Barker disavows 'Clemson' study

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Some opponents of the plan had complained to Barker that the ad sponsored by the conservative South Carolina Policy Council appeared to link Clemson to support for Sanford's Put Parents in Charge legislation.

The ad features former Republican state Education Superintendent Barbara Neilsen.

While Barker issued no public statement, he has been e-mailing those who have raised questions, Clemson spokeswoman Robin Denny said Monday.

"The study in question is a (Professor) 'Cotton Lindsay study,' not a 'Clemson study,'" Barker wrote. "Clemson has not and will not take a political position on this issue."

Lindsay said, "I certainly don't expect Clemson University to endorse the policy implications of my study, but it was done as a Clemson study.

"The research grant was forwarded by me to the dean of research and it has his signature on it, and the money was paid into Clemson's fund and disbursed to the various researchers involved," he said.

Clemson officials had previously described the ad as technically correct, but misleading because they said it appears to suggest that the study's findings represent the university's opinion.

Ed McMullen, the council's president, said the organization had voluntarily altered the ad so that it now refers to "a Clemson study by Professor Cotton Lindsay."

Lindsay, an economist, conducted a study financed by the council and found that Sanford's plan for tax credit for school transfers — within public school systems, private schools and home schools — if fiscally sound.

McMullen said critics were attempting to shift the debate from the merits of the program.

"This is the kind of nonsense that gets you off of the facts," he said. "We want to talk about the issue."

The ad was to have ended its one-week airing on Sunday, but has been extended for a week, at a cost of another $50,000, McMullen said.

"We want to make it clear that no one's intimidating us," he said.

To proponents, Sanford's plan represents increased choice for parents to decide where their children will go to school and enhanced competition among schools.

Opponents say it would be a devastating financial blow to public schools and that existing accountability laws have resulted in significant educational improvements.

Inez Tenenbaum, state education superintendent and a Democrat, has emerged as the plan's most vocal opponent. Last week she said Neilsen's support for it is "an incredible betrayal of public education."

On Monday, Neilsen said it was "an unfortunate remark" by Tenenbaum, who succeeded Neilsen in January 1999.

"We should be focusing on the children and children's learning. My record speaks for itself in working for public schools," Neilsen said.

Staff writer Dan Hoover covers politics and can be reached at 298-4883.