An Op-Ed by Shawn McBreairty, Maine First Project Director of Special Projects
I recently was able to secure a nearly half-hour phone call with the Managing Editor of the Bangor Daily News.
Dan MacLeod is BDN’s current Managing Editor. He’s an Orland native who moved to Portland in 2002 and now lives in Unity. He’s been a “journalist” since 2008, and previously worked for the New York Post and the Brooklyn Paper.
The first 10 minutes of the 27-minute phone call were not recorded. Instead, another person listened to the conversation on speaker phone while in the car. Once the passenger left the vehicle, I recorded the rest of the call.
Below you’ll find excerpts from the call, as well as my reactions to MacLeod’s comments. Unfortunately, it was exactly what I expected from the Bangor Daily News — once a proud establishment of the Bangor area – now, simply known as a Leftist fish wrap by 50% of the community it used to serve.
You can listen to the entire recorded portion of the call here. For the record, Maine is a “one party” state, so you can record any conversation and use it as you see fit.
At the end of this opinion piece, I have a favor to ask. If you have a credible critique of the indoctrination taking place in Maine classrooms, I’ve listed the e-mail addresses for the people who don’t find you credible.
The topic at hand was why Lia Russell — a reporter who has physically been to the two RSU22, Hampden, ME School Board meetings in which I’ve spoken — has yet to ask me any questions about what I spoke about, or the facts I’ve provided?
You can read Lia’s article here.
I notified Dan that I had given Lia my e-mail address on 11/17/21, in front of the BDN photo person and Fox22 Reporter Stephanie Wittenbach. I asked her if she would send me questions, so that I could respond. She said she would. To date, she has asked no questions of me, or any conservative parent in Hampden, that I am aware of about the issues in RSU22.
These are the two meetings “Reporter” Lia Russell attended:
According to Dan, “…normally we are very thorough and try and reach out to everyone who is potentially involved in a story.”
But that’s not accurate here…at no time has the Bangor Daily News reached out to ask me about the indisputable evidence about RSU22.
“I’m just not aware of it being a largely credible critique by a lot of people,” Dan said
So, Dan, how many concerned parents have to be upset about what is going on? And have you ever heard about Cancel Culture? There are hundreds, if not thousands of Hampden area residents upset with what is occurring!
They are afraid to speak out, but many parents have and are speaking. In fact, Lia Russell heard many first-hand at the two above-mentioned meetings. But BDN won’t even look at the story? Why, because it doesn’t fit your Leftist narrative?
Don’t worry, I list Dan and Lia’s email addresses at the end of this piece, so you can reach out to them, peacefully and patriotically, of course.
But if Dan, Lia or anyone else at BDN would do just a basic amount of research, the evidence is overwhelming.
For example, here’s just the tip of the iceberg, the Maine “Teacher” of the Year’s Book List. It’s a very credible critique, but maybe Dan and BDN are ok with these types of books pushed by State funded schools?
The books preach, anti-Father, Critical Race Theory, Sexual Education, Trans, Drag Queens, genderqueer, LGBTQ propaganda.
I spoke about this radical reading list on the National Fox News show, Ingraham Angle. You can watch the interview here. 2.29-Million people across the country were informed of the Maine Teacher of the Year, Kelsey Stoyanova’s woke book list.
So, maybe that’s not credible because it’s Fox, Dan?
What was good old Dan’s response?
“Critical Race Theory…books that have to do with multiculturalism, and other identities, SHOULD be taught in schools and I think that is different than whether Critical Race Theory is being, you know, indoctrinated,”
So, for the record, the Bangor Daily News believes that books on “multiculturalism” are ok, but doesn’t think that Critical Race Theory is being taught in Maine Schools? So, put another way Dan, when you don’t look for the truth, you don’t find it, thus your narrative is fulfilled?
How about the book, “Stamped” by Henry Rogers (Ibram X. Kendi) who states that if you are black, you are effectively “stamped” as oppressed and if you are white, you are an oppressor?
Do you believe you are an oppressor, Dan? Do you believe in “institutional racism,” Dan? Because that’s what the book teaches. There are no books on this list from Clarence Thomas, Thomas Sowell, Shelby Steele, or any conservative black author. Wonder why Dan?
When I brought up confirmed reports of pushing Furries in school, Dan was once again, oblivious.
“Furries…I’m just not sure where that is coming from,” Dan replied. “…sounds like nonsense.”
If you’re not aware, Furries are people who put on animal costumes and go to parties where they have group sex with each other.
Meanwhile, Dan and the rest of the “journalists” at BDN remain oblivious. Again, at the end of this piece, you’ll find Dan’s e-mail so you can help enlighten him with facts.
“We are covering things that we think, uh, we are trying to cover education for the point of view of our schools serving students well and how are, um, they meeting the needs of the communities and stuff like this comes up and we cover it in context,” Dan stumbled. “But I don’t get the sense that this is a severe threat like it’s being made out to be.”
Dan is it your job to determine what is and is not a severe threat? Or, is it your job to REPORT on what the people in your community believe to be a severe threat? Report the news Dan, don’t dictate it!
As for meeting the needs of the communities? How, as in actual education Dan? Here is a screen shot of the Maine Department of Education test results from RSU22. As you can see, failing grades all over for the “teachers” in RSU22.
Dan, you know what “pedagogy” means. You just don’t want to report on it.
Danny Boy continued sticking to his guns, insisting concerned Maine parents are not credible.
“I’m just not aware of there being two credible sides on this issue,” Dan stated.
So, Dan, are you implying I’m not credible, or that RSU22 is? Misfeasance, or malfeasance?
I’ve had over 10-Million people world-wide see me on various news outlets.
“Reeds Brook outperformed the State as a whole on math,” Dan retorted.
Well, that’s like saying Reeds Brook just sucks a little bit less than the State.
The fact, Dan, is that 53.5% of ALL Reeds Brooks students are BELOW, or WELL BELOW the State guidelines in math. Half the students don’t know how to do match!
When confronted about the factual error in the BDN story, dan said, “Well, I’ll look into that,” Dan said. “It is important to us to be fair and is something we strive for…and it’s something I’ll continue to keep an eye on.”
Don’t hold your breath for the retraction, or correction to be printed.
“We think what is the story and what do the facts bear out,” Dan said through his teeth, with sweat, no doubt, beading on his forehead.
I’m sorry, but I have to call bull shit on that one, Dan.
Again, Dan says he neither hears nor sees credible evidence that there is any plot to indoctrinate kids in any way across the state.
“I stand behind Lea’s approach and covering stories responsibly and do we believe in interviewing every possible person we could for every story, NO,” Dan stated. “Trying to get her to take you seriously, it’s not how it works.”
How does it work, Dan? How do concerned parents get BDN to do its job?
Dan ended the call saying, “If there are any specific facts we are missing, feel free to e-mail me.”
I urge everyone to let Dan, Lea Russell and their boss know about all the specifics they’re missing:
- Lea Russell, Reporter lrussell@bangordailynews.com
- Dan MacLeod, Managing Editor dmacleaud@bangordailynews.com
- Todd Benoit, President tbenoit@bangordailynews.com
Basic journalism. That’s all Mainers are asking for. Until then, I wouldn’t buy Dan’s paper to crumple up and start a fire in my woodstove.