Group At South Carolina GOP Debate Warns ‘Public Schools Harm Children’

Tonight marks the first debate of the 2012 Republican presidential primary and while only the field’s “B-list” will attend, the conservative fringe is seizing the opportunity to advertise its agenda. ThinkProgress’ Scott Keyes is on the ground and spotted this booth — just 20 feet from the ball room hosting speeches — sponsored by Frontline Miniseries Inc./Exodus Mandate Project, which sports a sign warning that “Public Schools Harm Children”:

On its website, the Exodus Mandate Project explains its mission is to “encourage and assist Christian families to leave government schools for the Promised Land of Christian schools or home schooling.” A flyer at the debate portrays a “public school victim.” The organization also publishes several books, including one called, “How to Become a Millionaire in Christian Education,” which promises to teach readers “How to oppose entrenched evil in this world without resorting to politics or guns.” The organization reflects a growing movement on the right against public education, with demands for eliminating the Department of Education and calls for greater Christian education, like potential presidential candidate Mike Huckabee’s desire that “all Americans would be forced, forced — at gun point no less” to learn from radical historical David Barton.

UPDATEExodus Mandate appears to be a sponsor of the event.