Does the President Deserve an Honorary Degree from Arizona State?
The university invited the president as a commencement speaker but originally refused to award him the symbolic sheepskin.
We should note that this same Arizona university granted Barry Goldwater an honorary degree in 1961, three years before his failed run at the White House and after little more than one term in the Senate. Perhaps they have a three year minimum, plus or minus? Mr. Obama only served in the Senate for slightly less than that.
Straw may be spun into political gold over the matter of not awarding such degrees. Arizona State University, however, runs the risk of sullying good names in the opposite direction. As Tony Campbell recently pointed out, the latest home of the NFL Cardinals has a bit of history in terms of giving awards to black Americans.
Arizona is one of the last states to make Martin Luther King, Jr. Day a state holiday. In fact, Arizona has had the most problematic history with the MLK, Jr. holiday. In 1987, Governor Mecham signed an executive order that prevented the holiday in Arizona. In 1990, Arizonans voted down a referendum that would have make MLK, Jr. Day a holiday in the state. One of their leading citizens, Senator John McCain, voted against the 1983 bill that made MLK, Jr. Day a federal holiday.
One might argue that the race card can be played in almost any scenario these days, but the optics certainly look bad for the college given their previous history of awards and the racial integration footprint of the state.
Should the president receive an honorary degree from the Arizona State University? He already has sheepskins of his own, presumably earned through the normal work routine of college life. His career, aside from the historic achievement of reaching the Oval Office a few weeks ago, was not terribly distinguished either in terms of tenure or legislative accomplishment. But by the same token, he has taken the highest office in the land with a commendable margin of victory.
In the end, it may be a question of who should be more embarrassed — those receiving such accolades or those awarding them. There was certainly a time when universities would rightly honor those who had never completed a college education, be it through hardship or lack of opportunity, but had distinguished themselves mightily by dint of hard work and dedicated service. Those awards have been tarnished by the encroachment of popular celebrities fawned over by institutes of higher learning, shifting here and there as the winds of popular appeal blow.
In light of these considerations, perhaps the key question should not be whether Obama deserves this fete. If Arizona State University feels that the current leader of the free world does not possess a body of work sufficient to merit a degree, why would they invite him to speak to a body of students who have presumably worked to earn legitimate degrees of their own?
As Uncle Jack might have told them, you learn something new every time you step out the door. How useful that knowledge proves will only be discovered after your last semester at the school of life.
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Jazz Shaw is a heretical, Northeastern former RINO and regular columnist at The Moderate Voice. He can be reached at jazzshaw@gmail.com.
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38 Comments
1. LeighB:Does Arizona State offer a degree in community organizing? Teleprompter reading? Bowing to Kings? If so, I am all in favor of him receiving an honorary degree as he has distinguished himself in these areas.
Apr 13, 2009 - 3:30 am 2. Gary Ogletree:Yes, for all his great accomplishments, starting with… um, uh, well, as everyone knows, uh, I don’t know, maybe if I could speak Austrian.
Apr 13, 2009 - 4:08 am 3. RE:The entire concept of honorary degrees is absurd.
Apr 13, 2009 - 5:25 am 4. Meryl:“Does the President Deserve an Honorary Degree from Arizona State?”
No
Apr 13, 2009 - 5:26 am 5. The Wizard:What accomplishments? Being the worst President in the history of the US? The first RACIST president of the US? The first President to bankrupt an entire country? The man is a hubris fraud. He has no expereince, no track record of accomplishments and is destroying our entire economic system. He is also totally devoid of leadership ability and mamagement skills. Oh, he does like his pizza flown in, travels with a “STAFF” of 500 (at tax payer expense), has cocktails and dinner with his hiphop buddies, but is too tired to meet with the heads of state of other countries;his wife has a full time make-up artist and he finds the job of POTUS too stressful – he was surprised at the work load! Give me a break.
I guess when we are the United Socialist States of America – that will be his shining moment.
