Lawsuit is only the beginning

Emboldened by partisan victories in nonpartisan races last week, the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee is now looking ahead.

Coeur d’Alene School Board, you’re up next.

The school district is being sued by the KCRCC, allegedly for violating electioneering laws on Nov. 3.

While the KCRCC’s case is headed to court, don’t believe for a minute that an Election Day disagreement is the ultimate target. The ultimate target is the court of public opinion, where the Republican group hopes to try and convict the perceived villains on the school district’s board of trustees.

By villains, we mean liberals. And by liberals, we mean the distorted perception the central committee has of anyone who doesn’t toe the far, far, far right line.

If you're a conscientious Republican but you don’t hug every plank of the GOP platform, you’re the enemy.

If you have the courage to lead the charge against COVID-19 and protect our children, teachers and staff to the best of your ability, you’re the enemy.

If you dare open students’ minds to the many wonders of the world, you’re the enemy.

In Wednesday’s front-page article on the lawsuit, the KCRCC attorney cited, among other grievances, this example of “left-wing activism:”

“In 2019, (the district) allowed a Kwanzaa ‘holiday program’ in which children recited the seven principles of Marxism in Swahili.”

Kwanzaa is defined by Wikipedia as "an annual celebration of African-American culture which is held from December 26 to January 1, culminating in gift-giving and a feast of faith."

Let the record show that the attorney’s reference to Hayden Meadows Elementary, where the attorney’s daughter attended school, is likely a blatant misrepresentation of what actually happened.

Hayden Meadows’ Christmas program — called “Christmas Around the World” — features children singing songs from different countries. “We Wish You a Merry Christmas,” “O Christmas Tree” and “Silent Night” are complemented with international songs that celebrate Christmas, the Chinese New Year, Chanukah and Kwanzaa.

In the Republican committee’s view, the global mix is tantamount to treason. That justifies making up a narrative that fits their ideology, apparently.

The KCRCC would like nothing more than to shift the balance of power on the board of the largest school district in Kootenai County to go along with their successful conservative overhaul of the North Idaho College Board of Trustees. The latest assault has officially been launched, with the flag-bearer being an Election Day dispute but the troops aiming at three of five school board members up for re-election next year.

Leta, KCRCC.

That’s Swahili for “bring it on.”