AZ State refuses to give Obama honorary degree

[NYCGirl]

They say he hasn't accomplished enough in his life.

:eyes:

http://www.americablog.com/2009/04/arizona-state-refuses-obama-honorary.html

Arizona State University invited President Obama to speak at their commencement, but they've notified the leader of the free world that he won't be getting an honorary degree because, well, you know, it's great that he's the first black president and everything (yes, they noted that he's black), but maybe he could come back after he finishes his term, and if he's accomplished anything significant by then, the president of the Harvard of the desert will be happy to reconsider whether the President of the United States of America has accomplished anything significant in his life.

Now, before anyone thinks this is about racism or anything, it should be noted that Arizona State is happy to bestow honorary degrees on other people of color (or at least non-white color) who have accomplished great things in their lives, like the vice minister of education of communist China. Who I'm sure is a very nice man, when he's not pimping for a dictatorship that oppresses fifteen percent of the world's entire population.

[Deja Q]

1. Well, nobody's perfect...

Wow. Pimping a sleazy and oppressive dictatorship... note to potential students: Avoid higher education in Arizona.

[rufus dog]

29. As a graduate of Arizona State I take offense....

There is nothing tying the University of Arizona or Northern Arizona University to this decision. It makes it easier to explain to my kids why they can't go to ASU. I was going to be forced to tell them it is a first rate party school and a second rate University. Now I can just tell them it is run by a friggin asshole.

[populistdriven]

52. so what have you done about it ur an alumnus

[rufus dog]

61. Timing turned out to be good

They just hit me up for a donation last week. Nice kid, was graduating this year and was excited to have Obama speaking. Had a thank you email from him and the address to the Fundraising chair. Was able to reply saying my donation was being rescinded, wished the kid luck on his future and stated I can't support ASU.

[populistdriven]

63. What you did Great! Thanks! nt

[GentryDixon]

74. I emailed them and told them

it was discrimination, or Republican politics, neither acceptable.

[Cha]

2. Sounds weird to me..like I have to

ask..What's really up?

Actually I think it's ASU's loss.

[screembloodymurder]

3. You've got to be joking.

ASU = asshole you

[NRaleighLiberal]

4. Maybe he needs more houses....like you know who from Arizona...

[ruggerson]

5. somehow, I think he'll live without it

[snowbear]

40. OMG, where have you been Ruggerson??

.
.

Welcome back!

[ruggerson]

53. ....

:pals:

[polichick]

6. How many people outside of Arizona have even heard of AZ State??

[Alexander]

8. Many. It has a reputation as a joke of a party school.

They even mentioned it in "Raising Arizona" and not in a good light.

See post #9.

[polichick]

10. Yikes - why would the President want to speak there??

[Alexander]

12. Because I'm graduating, of course.

;)

In all seriousness, when Obama came here in October 2007 there were thousands of enthusiastic students in the crowd. I'm guessing he had a good time.

[polichick]

13. Well congrats to you then! :)

[Alexander]

15. Thanks. I look forward to seeing the President speak

Even if my alma mater is going to look like an ass carrot in the process.

[BlooInBloo]

20. You're not scalping your grad tix on craigslist are you?

:P

[Alexander]

21. Just one. This old guy named John McBain or something really wanted it.

He promised me one of his houses.

[BlooInBloo]

22. (snarfle)

[Top Cat]

19. I was just think the same thing.... Kinda wish he would forgo the graudation

but i guess that would punish the students.

[Cha]

14. Moi..I know Tempe has a

republican mayor but I wouldn't think that has anything to do with it. Must take off tinfoil hat.

It seems really bizarre to me..why invite President Obama to give the commencement and then gratuitiously act like a miser?

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

50. Plenty of people, but that likely has more to do with sports and partying. (nt)

[Alexander]

7. There are tons of racists here. This is not surprising.

How else did Sheriff Joe stay in office through 4 different US presidents?