Apr 13, 2009 - 5:53 am 6. Cybergeezer:How about an Honoraria in Global Community Organization. Man; What an awesome title. I don’t think any one else has one of those! Better than any James Bond movie!
Apr 13, 2009 - 5:57 am 7. The Wizonu:Let us compare this pres with the previous. In the first 100 days. Last we had a secret energy conference in which we can assume the downfall of one us governor was discussed. The division of funds from a planned war were given.
The set up of a paramilitary organization was set into plan and how to take as much of the American dream away from. This is from man whom if on his own merits should have ended up in Southeast Asia because of his botched Air Force Reserve. I assume some one would have relieved this nation of it’s worst president ever.
So you say Obama is spend our tax dollars. Maybe you forget we had some I see as the same as a teenager with a credit card and no way to pay for it. Now that the adult is in charge was have to bring the economy back into balance.
Apr 13, 2009 - 7:03 am 8. Pastor of Muppets:Barry Goldwater received his honorary degree in May 1961, three years before his Republican nomination for president and only eight years into his three decades as a U.S. senator.
Sandra Day O’Connor was similarly recognized just three years in her 25 years on the U.S. Supreme Court.
But being elected the first black president of any country in the western world, and being elected president in a country where 60 years ago blacks could not vote, I guess that just does not meet the stringent criteria of Arizona State University?
You stay classy, ASU.
Apr 13, 2009 - 7:12 am 9. MarkD:There are plenty of Grievance Studies degrees which are appropriate. Award him an honorary one.
Apr 13, 2009 - 7:38 am 10. one of my own:Did George Tenet deserve the Congressional Medal of Freedom?
Apr 13, 2009 - 8:22 am 11. misanthropicus:Bad Guys Generally Win (or Dumbing Down Deviancy = The Age Of Holographic Achievement) – this should be the title of this, or any other piece about this issue.
Heavens! How can a normal being even consider giving this fraud that Obama is a honorary degree for achievements?
So, since these degrees are thought to arouse in students awe and emulation desires, I’ll examine this matter from this point of view:
So, leaving aside the entire hoax atmosphere enveloping this guy, nothing in Obama’s academic career should be mentioned by a teacher to his or her students as inspiring:
1) an undistinguished student at Occidental Collega, LA (grades unavailable), reciving financial aid there under the name of SOETORO;
2) an affirmative action misdeed sent him to Columbia U, where we simply do not know what he did for the remaing three years of “intense study” (grades unavailable), his graduation there being covered by the same mystery – was his thesis in international relations dealing with “US – Soviet Union: Nuclear Disarmament Issues”, or with “North-South Relations in the Post-Colonial Age” which were both mentioned by him in his, Ayres-written autobiographies, or simply… there wasn’t such a thing like Obama Columbia thesis (students should be very excited about this situation),
3) admited at Harvard in an equally mysterious way (grades unavailable), then Harvard Law editor for two years with NO PAPERS or OPINIONS whatsoever published there…
4) accepted as a teacher at Chicago Law in the same mysterious manner, beating over 200+ better prepared candidates – then an academic career there of about ten years in which professor Obama didn’t produce a SINGLE LEGAL PAPER ON ISSUES!
5) ___________________________
6) ___________________________
7)____________________________
etc, etc, etc – what a fraud!
And they are serious about rewarding him for achievements!
Apr 13, 2009 - 8:56 am 12. ked5:For what?
Apr 13, 2009 - 9:40 am 13. jammer3:I don’t know – running for and becoming the POTUS seems like a pretty solid accomplishment to me. It’s a really nice resume builder. And it’s a bigger and more important accomplishment than I’ll ever achieve, for sure. More than any commenter on this site will achieve, too, I’d wager. I’d say every president deserves an honorary degree from Arizona State – to wipe their ass with.
Apr 13, 2009 - 10:31 am 14. Geoff:This is exactly why a college degree from an American university is essentially worthless. I guess bilking state taxpayers out of a yearly salary to do nothing except show up is sort of a talent though, albeit an immoral one.
