WATCH: Al Franken Strafes Betsy DeVos at Senate Hearing
Image by Getty Images
By Josh Nathan-Kazis January 18, 2017
In the midst of a stormy confirmation hearing for Donald Trump’s Secretary of Education nominee Betsy DeVos, Minnesota Senator Al Franken left the nominee speechless with attacks on her suitability for the position.
“It surprises me that you don’t know this issue,” Franken said, after asking DeVos whether she believes individual improvement or meeting grade-linked standards was a more important measure of student learning.
Franken also asked DeVos if she believed in so-called “conversion therapy,” a discredited practice that attempts to change the sexual orientation of gay people. Franken cited donations by members of DeVos’s family to the conservative Christian group Focus on the Family, which supports the practice. DeVos said that she did not support conversion therapy, and suggested that she had not given to Focus on the Family.
“Your characterization of contributions, I don’t think accurately reflects those of my family,” she said. “I would hope that you wouldn’t include other family members beyond my core family.”
In response to another Senator’s questions, DeVos said that tax filings that list her as a board member of a DeVos family foundation that funded Focus on the Family were incorrect, and attributed her name appearing on them to a “clerical error.”
Contact Josh Nathan-Kazis at [email protected]
I’m personally matching all gifts to the Forward, up to $36,000. Can I match your gift now?
Hello, fellow Forward reader! I’m Joel Brown, a Forward reader and supporter for more than 15 years, and currently the chair of the board of directors.
I’m an avid Forward reader because it ticks so many of my essential boxes: excellent journalism, Jewish focus and diverse viewpoints. In today’s political climate, what I most appreciate is the Forward’s independence — made possible by the generosity of its membership.
The Forward is committed to bringing you unbiased, nuanced Jewish news. From my position as board chair, I see an exciting future as we expand our position as the definitive independent voice of contemporary American Judaism.
— Joel Brown, Forward board chair
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
