1. Subscribe Now
  2. Follow Us
  3. Follow us on Facebook Follow us at Twitter Subscribe to our global feed
  4. |
  5. Advertise

Your guide to the region's top events, mixed with some commentary about life, media, gossip and politics in Washington, DC.

Post Watch: Rhee Stiff-Arms Postie

By Harry Jaffe

DC schools head Michelle Rhee has become a darling of the national media. Reporters for Time, the Atlantic, the New York Times, CBS, and other outlets have chronicled her brash crusade to fix the public schools; they all quote her at length.

But search for Rhee’s comments in the Post and you’ll come up empty. Post education writer Bill Turque is at war with Rhee. She and her staff say he demanded preferential treatment and turned negative when it didn’t happen. For example, Turque has been questioning how Rhee has spent her weekends and a one-week vacation. Turque, who came to the Post after covering national politics for Newsweek, declined to comment.

Relations have become so sour that Post Metro editor Robert McCartney has met twice with Rhee. He brought executive editor Marcus Brauchli along for the second private lunch.

Says McCartney, “We asked for more timely and complete responses from the school system to our requests for information and access.”

Turque, meanwhile, has been doing stories about school violence and the impasse in negations between Rhee and the teachers union. Rhee is still the darling of the Post editorial page, where writer Jo-Ann Armao has been a staunch supporter.

This article first appeared in the January 2009 issue of The Washingtonian. For more articles from that issue, click here.

More>> Capital Comment Blog | News & Politics | Society Photos


Category Tags: Post Watch, Washingtonian


Comments


hi
<a href="[1:39:53 PM] suraj dutta: www.mtechcomputers.in" rel="dofollow">[1:40:23 PM] suraj dutta: M Tech Computer</a><a href="[1:39:53 PM] suraj dutta: www.mtechcomputers.in" rel="dofollow">[1:40:23 PM] suraj dutta: M Tech Computer</a>

Posted by: naveen kumar, Oct 09, 2011 11:36:39 PM

I don’t know. I love Coach Outlet Online Store, I was in Chelsea the happiest man since the arrival of a person who should have never Prada Shoes. I was thinking I would have Coach Outlet be there all my life and a few months later, I buy Coach Purses. So you never know. In Inter I found an incredible family. Players; amazing. President; amazing. Then after two years I felt, even with two more years Coach Purses Outlet, I felt it was over. I need something new for me. So you never know. But when I sign a Coach Factory Outlet, I sign with the intention to respect the contract and be happy for that Prada Sneakers. So if everything goes in the right direction, yes I will stay Coach Outlet Store.

Posted by: Coach Outlet, May 26, 2011 05:14:25 AM

I’ve been an education writer. When you do your job right, the supe have calls your boss and wonders why you and the paper are not on his side. Keep it up, Bill. Just don’t let this report bias you against whatever the district is doing. If you are an honorable reporter, you’ll keep telling the district’s stories, no matter how positively or negatively they reflect on your critics.

Posted by: Erin Schultz, Jan 04, 2009 08:57:29 PM

DCPS has been a horror show for a generation and Turque wants to spend his time attacking Rhee. Maybe he should spend some time looking at the people who created the problem. How about a few stories on what Marion Barry did to the school system?

Posted by: jay, Jan 03, 2009 07:01:43 AM

Very simple, Bill Turque is doing his job. Keep at it--and Post editors back up your writers!

Posted by: Lori Jablonski, Jan 02, 2009 11:49:55 AM

Harry, you spin this as though it somehow discredits Bill Turque, when it really reflects badly only on Rhee and her devotees. Rhee and her subordinates (and Fenty, her boss) want only unquestioning, celebratory, indeed worshipful coverage. They don’t want any hard questions asked, and they don’t want any critical evaluation of what they’re doing. They’ll work with sycophants who will write the stories they dictate; they’ll freeze out anybody who’ll dig for the real story at DCPS, like Turque and his predecessor at the Post, Theola Labbe. If it’s a choice between Turque’s stories and Jo-Ann Armeo’s three monkeys (see no, hear no, speak no evil) editorials about Rhee, there’s no contest; Turque gets it right.

Posted by: Gary Imhoff, Jan 02, 2009 10:16:14 AM

Post a comment

Feel free to leave a comment or ask a question. Because of the prevalence of spam, we ask that you fill out the code in the image below to help us eliminate spam comments. By posting here, you affirm that you are 13 years of age or older. Washingtonian.com reserves the right to remove or edit content once posted.

Click to download our new iPhone mobile app

 

  1. 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue (60 Entries)
  2. Academia (2 Entries)
  3. Blogger Beat (94 Entries)
  4. Dating Diaries (50 Entries)
  5. DNC Convention (8 Entries)
  1. More
  1. February 2012 (20 Entries)
  2. January 2012 (65 Entries)
  3. December 2011 (41 Entries)
  4. November 2011 (42 Entries)
  5. October 2011 (24 Entries)
  1. More
Find A ...
Find A Restaurant







  1. Only show Delivery
    Only show Kid Friendly
    Only show Late Night
    Only show Party Space
    Only show Weekend Brunch
Find Events




Find A Happy Hour





  1. search_finda.gif
Find A Spa




  1. search_finda.gif
Find a Home





  1. search_finda.gif
  2. Powered by  
Find A Hotel


  1.   


  2. Reviewed by Washingtonian
  3. Kid Friendly     Valet Parking
    Handicap Accessible    

  4. Childcare
    WiFi
    Pet Friendly
    Bar/Lounge/Dining
    Airport Shuttle
    Salon/Spa
    Swimming Pool
    Fitness Room
    On-site Drycleaning
    Meeting Rooms
    Golf
    Tennis Courts
    Game Room
  5. search_finda.gif
Newsletter Signup
  1. Washingtonian Deals
  2. Bridal Party
  3. Dining Out
  4. Kliman Online
  5. Shop Around
  6. Where & When
  7. Photo Opps
  8. Learn more sign_up.gif
 

You’ve Got Mail!

Now that the US Postal Service allows living people on stamps, we asked some illustrators to take a stab at a few. Could one of these designs be stamped on your next thank-you note? more

Not Just Puppy Love

The dog park led to happily ever after for these couples. more

Follow Us Follow us on Facebook Follow us at Twitter Subscribe to our global feed
Get the Magazine Washington Lives By

It's your source for dining, nightlife, news, health, shopping and more in Washington.

Subscribe to Washingtonian

Washingtonian Magazine provides the best insights on:

Subscribe today for only $29.95 for 12 issues.