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Raleigh, N.C. — McCrory administration appointee Dianna Lightfoot now says she will not take the job leading the state's pre-kindergarten program.
Lightfoot's appointment was announced Tuesday. But questions were raised about potential conflict of interest because she founded and headed an organization that advocated against publicly funded early childhood education programs like NC Pre-K.
On Wednesday night, Lightfoot deleted her Twitter account, in which she referred to Hillary Clinton as a "butch" and questioned whether ultrasonic waves had caused the 2011 Japan earthquake. A Facebook account that remained online referred to gay rights protesters as "bigots."
A YouTube video also emerged of Lightfoot speaking at a tea party rally in the Stokes County town of Pinnacle in September, equating the Affordable Care Act with "enslavement" and urging the audience to rise up against it.
Department of Health and Human Services spokeswoman Julie Henry released the following statement shortly after noon Thursday:
"Dianna Lightfoot was scheduled to start at HHS next week as Director of Child Development and Early Education. Ms. Lightfoot informed Secretary (Aldona) Wos this morning that she does not wish to be a distraction to the department and will pursue other opportunities. Secretary Wos accepted this decision."
WRAL News also has learned that Lightfoot might have voted improperly in three North Carolina elections.
State law requires voters to register at the address where they live, but elections records show Lightfoot gave the address of a UPS store in Winston-Salem as her residence.
Lightfoot hasn't responded to requests for an explanation.
Likewise, DHHS and the Governor's Office haven't explained the vetting process they used to select Lightfoot – or other job candidates. The information about her background and social media posts was easily available through a Google search.
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February 7, 2013 2:14 p.m.
I hope you're being sarcastic, but in case you're not, those babies might remember being shunted off to strangers by someone who "loved" them, and do the same to those devoted, self-sacrificing, loving, wise parents.
February 7, 2013 2:16 p.m.
Neither was any black American who's alive today.
February 7, 2013 2:20 p.m.
February 7, 2013 2:21 p.m.
February 7, 2013 2:24 p.m.
February 7, 2013 2:26 p.m.
BIGGER Government is a GOOD thing. People CANNOT take responsibility for themselves. The rich will pay for it all! Tax them into poverty! The Government should employee EVERYONE! We don't need the private sector!
You can't expect people to have educate their pre-K kids themselves! That's asking too much! People need someplace to warehouse their pre-K kids so they can have some time off.
Face it. We can't do ANYTHING! The Government must be our Overlords and take care of us from cradle to grave! We are HELPLESS without them!
February 7, 2013 2:27 p.m.
February 7, 2013 2:28 p.m.
February 7, 2013 2:28 p.m.
February 7, 2013 2:29 p.m.
Well stated....but not just killing the nation. Its bleeding pockets in the process.
February 7, 2013 2:30 p.m.
February 7, 2013 2:32 p.m.
February 7, 2013 2:32 p.m.
But don't bother educating yourself to slavery in America and around the world since it doesn't fit your narrative.
February 7, 2013 2:36 p.m.
February 7, 2013 2:38 p.m.
I'm just glad we're out of the 20 years of Dem rule.
February 7, 2013 2:38 p.m.
You can say whatever you want and always have been, but as I taught my children, there are consequence for your actions and your words, think before you speak and if you can't say something nice, say nothing at all. Works that way in the corporate world, why should government be any different. What she was spewing is pure hate
February 7, 2013 2:40 p.m.
February 7, 2013 2:41 p.m.
February 7, 2013 2:43 p.m.
February 7, 2013 2:43 p.m.
They did the SAME thing to poor $arah.........
February 7, 2013 2:43 p.m.
February 7, 2013 2:44 p.m.
That's the way it should be. We won, remember? You had your turn and got us no where.
February 7, 2013 2:45 p.m.
And that's the only reason it IS a story. Because of her "R".
February 7, 2013 2:46 p.m.
But better than any democrat. 4Strikes
4Strikes, do you honestly believe a person's political party is that important? I'd want someone in this role who cares about kids and would do a good job....irrespective of their political affiliation. It's sad that you place that much emphasis on a political party.
February 7, 2013 2:46 p.m.
February 7, 2013 2:46 p.m.
February 7, 2013 2:50 p.m.
February 7, 2013 2:50 p.m.
February 7, 2013 2:51 p.m.
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February 7, 2013 2:53 p.m.
February 7, 2013 2:53 p.m.
February 7, 2013 2:54 p.m.
February 7, 2013 2:54 p.m.
In reply to your post on> February 7, 2013 2:27 p.m. I must ask,
Ms. Lightfoot, glad to know the Gov called you and told you fail and are not acceptable for the position.
February 7, 2013 2:56 p.m.
No, just crazy nuts who don't see the good some of these programs bring to our society. But who cares as long as the people who think that all people want is a handout feel good story of the tea party makes them feel all warm inside. The people did not bankrupt this country politicians & big business got to greedy and it all crumbled. But go ahead and blame the people all you want see were that gets you. Funny how it was a Democratic President who balanced the budget & no recent Republican controlled government has. But the conservative fantasy land is ironic isn't it.
February 7, 2013 2:56 p.m.
You are exactly right because there would be NO story. NO Democrat would have these crazy, whacked-out views!!!
February 7, 2013 2:58 p.m.
Heckuva job, Pat
February 7, 2013 2:58 p.m.
Any basis for this speculation whatsoever? Or it it just more whining about the "MSM" and those darn facts they keep reporting?
February 7, 2013 3:00 p.m.
Your post was BRILLIANT "4strikes this is why we need more Democrats in the NC GA. Get with it, this is the 21st century. The tea party/GOP ideas are obsolete and full of hate. We do not need people like this anywhere in government and it is sad that she was even appointed. Her background was no secret and I think most of the Republicans in this state agree with her and thought no one would do or say anything"
February 7, 2013 3:01 p.m.
February 7, 2013 3:04 p.m.
YOU WROTE If it had been a democrat, you wouldn't hear a peep out of the media.
ME TO YOU Since Democrats and moderate Republicans are not ignorant enough to think the way Lightfoot does, it could not have ever been a Democrat
February 7, 2013 3:04 p.m.
February 7, 2013 3:09 p.m.
"But better than any democrat".
4Strikes - If you're going to comment on what I said please include the last statement. I also said and I quote "I would not want anyone like her making any decision concerning my child." So, let me express that further, I don't care what political party they belong to, this way of think is of no benefit to another human being.
February 7, 2013 3:11 p.m.
February 7, 2013 3:13 p.m.
February 7, 2013 3:13 p.m.
February 7, 2013 3:14 p.m.
February 7, 2013 3:14 p.m.
February 7, 2013 3:15 p.m.
February 7, 2013 3:15 p.m.