Tax-credit ad raises ire at Clemson

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In the ad, Barbara Nielsen, the former Republican state education superintendent, says, "The Clemson study shows school choice provides more money to invest in our classrooms where it belongs."

The ad is sponsored by the South Carolina Policy Council, the conservative group that commissioned the study by Clemson economist Cotton Lindsey.

Clemson spokeswoman Robin Denny said university officials have some concerns about the ad, and President James Barker has received a number of e-mails and calls about it.

"Technically, I guess it would be correct because it was done by a Clemson professor, but it's misleading in that it seems to say that Clemson's position is what the study concluded, and that's not the case. We haven't taken a position" on Sanford's plan.

Ed McMullen, the Policy Council president, said the ad is correct and attributed criticism voiced to Clemson as orchestrated by opponents of Sanford's Putting Parents in Charge plan.

Quoting the late Vice President Spiro Agnew, McMullen said, "You have a bunch of nattering nabobs of negativism who are trying to make an issue over whether it's a Clemson study. We should be holding it up, hailing it as one of the fine works of Clemson University."

McMullen added, "It's hilarious to watch the left, in its desperation, doing anything they can to attack some credible research."

The skirmish is part of the battle over the scope and structure of public education in South Carolina.

Sanford's plan being debated in the state Legislature would allow tax credits for home schooling and transfers to new school districts or private schools.

He says it would bring the state's schools into the 21st century while bolstering South Carolina's ability to compete in the world marketplace. Opponents say it would financially devastate public education.

Inez Tenenbaum, state education superintendent, has been among the most outspoken opponents of Sanford's plan.

She said it is "unfortunate that Clemson University is mentioned in this ad. I know many people at Clemson who are not for Putting Parents in Charge, and I believe that misleading people about the credibility of this study is a very bad thing."

Nielsen's support, Tenenbaum said, is "an incredible betrayal of public education" by its former leader.

McMullen stood by the ad and its concept. "I can assure you that the Policy Council has done nothing that hasn't been done in any other research project," he said.

"The key difference between ours and theirs is that research was paid for — over $50,000 — at a premium, to make sure it was a Clemson study," he said.

The study, McMullen said when it was released, concludes that Sanford's plan "is sound fiscally (and) pays for itself," to the tune of a five-year surplus of $2.8 billion. At the time, Tenenbaum said the figures were "fantasy."

McMullen said airtime was purchased for one week, ending Sunday. He said the council spent $50,000 on the Nielsen ad and $50,000 on a second one promoting Putting Parents in Charge. Dan Hoover covers politics and can be reached at 298-4883.