Apr 13, 2009 - 11:33 am 15. James:Because he’s black is the reason he deserves it. The blacks and other minorities will continue to get what they want (always) because everyone is afraid to stand up against the Black Caucus and NAACP.
Apr 13, 2009 - 12:27 pm 16. Meryl:7 Wizonu (apparently on YOU)
Just rechecked. There is nothing comprehensible in your post.
obama is a fraud. It figures that you are his follower.
Apr 13, 2009 - 12:49 pm 17. John Galt:The reason given seems simple enough on its face: they only offer these degrees to people for their “body of work, somebody who’s been in their position for a long time.”>>
Hussein has been for a long time and still is a successful community organizaer so ASU should give him an honory degree in social studies.
Apr 13, 2009 - 1:00 pm 18. Pastor of Muppets:If the posts on this board are any indiciation of the type of people who are going to show up to the Tea Parties, I can’t wait to see Fox News tripping over itself to get away from you folks when it realizes that it lent its name and reputation to a hate rally.
Apr 13, 2009 - 1:06 pm 19. paul_unalaska:Pastor of Puppets ( clever moniker, I only hope that’s an homage to Metallica..) you’re saying Teleprompter Guy should get the degree for, ‘being elected the first black president of any country in the western world..’
First, the guy is biracial. I’m 1/2 Italian though never claim to be ‘Italian’. So apparently identity politics is your forte.
A person who can read a pre-written script, written by a 24 year old mind you deserves the accolade of ‘body of work’?
If Teleprompter Guy isn’t impeached before his January 2013 term expires, this will be the longest period he’s kept the same position successively!
So before spouting frustration and bringing up unfounded but always brought up ‘racism’ antics (as you did in comment #8), use your gray matter.
Perhaps Harry Truman should be recognized and honored for being the 1st Southern Baptist President. Of course not. It’s not an accomplishment.
A ‘body of work’ is just that!
If anyone should recognize this empty suit for anything perhaps it shold be the Nicorette company.
Apr 13, 2009 - 3:15 pm 20. Cybergeezer:People here have the drift;
Apr 13, 2009 - 3:16 pm 21. paul_unalaska:Give the poor,UNDERPRIVELEGED,>/B>Completely uneducated, coddled, little retard, another impressive document to use as wall paper; or most likely something to wipe his ass with.
This classless, punk, ghetto trash, needs more accolades.
He is becoming the leader of the FREE world.
If I was 48 years old and just coming into a position whereas I can boast of ‘I’ll be employed here for at least 4 years’, I wouldn’t be welcome to any family gatherings! That’s black sheep material.
Oh sorry. You must consider that last diddy racist..
Apr 13, 2009 - 3:19 pm 22. Cybergeezer:It’s not a hate rally, butt wipe, it’s a FEEL GOOD ABOUT YOURSELF AND YOUR COMMON SENSE AS A U.S. CITIZEN RALLY1
Apr 13, 2009 - 3:21 pm 23. MiamaMan:You are so confused you don’t even know what being an individual is all about.
18. Pastor of Muppets:
Are you one of those trolls trained by the Obama campaign to post controversial info and confuse, mislead, etc.
I think you are…Jude Schweine!
Apr 13, 2009 - 4:18 pm 24. Sebastian Shaw:Honorary Degrees seem to be created to kiss butt to politicians & celebrities. I want to see Barry’s degree from the Chicago Cesspool. Then I might take him seriously as a satire.
Apr 13, 2009 - 5:38 pm 25. AThinkingPerson:Good point Sebastian Shaw! Why give him an honorary when we haven’t even seen the original “degree”.
Apr 13, 2009 - 6:12 pm 26. LibraryLady:Wizonu, put down the pipe and try again. Your post makes absolutely no sense. On the issue at hand, why would someone with a degree from Harvard want an honorary degree from ASU, anyway?
Apr 13, 2009 - 7:13 pm 27. AmericanZip:Why not! He already has an honorary birth certificate. Call him the “Easter Seal” hero!
