Glenn Greenwald rightfully takes the opportunity to sound off:NEW YORK – NBC's "Today" show has hired someone with White House experience as a new correspondent — former first daughter Jenna Hager.
The daughter of former President George W. Bush will contribute stories about once a month on issues like education to television's top-rated morning news show, said Jim Bell, its executive producer.
Hager, a 27-year-old teacher in Baltimore, said she has always wanted to be a teacher and a writer, and has already authored two books. But she was intrigued by the idea of getting into television when Bell contacted her.
They should convene a panel for the next Meet the Press with Jenna Bush Hager, Luke Russert, Liz Cheney, Megan McCain and Jonah Goldberg, and they should have Chris Wallace moderate it. They can all bash affirmative action and talk about how vitally important it is that the U.S. remain a Great Meritocracy because it's really unfair for anything other than merit to determine position and employment. They can interview Lisa Murkowski, Evan Bayh, Jeb Bush, Bob Casey, Mark Pryor, Jay Rockefeller, Dan Lipinksi, and Harold Ford, Jr. about personal responsibility and the virtues of self-sufficiency. Bill Kristol, Tucker Carlson and John Podhoretz can provide moving commentary on how America is so special because all that matters is merit, not who you know or where you come from. There's a virtually endless list of politically well-placed guests equally qualified to talk on such matters.. . .Just to underscore a very important, related point: all of the above-listed people are examples of America's Great Meritocracy, having achieved what they have solely on the basis of their talent, skill and hard work -- The American Way. By contrast, Sonia Sotomayor -- who grew up in a Puerto Rican family in Bronx housing projects; whose father had a third-grade education, did not speak English and died when she was 9; whose mother worked as a telephone operator and a nurse; and who then became valedictorian of her high school, summa cum laude at Princeton, a graduate of Yale Law School, and ultimately a Supreme Court Justice -- is someone who had a whole litany of unfair advantages handed to her and is the poster child for un-American, merit-less advancement.I just want to make sure that's clear.
Maybe their call for Meritocracy is just a cry for help. They realize that because of their family background nothing they ever do in life will be thought of as based on merit.
ReplyDeleteTheir name has given them almost too much. Even if the do have real talent they can never escape their parents' legacy.
SO I say give Jenna Bush a job. At the least it will keep her out of public office for a while. And, let Megan McCain go on tour for another new book rebranding the modern republican woman as a liberal. she still won't be half as crazy as her father.
Ultimately I feel sorry for them. However, people need jobs in this country now more then ever. Who cares how they get them. I would certainly take advantage of my parents' connections in order to make a name for myself. And, who says I haven't...
also, like Sotomayor, President Obama is another good example. Damn you, American voting system! You are only furthering affirmative action by empowering its citizens to elect a new leader.