Betsy DeVos, President Trump’s nominee for U.S. Secretary of Education
Betsy DeVos, President Trump’s highly controversial nominee for U.S. education secretary, has been officially confirmed, despite a wave of opposition from public school backers and Democrats nationwide.
As expected, Vice President Mike Pence arrived on the Senate floor Tuesday afternoon to cast the tie-breaking vote to confirm DeVos, a Michigan school advocate whose wealthy family has been an influential donor to Republican causes.
DeVos prompted widespread criticism over a lack of professional experience in public schools, as well as alleged plagiarism on a Senate questionnaire and her oft-bizarre responses to questioning from Democratic critics during her confirmation hearings last month.
But she still gained the support of most Republicans, including North Carolina’s GOP contingency, Sen. Richard Burr and Sen. Thom Tillis. Policy Watch reported days ago that Burr was a major recipient of DeVos campaign funding in recent years.
DeVos opponents reportedly swamped senators’ offices with phone calls demanding they turn back President Trump’s nominee.
The new education secretary sent out a Tweet applauding her confirmation minutes after Tuesday’s historic vote, which was reportedly the first time a vice president has had to cast a tie-breaking vote for a Cabinet nominee.
I appreciate the Senate’s diligence & am honored to serve as @usedgov Secretary. Let’s improve options & outcomes for all US students.
— Betsy DeVos (@BetsyDeVos) February 7, 2017
The social media response to DeVos’ confirmation was swift and mostly critical. Here’s a sample:
Betsy Devos got confirmed. Everyone who voted for her should be ashamed. Party before country. They’re using children’s education as pawns.
— Kumail Nanjiani (@kumailn) February 7, 2017
Let’s face it…Betsy DeVos didn’t win confirmation- she bought it #DeVos #NoOnDeVos pic.twitter.com/Qrrf4Kp3eR
— David Samples ? (@NatureGuy101) February 7, 2017
Congratulations Betsy DeVos our New Sec Edu!
You can’t stop TrumpTrain!
All Dems obstruction, crying & boo-hooing is for naught!#DeVosvote— Victorious Annie? (@Anncostanza1) February 7, 2017
Betsy DeVos confirmed. Next election, Who else will remember that the senate sold out our schools to the oligarchy?
— Taylor Sappington (@IdealsWin) February 7, 2017
Minday
February 16, 2017 at 11:57 pm
How about we start teaching kids tolerance for the people who need it the MOST. Tolerance for people with special needs. We’ve wasted years on teaching students how to accept men who like other men, women who like other women, women who want to dress or be men, men who want to dress like or be women, blacks, natives, etc…but we have completely FAILED to teach US students how to protect and advocate for the most vulnerable among us: People with developmental disabilities. This is the forgotten minority and it’s disgusting, dangerous and naive. Look how about of disabled has skyrocketed in USA over the past decade. What does this say about our public school system? People with developmental disabilities can’t always speak up. They can’t protest. They don’t march in the street. They depend on OTHERS to speak and fight for them! Our US schools have miserable FAILED to train students to protect and advocate for the most vulnerable citizens in our country. Time for a change.