DETROIT, July 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --In response to today's press conference held by Michigan Democrat Party Chairman, Mark Brewer, U.S. Senate candidate, Clark Durant issued the following statement:
"Hey Mark, Debbie Stabenow is Going to Lose. Unfounded Attacks Won't Save Her. In the last 20 years, Mark Brewer has been running around the state playing politics, and defending failing school systems. During the same period of time, I was building quality schools in Detroit, educating children, and doing my share to renew the City.
"There are many, many success stories with these kids and I am proud of them and my work for them! Yes, President Obama, Mark Brewer, and Senator Stabenow, we did build this. It is hard these days for President Obama, Mark Brewer and the Michigan Democrat Party to believe that private enterprise can succeed and prosper independent of the government bureaucracy, but Cornerstone Schools has proven otherwise.
"Mark, the only thing criminal here is how badly you're lying and smearing. There is no basis in fact or law in these accusations.
"The reason these attacks are coming out today, is that the Michigan Democrat Party has concluded that they would rather run against pro-spending, big-debt, and pro-Wall Street bailouts Congressman Hoekstra. They know that I am the stronger candidate to challenge Senator Stabenow in November."
Below are supporting facts and info for your consideration:
FACTS:
Fact 1. Over the last 20 years, I have raised more than $100 million dollars for the Cornerstone Schools and other organizations. I have never earned commission on money I raised for any of these organizations.
Fact 2. In fourteen years as chairman of Cornerstone Schools, I received no compensation from Cornerstone. In six years as CEO I received $200,000 per year in compensation, with no benefits, no raises, and no bonuses, funded by a single donor.
Fact 3. In all my work at Cornerstone, the New Common School Foundation and the Genesis Foundation, I have never had the power - nor even cast a single vote - to set my own compensation. In every case, my compensation has been set by an independent board. Thishas been validated by an independent compensation expert as reasonable according to IRS standards and procedures, over 10 years. Any accusation of "self-dealing" or unreasonable compensation is untrue and absurd.
Fact 4. The funds for my compensation at Cornerstone, the New Common School Foundation, and the Genesis Foundation have come from two men, Bill Pulte and Bruce Becker. These are good men and I am proud to be associated with them in this work. They believe in the vision I had to help the kids in the City of Detroit. The New Common School Foundation and the Genesis Foundation were established for the very purpose of allowing me to do educational and fund-development work to help the children in the City of Detroit without cost to any other institution. This allowed work with Cornerstone Schools, Detroit Public Schools, and the Detroit Catholic Schools to be made possible without any cost to these institutions. The whole purpose was to create a revolution in urban education, to provide quality schools in the City of Detroit, to educate children, and to help in the renewal of the City. This is what we have done. Any accusation of "self-inurement" is ridiculous.
Fact 5. Despite the fact that I am currently running for the U.S. Senate, I continue to help the kids in the City of Detroit in the following three ways: first, I have helped to design two new charter schools in the city of Detroit next month, and to raise more than $8 million to allow them to open. One is an innovative "health high school." The other is a new elementary and middle school; second, I am currently helping to design a new leadership and business high school at Cornerstone, and co-chairing a $15 million campaign to fund it; third, at the request of the Detroit Public Schools, I counseled principals designated by DPS, sharing my experience on building a success-oriented culture to help them in their efforts. All of this is being done without any cost to any of these different institutions. I am also committed to continue this work for a success-oriented culture, on an ongoing basis as requested so that great schools can be everywhere for these kids.
THE REAL STORY
Over the last 10 years...instead of saving taxpayers money...Pete Hoekstra spent billions of taxpayer dollars on earmarks, the Wall Street bailout, and Medicare Part D, and other irresponsible spending and debt. Meanwhile, Debbie Stabenow spent billions of taxpayer dollars on earmarks, the failed stimulus, Obamacare, and other irresponsible debt.
Here's a message for Pete Hoekstra: "You can't defend your big-spending, pro-bailout record. You can't change Washington, because you ARE Washington. You can't defeat Debbie. She knows it. I know it. The people of Michigan know it. On August 7, the people of Michigan will hold you accountable."
Here's a message for Mark Brewer and the Michigan Democrat Party: "Last week, President Obama showed his open hostility to free enterprise by suggesting that free enterprise could not prosper without the help of the government bureaucracy. Now, today, Mark Brewer and the Democrat Party are doing the same by suggesting that my hard work of raising $100 million to set up successful private schools to benefit children in need. Your baseless attacks can't hide the facts about the tax-raising, job-killing burdens imposed by President Obama and Senator Stabenow. The people deserve the truth, not politics as usual. You should be ashamed. On November 6, the people of Michigan will hold President Obama and Senator Stabenow accountable. They will both lose in Michigan because of it."
SOURCEClark Durant