I hear the "n" word here in AZ more than I ever did back home, from all kinds of people.

The sad and ironic part was when I was hanging out at this Mexican girl's house and she suggested that all black people in prison deserve torture. :puke:

Needless to say, I won't be going back there.

[BlooInBloo]

11. Apparently you missed the memo. Repeat after me: "It's just a few bad apples. "

:rofl:

[Alexander]

18. Yep, "only" 55% voted for Sheriff Joe's re-election.

Consider that about 730,000 people voted for that Nazi shithead out of a total population of 3 million.

That's a lot of racism for one county.

[Uzybone]

9. His Harvard Law Degree trumps whatever crap ASU would bestow

the number 1 party school in America can keep their degree.

[mwooldri]

39. Plus Obama would be able to wear the proper attire to reflect this.

Obama not done enough? In my eyes he's "done enough" to be elected IL Senator. He's "done enough" just to have the run for President. He's "done enough" to be selected as the Democratic Party nominee. and he's "done enough" by winning the election.

Mr. Barack Obama is one amazing and awesome dude - even though I've never met the guy, this is how I feel about him. Politically he's not radical enough for me but that's OK, because he's enough of a paradigm shift away from the error of the previous 8 years.

Mark.

[Politicalboi]

43. Maybe it should be called

Animal house State University. Toga! Toga! Toga!

[ecstatic]

66. Good point! LOL! nt

[Kerrytravelers]

16. Well, it would appear that he did accomplish one thing that a certain AZ Senator didn't.

Hmmm... wonder what that could be, President Obama?

[jillan]

30. haha! Excellent answer!

:fistbump:

[Kerrytravelers]

37. Are you giving me the terrorist fist-bump?

:rofl:

[moondust]

17. So he won't be able to host an episode of "Cheating Death."

So what? Colbert still has his honorary DFA so it's not like it won't get done.

[Yes We Did]

23. I guess his degree from Harvard will just have to do. n/t

[Yes We Did]

24. I guess his degree from Harvard will just have to do. n/t

[burning rain]

25. Crikey, he'll have a hard time getting a good job without a college degree.

^

[Politicalboi]

44. Or a

Birth Certificate. :rofl:

[Thrill]

26. This is just disrespectful. This is the POTUS. You give him a honorary degree

If I was him I wouldn't go there or Notre Dame. I would go to the many institutions that would appreciate the visit and give the respect that's deserved.

[Alexander]

27. I respect him a great deal and I see it as an honor that he will speak here.

Yes, ASU is run by total fuckwads, especially Michael Crow.

But I'd rather not be punished because my school is run by idiots.

Their idiocy has already punished me enough, I assure you.

[katandmoon]

28. NOTHING could further demonstrate how utterly worthless that honorary degree is

[provis99]

31. turned down by Arizona State? Who cares?

It's about like being turned down for an honorary doctorate from Southern Methodist.

[jillan]

32. Oh Obama - you should have chosen University of Arizona instead of Arizona State -

A much better University in a much bluer city.

[ChazII]

36. Agree with you 100%.

Looks like SNL had it wrong in their skit last week.

[jillan]

65. I know....that SNL skit definitely had it backwards.

[Raster]

58. Absolutely!!! U of A!!!

Tucson rocks! Arizona-raised boy here.

[Schema Thing]

33. I suspect Obama will smile-laugh that smile-laugh he has, when he hears this...

and graciously act as if it doesn't bother him in the least.










And what makes Obama just that much bigger? That it really won't bother him in the least.

[madaboutharry]

34. Arizona is home to a lot of

backwater hick racists. I know, I use to live there. Now I live around other backwater hick racists. It all proves one thing: It is hard to change the way people think.

[classysassy]

35. ASU neocon country

why not invite sheriff joe,he der man in az.?

