I Don’t Hate America!

We’re back after a fantastic Independence Day. It is on July 4 that the title of this blog especially rings true; we do not hate America! We celebrate our independence and freedom as much as anyone else regardless of what the right wing talking points would have you believe.

Hal Kimball continues his coverage of the MnSCU student trustee position situation over at Blue Man in a Red District. He notes that late appointments to this position by the governor are not a new concept.

One of the three candidates, Luke Hellier, has a new item which to place on his resume: number five on the list of the Top Young Conservative Activists in America complied by the Young America’s Foundation.

In all fairness, like I have said before, I have no problems with someone being conservative. In addition, I have no illusions that anyone other than a Republican will be appointed to this job as Gov. Pawlenty’s appointments thus far have been very partisan. (again, Mr. Ibisch, this “hippie” is NOT going “nuts” because a “lib” isn’t “going to get it”).

I don’t even have a problem with Mr. Hellier bringing folks like David Horowitz to campus. While I don’t agree with Horowitz’ outlook of the classrooms in this nation’s colleges (rather I think his rhetoric is more along the lines of demagoguery than anything) it’s certainly a viewpoint which should be given the opportunity to be heard. In fact one of Hellier’s fellow candidates for the position, Adam Weigold, is also a fan of Horowitz and his positions.

This particular article about the top young campus conservative activists though lists one individual brought to campus by Mr. Hellier who is particularly troubling: Jason Lewis.

I say this not because Lewis, the drive time host on KTLK 100.3 FM, is conservative. I find it troubling because he is flat out the most anti-higher education voice around in the media.

If appointed to the MnSCU board of trustees, Mr. Hellier will (or should!) represent the members of the Minnesota State University Student Association. February 14 this year MSUSA held a rally on the steps of the capitol in St. Paul advocating for lower tuition and more state funding of the MnSCU system. What did Jason Lewis think about the students doing this?

On his show prior to the rally occurring, he slapped students in the face by saying that they were nothing more than “rubes and tools” for the faculty so they can have their pay increased.

His other rants about higher education have not only been upsetting to state university students but also misguided. He has spoken about the massive tuition increases of the past decade going to “more liberal programs” in the classroom, failing to cite the individual responsible for appointing members to the board which sets tuition: Gov. Pawlenty. He also fails to cite the party in control of the state house and governor’s mansion during the years of those increases and massive budget cuts: the Republicans!

It all creates some great food for thought: if Hellier were appointed to the board, would he agree (if he doesn’t already!) with his hero Jason Lewis that the students he would be appointed to represent are nothing more than “rubes and tools,” or would he actively advocate for their interests?

Discuss.

This entry was posted on Thursday, July 5th, 2007 at 9:16 pm and is filed under Gov. Tim Pawlenty, MnSCU, GOP, MN House, DJ D.. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.