Log in to WRAL.com with one click using your favorite social network:
OR
Log in using your WRAL.com account:



Wrong email/password combination.

Forgot password?

Register with WRAL.com using your favorite social network:
OR
Register for a WRAL.com account using our web form.

4:50 a.m. • 5-23-13

Weather Forecast for Raleigh

  • Today: Thunderstorm.
    • Hi: 83° F
  • Fri: Partly Cloudy.
    • Hi: 74° F
  • Sat: Clear.
    • Hi: 72° F

Other Locations

> 7 Day Forecast

Doppler Image
@NCCapitol
Dianna Lightfoot (SOURCE: Facebook)
print friendly

New Pre-K chief deletes Twitter account

Published: 2013-02-06 21:47:00
Updated: 2013-02-07 11:46:49

Hours after becoming the focus of media attention, the state's new director of early childhood development has deleted her overtly political – and sometimes derogatory – Twitter account.

Dianna Lightfoot, appointed Tuesday by Secretary of Health and Human Services Aldona Wos, was the subject of questions Wednesday about a nonprofit she founded that advocates against public pre-kindergarten programs. 

DHHS spokeswoman Julie Henry told WRAL News Wednesday afternoon that Lightfoot had resigned her position as president of the National Physicians' Center for Family Resources. But her Twitter account remained public until it was deleted Wednesday evening. 

In postings on her "ChinaLight44" Twitter account, Lightfoot calls Hillary Clinton one of Obama's "Butch bunch" and apparently suggests that the massive Japan earthquake of March 11, 2011, may have been caused by ultrasonic waves from neighboring China or North Korea.

Lightfoot's Facebook account follows the same line, protesting Chick-Fil-A's agreement to stop funding anti-gay groups as "sad and ridiculous" and calling pro-gay protesters "anti-freedom-of-speech bigots," the "Chicago Mob" and "bullies."

The screen captures from Lightfoot's social media accounts were the topic of much online discussion Wednesday night among Democrats and the GLBT community.

Henry wasn't immediately available to clarify the new Pre-K director's positions on GLBT parents or on the Japan earthquake.

Read More Posts from this Blog

116 Comments


WRAL.com welcomes your comments on this story. All comments are moderated prior to publication based on our posting guidelines. Please review them prior to posting and if your message is not approved.

This story is closed for comments. Comments on WRAL.com news stories are accepted and moderated between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday through Friday.


page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4
<prev    next>
sort order: oldest first | newest first

"She didn't break any laws and was not arrested. So what is your problem then? She is perfectly free to say what she wants, and she did. One of the lessons that I am trying to teach my two-year old is that for every action, there is a reaction. Stop by sometime and I will be happy to include you in on the lesson (it will have to be before 7:30 PM though because that is his bedtime)."

Yep, pretty basic lesson. And yet some folks appear to have never learned it. Newton's Law of Motion applies here too. "For every action there is an equal or opposite reaction."

She should have never been hired in the first place!

Where was the logic in naming someone who doesn't believe a program should exist to head up that program?

Just a quick comment about the supposed link between starting school unprepared and ADHD -- My parents spent plenty of time (when they weren't working) teaching me reading, writing, counting, etc. I started kindergarten on my 5th birthday. I never had any problems in school.

Anyway, when I started at NCSU, my adviser noticed some struggles I was having outside of the classroom and suggested I be tested for ADHD after asking me some questions. It looks like she was right.

The point is, I'm against state sponsored parenting. I also have ADHD. Yes, I know this is off topic, but I'm kind of sick of seeing people try to link the two.

"That free day care program needs to be gutted. Sounds like the right woman for the job even if she is rather looney."

What an odd statement to make. So you would want an unstable person making important decisions for Wake County and it's residents? I guess it's good that you don't make those choices for us then.

And the winner of demeaning, one-sided, dubious, untruthful, attack articles this week goes to the link above. westernwake1

If you'd like to discuss any of the claims, please be specific.

"Welcome to the united states of the offended where no one can have an opinion anymore... talmagemark"

She didn't break any laws and was not arrested. So what is your problem then? She is perfectly free to say what she wants, and she did. One of the lessons that I am trying to teach my two-year old is that for every action, there is a reaction. Stop by sometime and I will be happy to include you in on the lesson (it will have to be before 7:30 PM though because that is his bedtime).

"Great article. Look at McCrory's judgment and decide for yourself.

http://www.southernstudies.org/2013/01/cabinet-of-controversy-nc-gov-pat-mccrory%E2%80%99s-5-most-dubious-appointments.html" -OleNCNative

And the winner of demeaning, one-sided, dubious, untruthful, attack articles this week goes to the link above.

"The simple fact in this matter is that it is a poor choice to appoint someone to oversee a program in which they hold in such utter contempt." ----- Welcome to the bottom line folks!!

just become a Democrat Puppet,, tell then what they want to hear,, call a meeting, meet for months, only producing a politically correct opinion or statement. Call a conference in Las Vegas bring in all parties from around the country, "Democrats of course",, put together another statement, present it on TV and to the bias media, let is run its course,, and pass the final decission on to the next elected Democrat,, but that one will need more help, so he hires more Democrats to help him decide,, then after 3 or 4 years, something is decided on, "Increase taxes or goverment"...Now those are facts if you are willing to look and compare on how things are handled now of days!

page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4
<prev    next>
sort order: oldest first | newest first

Political Video Picks

 
  • Senators gave tentative approval Wednesday to a $20.6 billion budget that Republican leaders say will help right North Carolina…

  • The House Judiciary Committee voted unanimously Wednesday afternoon to rewrite Senate-passed legislation in an attempt to resolve the…

  • In an interview Tuesday, May 21, Gov. Pat McCrory said he is pleased with the progress on the state budget and tax reform so far.

  • Capitol Bureau Chief Laura Leslie and investigative reporter Mark Binker break down the North Carolina Senate's budget proposal.

  • The Senate budget subcommittee on health and human services gives a presentation on May 20, 2013.

  • North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper and a number of local law enforcement officials from across the state on Monday criticized…