Kerry’s Fulbright
I agree wholeheartedly with Slantpoint. All this petty partisan sniping over Vanessa Kerry’s Fulbright Schloarship accomplishes nothing, except to make Republicans look like petty, partisan snipists. Since when is it a liability rather than an asset to accept a Fulbright?! This is so dumb that part of me is wondering if these normally sensible bloggers actually wrote what I am reading, or if the Democrat equivalent of Karl Rove has broken into their accounts.
Fulbrights are prestigious, merit-based scholarships. Anyone who gets one should be proud of it. And no, I’m not just saying that because Sr. Xrlq got one 20 years ago or because I got a “half-bright” myself a decade later. I’m saying it because it’s true. Do Fulbrights get improperly awarded for political reasons? Probably, sometimes. Did that happen in Kerry’s case? Perhaps, but there’s nothing in the news article or any of these three whineposts to indicate that. Until/unless anyone can show that Vanessa Kerry got preferential treatment, there is nothing for Democrats, Republicans, or anyone else to say except “well d0ne, Vanessa.” Or, if you can’t say anything nice about anyone named Kerry without throwing in a tiny dose of snark, try “Well done, Vanessa, but I’m still not voting for your dad this fall.”
In an update, Kevin non-explains his original post thusly:
Update: Apparently others can’t read my words, or I’m not being clear. I am not arguing that Vanessa Kerry doesn’t deserve the fellowship, nor am I arguing that she shouldn’t accept it.
So your point is … what exactly? Or am I assuming a fact not in evidence by posing this question at all??
All I’m saying is that she doesn’t need the monetary portion of the award.
Well, duh. Few if any Fulbright scholars do. Fulbrights are not need-based scholarships. The smart money says that Vanessa Kerry’s father (you may have heard of him) doesn’t really “need” the President’s salary, either, but that doesn’t mean I will fault him for accepting it if, heaven forbid, he wins. This isn’t a need-based society, for chrissakes. I’m used to having to explain this to Democrats, but to other Republicans?! Jeebus.
UPDATE: One of the three bloggers I picked on has, to his credit, backed off from his criticism of the younger Kerry. The other two would do well to follow suit.
August 16th, 2004 at 4:54 pm
The Kerrys’: Doing Their Part For Higher Education
Vanessa Kerry, step-daughter of billionaires John and Teresa Kerr, has won a federally-funded scholarship to study medicine in London (via Wizbang). KETCHUM, Idaho — Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry has announced that his daughter Vanessa ha…
August 16th, 2004 at 5:15 pm
Totally agree about Vanessa’s award. Also agree with your “God forbid” about her dad getting elected. Poor gal, we can’t choose our parents….
August 17th, 2004 at 11:51 am
Yeah, I don’t hold rich people’s taking government salaries against them (though I am more inclined to be critical if they are otherwise miserly), but it is definitely points in their favor if they don’t accept money for their service, as Mitt Romney and Arnold have done.
August 18th, 2004 at 9:18 am
It is my understanding that one needs to apply for this federally funded fellowship. My question would be is whether a person could obtain the same educational path as a Fulbright fellow if they had the funds to do so. If so, is it the education that someone is seeking when applying for the Fulbright or is it the presitge that goes with being a receipent of a Fulbright fellowship? Either way I do not mind that Kerry applied and received the Fulbright in as much as it should not be a point to critique.