Reaction to the Senate confirmation of Betsy DeVos as Education Secretary got swift reaction from several corners standing in stern disagreement with the appointment. President Trump’s pick for the position was greenlighted after Vice President Mike Pence broke a 50-50 Senate tie on Tuesday, ending several weeks of debate over the controversial nomination.
Opponents cite her lack of experience with public schools, her open financial support of Republican politicians and her well known championing of school choice, which many say will undermine public schools. Others say that her testimony during Senate hearings demonstrate little knowledge of current public education or policies involving schools and use her home state of Michigan and the job she did as a charter school advocate there.
Supporters say that she is a reformer of education and will disrupt a sluggish, uninspiring system that needs modernization. But with the confirmation, she will likely find as much opposition as Trump has been overall on his policies. Social media became heated over DeVos taking the new job. Here are a few of the reactions:
To all who are angry or frustrated about today’s vote confirming DeVos, please know: the vote may be over, but our fight must continue. pic.twitter.com/QHFveiRv9d
— Sen. Cory Booker (@SenBookerOffice) February 7, 2017
Our great state of Michigan has given you Donald Trump (10K vote margin) & Betsy DeVos (she’s worked tirelessly here to destroy our schools)
— Michael Moore (@MMFlint) February 7, 2017
ATTN: Parents w/ resources, we have to use our resources to support public schools even if our kids don’t go to public schools. #resist
— W. Kamau Bell (@wkamaubell) February 7, 2017
.@SenateDems, THANKS for fighting DeVos nomination. We only needed 1 to win. Watching you battle for America’s school kids was inspiring.
— Rep. Keith Ellison (@keithellison) February 7, 2017
Betsy DeVos’ SOLE qualification 2 b Secretary of Education = funding @VP‘s pseudo Christian extremism. She’s wholly incompetent in every way
— Montel Williams (@Montel_Williams) February 7, 2017
If you called, wrote, organized, and got involved in the fight to defeat DeVos, don’t give up. We need your voice now, more than ever.
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) February 7, 2017
Angry about your senator’s DeVos vote? Let ’em hear it. Say they will pay a price next election. Let’s flood with calls. (202) 224-3121.
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) February 7, 2017
Lisa Murkowski was the only senator to receive money from Betsy DeVos/family who voted against her. #DrainTheSwamp https://t.co/8ByV3feGp3 pic.twitter.com/yONK6PAmpg
— Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) February 7, 2017
