Jason Sandford
Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.
Great story by Indy Week here:
State GOP vice-chair refuses to answer allegations about his Ph.D., diploma mill
24 JUN 2009 • by Bob Geary, rjgeary (at) mac (dot) com
Timothy Johnson, the newly elected vice chairman of the state Republican party, is listed as “Dr. Johnson” on his and the state GOP’s Web sites. But he’s not a medical doctor or dentist. And he won’t disclose where he earned his Ph.D., leaving the impression that he got it from a now-defunct school once notorious as a diploma mill.
The Indy contacted Johnson to ask whether his claimed “Ph.D., Concentration in Total Quality Management, LaSalle University (2000)” was issued by the defunct LaSalle in Louisiana, the accredited La Salle University in Pennsylvania or another LaSalle.
Johnson responded in an e-mail, “I hope you understand when I say I am not going to answer any more questions about my military experience, education background or personal history.”
He added: “It just doesn’t matter at this point. I am sorry, but enough is enough. Have a great weekend.”
His e-mail signature read: “Timothy F. Johnson, Ph.D.”
The accredited La Salle University, a Catholic institution with three campuses in Pennsylvania, confers a doctoral degree only in clinical psychology, according to its Web site.
The LaSalle in Louisiana, however, as the authoritative Chronicle of Higher Education reported in 2001, operated as a diploma mill from 1986 to mid-1997, essentially selling degrees (it advertised heavily on matchbook covers) until the FBI raided and shut it down. Its owner, Thomas J. Kirk, was imprisoned for mail and tax fraud, among other charges. That “university” employed no faculty, only secretaries to handle the paperwork and the money.
sooo…what kind of follow up happened with this story?
anyone? anyone?
it doesn’t seem like it should be all that difficult to determine if "Dr." Johnson’s PhD is valid or not.
I don’t blame Tim for not answering. He’s answered so many questions and proved everything, that I guess he’s just sick of it. That Indy website is nothing but a liberal rag and should do a story on one of there own.
Joy Johnson (Vice Chairman of the Young Dems. for the state of NC)
Her and her husband beat, raped, starved, and kidnapped 2 people as part of some kind of satanic cult. Another high ranking Dem. official was also involved. You only heard about this in two places. Durham County (which the Indy rag is from and I’m sure they did not report it), and the Carolina Stompers. These people have never gone to court and we can’t get any answers from the DA about it.
Neither can WRAL news. I think the husband is now out of jail. It has been over 2 years.
"DR." Johnson is a fantastic leader. This is nothing but liberals and RINO’s out to destroy him because of his leadership skills. They are scared little cowards. Like I said in my letter to the editor of the Mountain Xpress. Bring it on! I predicted this would happen.
I can’t stand racist people. There in the Dem and the Rep parties.
I hope you post our new video in response to this. In it you will see what Tim has had to go through. Let the people decide for themselves.