When Al Madrigal of the Daily Show first asked TUSD Governing Board member Michael Hicks about Rosa Clark, Hicks tried to correct Madrigal. Hicks questioned Madrigal’s use of the name Clark instead of Parks. Hicks asked, “Rosa Clark?” it was that question by Hicks that the producers then made appear to look like an answer by Hicks. According to Hicks, they spliced his words together.
The vast majority of Americans, including Hicks, know of civil rights icon Rosa Parks and her contributions to the continuing struggle for civil rights.
Madrigal and his producers carved out a few minutes of a 3 1/2 hour interview with which to present Michael Hicks, as the face of MAS opposition. They did not present any parents, students, or other educators who have expressed serious concern about the exploitation of children by political predators.
The Daily Show appears twice daily, on the cable network, Comedy Central. The popular mock news show is hosted by comedian Jon Stewart.
According to Hicks, contrary, to the “news” the show presented, he has attended an MAS class and he is not relying on “heresay.” Hicks told Madrigal that there was no need to attend other classes, based on the evidence brought forth in the district’s appeal.
Hicks has met with parents, concerned educators, and district insiders who have shared their experience with the classes, and the instructors. He has met with district staff who have been victims of the abuses surrounding the classes.
Michael Hicks has released the following statement exclusively to the Arizona Daily Independent, with regard to the Daily Show and the tactics they used in their use of him:
“With all due respect, the Daily Show is a money making satirical show. It is not a news show. They do not present the complete remarks of their guests.
They splice and dice footage to serve their need to entertain.
I went on this show to talk about the Mexican American Studies (MAS) classes. I was mislead by the “reporter” and was told that they were interested in a real interview. It was nothing of the sort.
It is unfortunate that the Daily Show opted to amuse rather than inform.
And for the record, they spliced my comments in several areas during this segment. I can assure you that my statements were taken out of context. Many of my answers were altered to suit their needs.
What I find more troubling is that there are those who will believe that what they saw on the Daily Show is accurate and complete news. They will then most likely base their judgments on inaccurate information designed specifically to support the view of Daily Show producers.
Real children are being exploited, and the producers of the Daily Show chose to ignore that.”
“They called many people to appear on the show. They did not give up. They butter you up, they complimented you. They told me that they considered this a serious issue. If you didn’t know what they were all about, you might think that they would treat the subject seriously. They are very convincing and very determined. I wish Hicks had been able to see through their assurances that they were really fair and honest people and that they really cared about kids. They are comedians, who are willing to make the exploitation of kids funny,” said Loretta Hunnicutt, and public school equal access activist.
The Daily Show also included an interview with TUSD teacher Curtis Acosta. Last week, Acosta told an audience that “they don’t understand how we love,” referring to non-Hispanics.