Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Eugene

(62,660 posts)
Wed Jan 18, 2017, 07:19 AM Jan 2017

Betsy DeVos, Trumps education pick, lauded as bold reformer, called unfit for job

Source: Washington Post

Betsy DeVos, Trump’s education pick, lauded as bold reformer, called unfit for job

By Emma Brown, Danielle Douglas-Gabriel and Moriah Balingit January 17 at 11:37 PM

Democrats attacked Betsy DeVos, President-elect Donald Trump’s education nominee, calling her unfit for the job during a contentious confirmation hearing Tuesday evening, while Republicans defended her as a bold reformer who would disrupt the status quo in U.S. education.

DeVos told skeptical senators that she looked forward to working with them to improve the nation’s schools. But she sidestepped several issues important to Democrats and their allies, declining to take a position on whether guns belong in schools or to commit to upholding the Obama administration’s aggressive approach to handling sexual assault on college campuses, and she called Sen. Bernie Sanders’s (D-Vt.) ideas about free college “interesting.”

A Michigan billionaire, DeVos has lobbied for decades to expand charter schools and taxpayer-funded vouchers for private and religious schools, but she has no professional experience in public schools, never attended public schools nor sent her own children to public schools. She also has not held public office.

DeVos’s inexperience in the realm of public education appeared at times to be a liability. During rapid-fire questioning by Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), she seemed to demonstrate a lack of understanding of one of education’s major federal civil rights laws, which requires states that take federal funding to provide children with disabilities the services they need to benefit from a public education.

[font size=1]-snip-[/font]


Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/senators-to-scrutinize-betsy-devos-trumps-pick-for-education-secretary/2017/01/17/3a0e6168-da8f-11e6-9a36-1d296534b31e_story.html?utm_term=.3e98798c60b9
4 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Betsy DeVos, Trumps education pick, lauded as bold reformer, called unfit for job (Original Post) Eugene Jan 2017 OP
She' a billion dollar Sarah Palin in a blonde wig Chasstev365 Jan 2017 #1
Mentioned in the article - the basic question from Sen. Franken she has no idea about underpants Jan 2017 #2
Her intellect is at best mediocre. madaboutharry Jan 2017 #3
Check out WaPo's video of Time Kaine's Q&A with DeVos Raven123 Jan 2017 #4

Chasstev365

(5,191 posts)
1. She' a billion dollar Sarah Palin in a blonde wig
Wed Jan 18, 2017, 07:21 AM
Jan 2017

Nice job Senators Fraken, Sanders, and Murphy yesterday!

madaboutharry

(41,361 posts)
3. Her intellect is at best mediocre.
Wed Jan 18, 2017, 08:08 AM
Jan 2017

She presented herself as an entitled country club rich lady who got involved in "education" issues as a hobby. She demonstrated not only ignorance but also that she is lazy. Too lazy to bother preparing for her hearing. DeVos, another bubble dweller who moves in a world of their own making. She is completely unfit to serve in a cabinet position.

Trump is making a mockery of our democracy.

Raven123

(6,051 posts)
4. Check out WaPo's video of Time Kaine's Q&A with DeVos
Wed Jan 18, 2017, 08:49 AM
Jan 2017

It should be required viewing for all Dems. Rapid fire, pertinent questions designed to define the candidate by his(her) positions on the relevant issues. He refused to let her waffle or expand her non-responsive replies that would deny him further questions.

Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Education»Betsy DeVos, Trumps educa...