[ShadowLiberal]

38. Of course this has NOTHING to do with the neocon's outrage about other honorary degrees he's getting

Nothing at all to do with Notre Dame University giving Obama an honorary degree pissing off all those religious right fanatics. :eyes:

[Lyric]

41. Never heard of it.

Apparently they seem to think that their college is far more important than it actually is. Amusing.

:hi:

[ailsagirl]

42. OMG-- that's so outrageous it's hysterical!!!

:rofl:

[Liberal_in_LA]

45. 'Harvard of the desert'. lol

[Raster]

59. Trust me, if there is a "Harvard of the desert," it's in Tucson.

[MBS]

46. ASU has weird criteria for granting honorary degrees

It's not just about Obama-- it's about their weird system, too (though there is surely Republican-dominated local politics at play as well. Frankly, given those local politics, I think it's amazing that they even invited him at all)

More from a WaPo blog. .
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2009/04/09/no_honorary_degree_for_obama_a.html?wprss=44

[Vinca]

47. Someone on Huffpo remarked that Obama's degrees make

ASU look like the Devry Institute. That's about right.

[BattyDem]

70. LOL!

:rofl:

[polichick]

48. Even the Morning Joe crew thinks it's ridiculous - they're laughing their heads off!

[WinkyDink]

49. Maybe the President will say, "That's okay; I haven't hung up the degrees I've earned." Heehee.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

51. I'm sure they'll reconsider now that they are laughing stocks

and say how it was just a "misunderstanding".

In my house, if something like this occurred, the offended party would say -"no thanks, you've ruined it now, keep your f!@#ing degree. I wouldn't have it on a ten foot silver platter." *

I'm sure Obama wouldn't sink to the "you've ruined it level" but it would be great if he did.



(*We're big jokesters and play up any opportunity for histrionic faux outrage)

[diddlysquat]

54. I'm going to this Obama speech.

My son is getting his MA in architecture from ASU. He wanted to go out of state to get his MA and chose ASU. I think he is sorry he did that now. I was excited to find out Obama was speaking but I think they are insulting him at the same time. Obama will handle it well and ASU will look small in contrast. At any rate I'm glad I can go.

[Cha]

60. Have fun and tell us all

about!:)

[nichomachus]

55. How do you get someone with an ASU degree off your porch?

Pay him for the pizza!

[AtomicKitten]

64. lol

:thumbsup:

[msanthrope]

56. ASU President Michael Crow is a fundy Mormon....

and in fact has allowed major LDS enroachment onto the state campus.

No way he "disses' his church and his buddy, McCain, by giving him an honorary degree....

[FightingIrish]

57. Another university embarrassing itself

At least Notre Dame is sticking with its invitation and presenting an honorary degree to President Obama. Barack Obama is bestowing an honor much greater than a worthless piece of paper on all the institutions he honors with his presence and a commencement address.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

62. "Looks like heaven's easier to get into than Arizona State!"

---Ned Flanders upon seeing Homer Simpson in what he believes to be heaven.

[ecstatic]

67. Gotta K&R this thread. Soooo funny! nt

[Vidar]

68. So what.

[BattyDem]

69. Two questions

1) Did they give Bush an honorary degree?
2) If so, what was the accomplishment that made him worthy of it?


I guess President Obama will just have to console himself by staring at his HARVARD law degree for a while! :P

[Thrill]

71. Obama is the first African American President. That alone is enough of an accomplishment

I would love to see him pull out of both the ASU and ND graduations.

[NYCGirl]

72. I think being first African American pres of the Harvard Law Review is enough.

[BattyDem]

73. That was my point.

If THAT is not worth an honorary degree, then what is? That's why I asked about Bush. What accomplishment do they consider to be significant enough to deserve an honorary degree from their university? Has any president received an honorary degree from them? :shrug:

[Alexander]

75. No need to punish us students for ASU's dipshit administration.

[Metric System]

76. Completely ridiculous. As if being PRESIDENT, isn't accomplishment enough. I mean, you know, leader

of the free world and all.