A group campaigning against the controversial "Common Core" standards adopted by 42 U.S. states has taken a page out of the anti-abortion movement's strategy: A video of an executive secretly recorded and edited to make their organization appear evil.
The undercover video posted on YouTube Tuesday, January 12, 2016, by Project Verits looks similar to the video made last year of a Planned Parenthood exec talking about her organizations practices. In this case, it is a senior account executive with textbook publisher Houghton-Mifflin Harcourt. Project Veritas members are posing as political consultants to lead Dianne Barrow into their trap.
"No, I hate kids," Barrow is heard answering, when it is suggested she works in her industry to help children. "I'm in it to sell books. Don't even kid yourself for a heartbeat."
"It's all about the money," Barrow later said. ""You don't think the educational publishing companies are in it for the education do you?" No, they're in it for the money."
While those statements may seem damning, Barrow appears to disagree with the situation. "It's the one place that really should't be about the money, it really should be about the kids."
Just as with the Planned Parenthood undercover video controversy last year, the Common Core video is certain to raise questions about editing. What was left out? Was it unfairly edited to be misleading.
Houghton-Mifflin Harcourt has not immediately responded to Lead Stories' calls and email seeking comment.
