If schools superintendent Tom Horne told Moms for Liberty the truth, he'll resign

If Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne is true to his oath and can be taken at his word, he’ll resign.

Or he already has.

It’s pretty straightforward.

Last week, Horne spoke to a group of East Valley supporters of Moms for Liberty, a right-wing operation out of Florida that somehow believes “liberty” involves book banning, victimizing LGBTQ children, suppressing accurate American history and more.

The group is now a force in the Republican establishment and has as one of its goals filling school boards with likeminded individuals.

Horne's job doesn't involve school boards

At the event last week Horne pledged to join them in their effort.

In fact, he said, “That’s going to be my main occupation for 2024."

Really?

Because the occupation to which he was elected by the citizens of Arizona does not involve that kind of work.

The job description for the superintendent of public instruction is in the statutes in black in white, ARS 15-251 (and 15-252).

Horne explains: Why he thinks schools teach critical race theory

Essentially, Horne’s elected job involves enforcing State Board of Education policies, distributing education funds to counties, providing school materials, issuing teacher certificates and other things.

Moms for Liberty has quoted Hitler

Nowhere does the job include working with Moms for Liberty to elect school board members, let alone having that as his “main occupation.”

The Moms got national attention a while back when the leader of a chapter in Indiana published a newsletter for members that prominently displayed a quote attributed to Adolf Hitler: “He alone who OWNS the youth, GAINS the future.”

At a big gathering of the organization earlier this summer, Moms for Liberty co-founder Tiffany Justice doubled down on that ugliness when she loudly proclaimed, “I stand with that mom!”

It’s actually not even the first time the Hitler quote turned up at a Moms for Liberty event. Media Matters reported how a slide showing the quote appeared prominently in a presentation to the group by right-wing conspiracy theorist Alex Newman.

Horne says he shares their values

Moms for Liberty says that one of its goals is to “stop woke indoctrination.”

What that seems to mean, however, is to alter history education by spreading conspiracies about critical race theory, making life hell for LGBTQ children, banning books and harassing teachers and other education professionals who don’t go along with their views.

In other words, just the opposite of liberty.

To which Horne has pledged his allegiance.

He told Moms for Liberty his values are “very much in common” with the organization’s values, adding, “I’ll do everything I can to help you.”

If that’s so, number one on Horne’s list should be: Resign.

Reach Montini at ed.montini@arizonarepublic.com.

For more opinions content, please subscribe.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Tom Horne should resign, if he told Moms for Liberty the truth