possible…as what…as political opportunists, evangelical activists, ignoramuses, breakers of rules, unprincipled bullies, etc.

There may be no way to head off another science standards debacle, but we can sure make them look like asses as they do what they do.

Our target is the moderates…who’s the target…moderates who are not that well educated about the issues.

And this is really an extraordinarily powerful strategy, particularly when it is embraced by institutions of science: the National Academy of Science, the AAAS, the National Association of Biology Teachers, the National Science Teachers Association.  And they have embraced this strategy because they have embraced the activity of Kansas Citizens for Science, and supported them, and essentially that organization is the point organization…uh…for promoting this particular strategy.  And when I saw this strategy <clears throat> memo, a couple weeks before the hearings, I said this explains it all, huh, this explains, you know, the behavior that we anecdotally see and that we’re confronted with, and that I’ve been…that I have observed personally over the past six or seven years as I have been very intimately involved in this business.

And I asked myself, why does an organization <clears throat> that says that, that, holds it out, itself out as for being for science, use this kind of…uh…propaganda…uh…to promote a scientific theory?  Why isn’t the organization using the scientific methods?  Huh.  That’s the way science is done.

So we’re going to talk about, you know, the various different methodologies for promoting this strategy, and one is misinformation.

(Transcribed from a recording of the event)

A year ago, we were getting ready for the Science Hearings...uh...in May, and...about two weeks before that happened I got an email and the email suggested that I go to Kansas Citizens for Science Internet website and when I went there, uh, this is the, uh...this is, uh...the message that I saw.  It's a, uh, a...post made by the media and public relations officer of Kansas Citizens for Science that declares the strategy of that organization.  And what is so remarkable about the strategy is the very first line, it says:

My the strategy at this point is the same as it was in 1999...

So it essentially acknowledges the strategy that has been going on since 1999.  And the strategy is to:

...notify the national and local media about what's going on and portray them, uh, in the harshest light possible as political opportunists, evangelical activists, ignoramuses, breakers of rules, unprincipled bullies, etc.

There may be no way to head off another science standards debacle, but we can sure make them look like asses as they do what they do.

Our target is the moderates who are not that well educated about the issues, most of whom are probably theistic evolutionists.  There is no way to convert the creationists.

And, uh, when I saw this memo, I said that really does explain it all, uh, we were preparing for hearings and we were advised that the science community was going to boycott the hearings.

(Transcribed from a recording obtained by an attendee)

About this time <clears throat> I was, uh, informed, uh, uh, to go to the Kansas Citizens for Science website and I would found a memo and this is the memo I found.  This is a memo published by the media and public relations officer of Kansas Citizens for Science, Liz Craig.  And, I read this memo and I said well this, this is really consistent with everything I, I, have, uh, experienced, uh, and expect.  It says,

My Our strategy at this point is the same as it was in 1999, and that’s really an interesting statement because they acknowledge that this is a strategy that’s been in existence and been used for six years <laughs> what I’ve, I’ve experienced.  And so what is the strategy?  The strategy is to portray them, portray them in the harshest light possible it’s not the strategy that were going to discuss the scientific substance of these issues and overwhelm them with our extraordinarily better evidence.  It’s to portray them in the harshest light possible as political opportunists, evangelical activists, ignoramuses, breakers of rules, unprincipled bullies...

There may be no way to head off another science standards debacle, but we can sure make them look like asses as they do what they do.

Honestly, I don’t think tonight Angus Menuge and Bill Harris look like asses.

Our target is who? The moderates who are not that well educated about the issues most of whom are probably theistic evolutionists.  There is no way to convert the creationists.

This strategy, um, is interesting because it comes from an organization that promotes, is supposed to be promoting good science.  Is, is this consistent with the scientific method? This is abhorrent to science.

Now, you say well, you know, this is Liz Craig and she, you know, this really isn’t the, the strategy of Kansas Citizens for Science, uh, and there have been some half-hearted denials, but <clears throat> the behavior is the same.  The behavior that I will <inaudible> is consistent with this memoranda.

(Transcribed from a recording obtained by an attendee)