Area educators were probably somewhat astonished when Sen. Gary Nodler, R-Joplin, was chosen to head up the committee to rework the Foundation Formula, through which Missouri elementary and secondary schools are funded.
During the time three years ago when education funding was reaching a crisis situation, I attended a meeting at which Nodler's name was brought up. An area superintendent said Nodler had told school administrators that what they wanted did not matter. He was at Jefferson City to do what Leggett & Platt (the biggest contributor to Republican campaigns in Missouri and one of the biggest in the nation) wanted him to do.
I e-mailed Nodler at that time, told him of the comment and asked for a response. Three years have passed, Gary, and I'm still waiting.
What brought these fond remembrances of my state senator to mind was the article written by Max McCoy, Joplin Globe investigative reporter for today's edition. For those who have not read the article, Nodler apparently threw a fit when he was unable to enjoy the movie "Fantastic Four" because of noise created by a handful of developmentally disabled adults.
The caregiver who was responsible for those adults, Amanda Richardson, apparently got into a verbal clash with Nodler. Who was at fault depends on which person you believe. She claims Nodler said that "people like that shouldn't be allowed in places (such as movie theaters)," according to the Globe account.
Nodler claims Ms. Richardson used the "F" word in the conversation with him.
A close reading of the Globe article, and I guarantee a lot of people read the article closely, shows Nodler indulging in some highly questionable behavior, no matter whose account of the incident is closer to the truth.
There is absolutely no doubt that Nodler was trying to use his power as a state senator to have Ms. Richardson fired from her job at Skills Unlimited. He wants "a formal apology" the Globe said. To me, that smacks of someone who is in a position of power and wants to lord it over a college student who had the courage to speak out about the senator's behavior even at the risk of her livelihood. Let's face it, if she is fired from this position, who else is going to want to hire her and get on Nodler's bad side?
The article indicates that once Nodler gets mad, he will stop at nothing to get what he wants. He contacted the Joplin Regional Center to tell the girl's supervisor, who, according to the article, is backing Ms. Richardson. Guess whose funds are going to be cut even more next year?
My favorite part of the article is where Nodler says he is willing to take a polygraph test and asks the Globe to pay for it. Now that's sad when a public official is so used to having everything bought and paid for by others that it doesn't even occur to him to spend his own money to protect his reputation.
You can find the article at:
http://www.joplinglobe.com/story.php?story_id=200419&PHPSESSID=7c41d3d30a244890ed279bc2e0b7c207
I wonder if Nodler was as outraged over the f-word when Dick Cheney proclaimed it on the floor of the US Senate?
ReplyDeleteAnd what was he doing at a 2pm movie? Doesn't he have a job?
Sounds like Sen. Nodler is trying to "compensate" for some other "inadequacy." Other men just get big trucks, big dogs, big handguns, or little blue pills rather than victimize the powerless. To each his own, I guess.
ReplyDeleteRandy, according to your link I followed on this story, Nodler did take a polygraph test; and Ms Richardson opted out.
ReplyDeleteThat's absolutely right. He paid for the test after The Joplin Globe refused to pay for it. His first instinct was have to someone else foot the bill.
ReplyDeleteI was at the movie that day, I didn't see the incident with Nodler but I also didn't see the movie. There was just too much noise. I guess I don't have any rights because I am not dissabled.
ReplyDeleteYou folks can't be believed! Nodler asked the Globe to pay for the test because they were questioning the truthfulness of the two accounts; Nodler did pay for the test himself and Richardson critized the validity of the test because he paid for it. It’s clear that he is wrong either way according to you, but that is no surprise after all you don't want the truth in the fist place. Re-read the story; it didn’t say that Nodler requested a public apology; it also said nothing about him ever requesting to anyone that the disabled be made to leave. It said he reported the foul language to the theater manager. Someone reported to the press that he had asked for an apology and he confirmed it. It is Amanda and her friend that made this issue public and that’s also what made it political. When they found out that he was an elected official, they went to the press and lied to cover her misconduct. Her refusal to take the test is an admission! You clearly want to facilitate that. So tell me I am wrong and that you are a conservative Republican Randy? Or could it be that you are a biased democrat?
ReplyDeleteHere are some facts, Amanda did not seek the press, they sought her and still are, the globe did not misrepresent anything, in fact they could have said more against Nodler (but did not), the theatre management did not support Nodler, as he claims they did (due only to their media silence), the lie detector test had nothing to do with Skills Unlimited (her employer), and they played no role in it other than to pass on the request. Now lets' talk about that lie detector test, all that was requested for Amandas' participation was to have an impartial advisor select the questions (not Nodler), an impartial administrator, and questions that adressed the entire issue, (not just the three questions Nodler prepared), and the appropriate amount of time for this to take place, less than 24 hours does not allow for people to be available. Nodler did not want her participation! There are other issues also, like his harassment of her thru her employer, his failure to converse directly with her (after that was requested of him by phone and in writing), his continued media interaction, while she has maintained silence until the AP newswire didn't allow that, the amount of witnesses that have come forward supporting her version, even the family asked to move from the handicap seats support her version. I could go on and on, but to "anonymous said" you should really get all the facts before you spew forth such ridiculousness. Just for your information, you really wouldn't believe how many citizens, that have been abused by Nodler in the past, have stepped forward to offer proof of that and their assistance in any way, and it is people like you that make me think about taking them up on their offers, in fact you just helped me make up my mind! Since you know everything, see if you know who I am. I am not Amanda.
ReplyDeleteOh snap!
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