GOP Rep Marsha Blackburn: you don't need to study at an "elite institution" to understand the world

[sabra]

:rofl:

http://blogs.nashvillescene.com/pitw/2008/09/blackburn_on_palin_she_keeps_u.php

Our favorite feminist hero has swung into action again to defend Sarah Palin on television. But as usual with Marsha Blackburn, the words just didn’t come out quite right.

Asked by Bill O’Reilly to explain why Palin wouldn’t take reporters’ questions yesterday about her meetings with Hamid Karzai and other foreign leaders, Blackburn essentially admitted John McCain’s running mate won’t be ready on day one.

“What they’re doing is giving her time to kind of establish her credentials in foreign policy and to prepare herself to be vice president. What she’s having the opportunity to do is prepare for the meetings, go in ask some questions, begin to build some relationships and then move away from that and more or less put that information to work in preparing for the role of vice president.”

Even O’Reilly seemed a little taken aback: “OK,” he said, “but we’re only six more weeks from the vote … “

Next, Blackburn listed Palin’s foreign-policy credentials. Let’s see, she was commander in chief of the Alaska National Guard, “her neighbors are Russia and Canada” and, oh yes, “she has a son who is a member of the U.S. military.”

“She keeps up with things,” Blackburn assured us.

OK, so Blackburn was a little shaky at first in this interview, but she ended with a haymaker. “I don’t think it’s necessary to study at an elite institution to understand some of the workings of the world,” she said.

[Cassandra]

1. It helps to have a functioning brain, though...

which is why Bush didn't benefit from his time at "elite institutions".

[Naturyl]

2. She's right, BUT...

You DO need intellectual honesty, critical thinking skills, and open-mindedness.

I've seen no evidence that Palin has any of the above.

[Caliman73]

3. Another example of anti-intellectual garbage....

Although it is true that you don't have to attend the most prestigious universities to understand the world, typically the most prestigious universities attract the preeminent scholars in their particular field of excellence. Call me a snob, but I would rather have a graduate from a reputable university who has proven himself and applied his education rather than a person who got into school because of family connections and never really applied himself to any post he has had.

Speaking on Palin, you have a person who thinks that just because she doesn't fully understand something, it is not important to know. We've already had a person like that in the White House. She prides herself on being ignorant of the details and nuance in life that can have profound impact on events. Sorry but a photo op with a few of the butt kissing leaders that we are either propping up or who want our protection does not make for "foreign policy experience".

So Blackburn is correct, one need not study at an "elite" university, one must have the desire to study their world and understand it though. Neither McCain, nor Palin show ANY desire to think that much, if at all. As I said before, we have already had someone like that in the White house. It's time to put someone in their who can and who wants to think about things before acting for a change.