Former Senator Bob Kerrey withdraws as Creighton speaker to avoid disruption

Bob Kerrey has rescinded his acceptance of Creighton University's invitation to be its 2019 commencement speaker in a letter stating that he does not want that moment of celebration to be "interrupted with politics."

Kerrey's withdrawal came after the executive director of the Nebraska Republican Party objected to his appearance at Creighton because of his pro-choice voting record as a former member of the U.S. Senate.

"Nebraska is a pro-life state," Ryan Hamilton had stated in declaring the GOP's opposition to Creighton's choice of Kerrey as its commencement speaker on May 18.

Creighton University President Daniel Hendrickson said he appreciates Kerrey's "desire to not have the focus of the day shifted away from our students" and said Creighton will welcome Kerrey to its campus as a speaker in its presidential lecture series later this year.

Read more: https://columbustelegram.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/kerrey-withdraws-as-creighton-speaker-to-avoid-disruption/article_21eafef7-2a36-502a-a1a2-75f356c60e12.html

Earlier thread:
Nebraska GOP rejects former U.S. Sen. Bob Kerrey as graduation speaker on abortion stance
https://www.democraticunderground.com/1063628