The latest press release from Artur Davis’s campaign showcases another issue where Ron Sparks is trying to have it both ways, education.

“Ron Sparks proudly touted his participation in President Obama’s education reform tour when he thought it would win him votes, but less than two weeks later he is taking the opposite position and claiming to strongly oppose the President’s signature reforms,” said Davis campaign spokesman Alex Goepfert. “Once again, Ron Sparks is not being honest with Alabama voters about where he stands.”

Despite occupying both sides of the charter schools debate, Ron Sparks appears remarkably ill-informed about the issue, claiming that charter schools would subtract funding from public schools when, in fact, allowing charter schools, would make Alabama eligible for hundreds of millions of federal dollars at a time when the state is struggling to deal with deep proration. Charter schools have empowered local communities in other states with the freedom to innovate and helped provide historically disadvantaged students with a pathway to success.

Goepfert continued, “Artur Davis agrees with President Obama on this issue and Ron Sparks either does not understand President Obama’s charter school proposals or he is once again deliberately misleading voters.”

No one is arguing Commissioner Sparks’s right to oppose the President on this issue (and refuse the federal money), but be clear about it everywhere you go, not just when it is convenient.  He is continuing to struggle with consistency of message.  I have no doubt that he is against charter schools, but then why did he tout his appearance at the event in Tuskegee with Al Sharpton and Newt Gingrich who were clearly there to support efforts to have more charter schools?

Ron Sparks message is getting garbled by his own actions and the actions of his campaign.  You can disagree with Artur Davis, but at least you have a clue where he stands from day to day…

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