NJEA dismissed videos, while Gov. Christie says, 'nothing on it surprises me'
TRENTON — Some see it as a videotaped intrusion, a trumped-up attack produced by a self-styled muckraker who manipulates interviewees and takes comments out of context to prove a biased point.
Others see it as hard proof that the New Jersey Education Association, the state’s largest teacher’s union, couldn't care less about putting students first and see their jobs as lifetime sinecures, as its critics claim.
Either way, a series of undercover videos produced by "Gonzo journalist" and conservative James O’Keefe have reignited a statewide debate that again throws the embattled union into an unflattering spotlight.
The tapes, which purport to show union members cursing, discussing voter fraud and laughing about how hard it is to fire tenured teachers, were dismissed by the NJEA as a "complete fabrication." Much of the footage for "Teachers Unions Gone Wild" was shot at a bar at the East Brunswick Hilton, during a union leadership conference in August.
NJEA spokesman Steve Wollmer said the union and its attorneys are discussing their options regarding possible legal action, calling the videos "a calculated attack on this organization and its members."
NJEA spokesman Steve Baker accused O’Keefe of dubbing video and twisting words. "It’s James O’Keefe and that’s all you need to know," he said.
Christie said, of the video, "nothing on it surprises me."
"If you need an example of what I’ve been talking about for the last nine months — about how the teacher’s union leadership is out of touch with the people and out of control — go watch this video," Christie said at a town hall meeting in South Brunswick.
Using hidden audio and video recording devices strapped to "citizen journalists," O’Keefe taped teachers without their knowledge. The week-long conference drew more than 1,500 union members, including members whose voices O’Keefe records threatening in jest to kick Christie "in his toolbox!"
One union member featured prominently in the video, Passaic special education teacher Alissa Ploshnick, was "apoplectic" when she learned of the videos, Wollmer said, and is also consulting an attorney.
Wollmer said an undercover videographer bought her a drink, and talked about going out to dinner, to get her to open up. He then took her comments out of context, Wollmer said, to make it sound as if she was joking about how hard it is to get a tenured teacher fired.
The video included a clip of her saying "once you get that third year, it’s like ‘Schwing!’"
"He was offering her both romance and a glass of wine to get her to open up," Wollmer said. "The guy’s flat-out sleazy."
The video includes audio of teachers chanting, "Let’s have a whiskey and get a little misty. Join me now and slander Chris Christie!"
Wollmer said teachers paid for conference attendance themselves, or were sent by their local unions. No public money was involved, he said.
The union has been locked in a struggle with Gov. Chris Christie over teacher pay benefits and tenure. Wollmer said they believe the governor "is watching this very closely."
Christie said, of the video, "nothing on it surprises me."
"If you need an example of what I’ve been talking about for the last nine months — about how the teacher’s union leadership is out of touch with the people and out of control — go watch this video," Christie said at a town hall meeting in South Brunswick.
Journalistic norms require that reporters identify themselves truthfully and not surreptitiously record subjects.
Andrew Breitbart, a conservative webmaster and commentator, praised O’Keefe’s "unorthodox and creative journalism." Breitbart publishes O’Keefe’s work on his cadre of news aggregating sites, including biggovernment.com and brietbart.com.
A screen grab from the hidden camera video taken by James O'Keefe of "Teachers Union Gone Wild."In the second video, O’Keefe records a call placed to Lawrence E. Everett, assistant superintendent of the Passaic City Schools, from an actor posing as a concerned parent who is concerned that a teacher spoke to his child using derogatory language. Everett responds, saying the incident is "totally unacceptable," but that "I’m not going to say that the teacher would be fired immediately, sir, that’s not usually how it works."
A third video released on the Project Veritas website today included audio of a voice identified as NJEA Associate Director Wayne Dibofsky alleging voter fraud during the 1997 Jersey City mayoral election.
Jersey City municipal clerk Robert Byrne, who is also heard talking in the same video, said the election was monitored by lawyers for both candidates.
While O’Keefe identified himself as a journalist, Byrne didn’t know the audio was being recorded.
"I couldn’t believe that someone would take my voice, record my voice and put it out on the internet without letting me know," he said.
By Jeanette Rundquist and Megan DeMarco/The Star-Ledger
Staff writers Jessica Calefati, Sue Epstein and Seth Augenstein contributed to this report.
"EXPOSING CORRUPTION"
James O’Keefe, 26, is on a mission to "expose corruption" with undercover videography. Conservative TV personalities and Republican Congressmen have lauded his efforts, while others question O’Keefe’s methods, which include lying about his identity, his intent and his recording devices. Here’s a list of the most notable moments he has caught on tape.
• ACORN — O’Keefe gained notoriety in September 2009 for using hidden cameras to record conversations with employees of Acorn, a liberal community organizing group. The heavily edited videos show Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now employees offering advice to O’Keefe and his associate — posing respectively as a pimp and a prostitute — about concealing criminal activity on a housing application. Reeling from a blow to its reputation and a loss of funds, Acorn disbanded.
• U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu — In light of reports that Louisiana constituents could not reach Landrieu by phone (D-La.), O’Keefe entered her New Orleans office in January and attempted to record two associates posing as phone technicians. U.S. Marshals arrested O’Keefe on felony charges of entering federal property under false pretenses and he was later sentenced to three years probation
• CNN — O’Keefe’s latest antics took place one month ago when he tried unsuccessfully to lure CNN Investigative Correspondent Abbie Boudreau onto a boat filled with sexually explicit props. O’Keefe reportedly intended to record his interaction with Boudreau on the floating "palace of pleasure" using hidden cameras. The plan was thwarted when Boudreau received warning of O’Keefe’s plans.
By Jessica Calefati/The Star-Ledger