Democrats Attack Betsy DeVos for Supporting Free Speech Group
FIRE – The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education
Democrats are going after Trump’s pick for Education Secretary Betsy DeVos because she made financial contributions to FIRE, the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education.
FIRE is an outstanding non-partisan organization which defends free speech and due process, among other things, for college students and faculty. Democrats have picked the wrong target.
In the words of Professor Jacobson, “That they would try to defame such a great organization to get at her is a sign of how pathetic and dangerous they are.”
Politico has the story:
DeVos’ donations spark questions about her stance on campus sexual assault
Republican megadonor Betsy DeVos has given thousands of dollars to an advocacy group that is seeking to overturn an Obama administration policy that made it easier to discipline college students accused of sexual harassment or assault.
The donations, totaling $10,000, by Donald Trump’s Education secretary pick have prompted criticism from Democrats and women’s groups in the run-up to her confirmation hearing next week.
DeVos has not spoken publicly about the Education Department’s aggressive approach to campus sexual assault, but women’s groups and Democrats say her donations to the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education send a troubling signal. FIRE has sued the administration to raise the standard of proof for victims of sexual assault in university administrative hearings contending it is unfair to the accused.
The donations are “a red flag,” said Lisa Maatz, the top policy adviser at the American Association of University Women, which advocates for strict enforcement of Title IX, the federal law that governs sex discrimination, harassment and sexual assault on college campuses.
The left has spent years advancing a false narrative of campus “rape culture.” DeVos’ support of FIRE, which stands up for due process, is obviously seen as a threat.
This video outlines five cases in which FIRE’s help proved indispensable:
Here’s another FIRE video created for student journalists:
Here are a few examples of FIRE’s work:
- Victory: Texas College Settles Free Speech Lawsuit After Telling Student That Gun Rights Sign Needs ‘Special Permission’
- Victory: Student Journalists Cleared of Charges for Reporting on Sexual Assault Awareness Event
- Victory: Northwestern University Reverses Course, Recognizes Student Group After Rejection
You can see FIRE’s website here.
It’s astounding that the left would paint such a fine organization in a negative light.
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There’s an easy explanation; fundamentally, the Left does not believe in the concept of freedom. Lately, they have simply taken off the mask and exposed themselves as what they are.
We will never return to the what we once were as a nation, because we no longer value the things that made us a beacon of hope in a dark world. We have become a divided tribe, based on cults of personality. Free speech, religious liberties, honest journalism, personal property rights, and shelter from the prying eyes of the government have been abandoned. Plato called it long ago. We are slipping into anarchy, and the left is applauding.
disagree slightly; I saw we have returned to what we once were as a nation, it’s just that the time frame we’ve returned to is 1861.
And now, it’s actually simple – one side has to win, and one side has to lose. I’m hopeful we can do it with less physical casualties than last time, although a whole lot of people are losing their minds.
“It’s astounding that the left would paint such a fine organization in a negative light.”
I find it rather expected that the left would do *anything* to support their preconceived notions.
In all seriousness, what evidence do we have that they speak the truth? Support the truth? Recognize the truth?
FIRE is a great organization and as always, the left eats its own.
The founder is a classic liberal doing great work – suddenly finding that principles have no place in progressives advance on power.
“The founder is a classic liberal doing great work – suddenly finding that principles have no place in progressives advance on power.”
In a bit of irony, I was discussing this post with my 14-year-old daughter (a huge fan of FIRE and one who has read Unlearning Liberty about a bazillion times), and we were discussing how freedom of speech is a pillar of classical liberalism.
Great minds think alike, right? 🙂
The liberals are very desperate here. I received an email from GLSEN, the gay rights organization for gay youth attacking DeVos views on Charter Schools and also Public School funding. I scratched my head thinking that this was a joke or a call to arms by a Union Boss or the Teacher’s Union.
Liberals are throwing anything and everything against any nominee hoping something would stick.
The leftist movement in the United States is truly akin to the most vile fascist movements even seen.
In addition, its corruption is staggering (just look at its leaders.)
It needs to be sat on – by a collective an ass as bigger than Meryl Creep’s ego and fatter than Michael Obama’s and Oprah Winfrey’s combined.
The dems in Congress will not cooperate with Trump in any way. They have their marching orders from Soros – do anything and everything to disrupt Trump’s agenda. Maybe the reps will wake up to this, but I doubt it.
With regard to campus rape, when the immigrant Muslims start doing on our campuses what they have been doing in Europe, rape will suddenly be protected as a “cultural right” – only for certain students, of course.
I hope that if any senator asks her about this she will proudly “admit” the donations, promise to donate more, and challenge the senator about his/her own donations. ask the senator whether s/he donates to the aclu, and if so how s/he “defends” that. Don’t back down, don’t apologise, and above all don’t promise to separate your own opinions from the job. FIRE is a civil liberties group, be proud of it. Especially since it’s not on the right, and I expect that at least 90% of its people voted for Clinton.