Apr 13, 2009 - 8:40 pm 28. DaveinPhoenix:(no offense intended to the Easter Seal Charities. Good people!)
I used to live a few blocks from the ASU campus in Tempe, AZ. After a $1300 vandalization to my new car, numerous breaking and entering attempts in the apartment complex, and tons of hate filled angry students and their behavior, I left. North Phoenix isn’t paradise, but anything beats that hellhole.
Yes, I’d say our pantywaste president exemplifies the spirit of ASU and definitely deserves at least an honorary degree !!
Apr 13, 2009 - 8:53 pm 29. PatriotUSA:Absolutely not! Maybe he should apply for a green card and a TEMPORARY visa instead. I don’t think they have such degress for lying, cheating, hating America, being racist, anti-semitic, hating the military, and trashing your country in 120 days or less. He would have to get those degree from UC Beserkley.
Apr 13, 2009 - 11:18 pm 30. Dave:Does he deserve an honory degree from Arizona State University? For what? Spending our children into debt they may not get out of? No. He has done nothing to deserve an honory anything. Well, maybe he could be an honory citizen of Saudi Arabia sice he bowed to the king.
Apr 14, 2009 - 5:09 am 31. Rae:I believe he should be given an academy award for a stellar performance. He has no record, no birth certificate, no grades, no scholarly papers published (despite being president of Harvard law review for 2 years). He has only delivered perhaps the most convincing performance of the world starring as The Emperor in The Emperor’s New Clothes!
Apr 14, 2009 - 10:01 am 32. Cheeky Wombat:ha, ha, ha. Why does he need an honorary degree from ASU (where the state legislature just greatly reduced funding for public education)when he is the honorable leader of the free world?
Apr 14, 2009 - 10:29 am 33. Will:H*** NO!!!!
Apr 15, 2009 - 4:46 pm 34. MiamaMan:[Our president came bearing a basketful of mea culpas. With varying degrees of directness or obliqueness, Obama indicted his own people for arrogance, for dismissiveness and derisiveness, for genocide, for torture, for Hiroshima, for Guantanamo and for insufficient respect for the Muslim world.]
Charles Krauthammer
I quoted this excerpt from a Kauthammer’s article regarding the trip of “fellow traveler” Barrack Hussein Obama to Europe. As a result:
1) France, population 64 millions, will take ONE Guantanamo prisoner.
2) Austria’s Ms. Fekter rightly said that if the Guantanamo detainees are not dangerous, why not let them lose in America.
3)He got no new troops for Afghanistan from the “allies”
4) The Europe stimulus package idea was rejected flat out.
5) While he spoke the North Koreans shot a missile.
6) He wants to engage the Russians in reducing nuclear weapons, giving them the status of the Soviet Union.
and on, and on, and on…
Did not his wife Michelle, now First Lady, said that America was a downright mean country?
That she was never proud to be an American until the candidacy of his husband was a reality?
Pres Bush was right when he once suggested in Israel that some bad people were going to be happy when Barrack Hussein was president.
Mr. President:
America is not a mean country, but the greatest and freest country on earth. Stupid, yes, we are, because we elected you.
YOU DESERVE AN HONORARY DEGREE IN DIVISIVENESS AND FOR BEING A LIAR.
Apr 15, 2009 - 6:08 pm 35. vivo:I’m giving an Honorary Degree to all who wrote in this blog:
. . .
Apr 16, 2009 - 7:36 pm 36. Class Clown:I graduated from ASU, and to paraphrase Michelle Obama, I’ve never been so proud of my alma mater until now. As to the accomplishments of the teenager-in-chief, The Onion got there first and did it best (as usual):
http://www.theonion.com/content/whitehousewar/barackobama
Apr 19, 2009 - 4:20 am 37. deguello:THE PRESIDENT DESERVES AN HONORARY DEGREE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF HAVANNA. FIDEL CASTRO
Apr 20, 2009 - 9:27 am 38. deguello:FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF CARACAS TOO! HUGO CHAVEZ
Apr 20, 2009 - 9:29 am