WaPo column blasts Sasse as ‘affirmative action hire’ despite previously praising him as university president
13.10.2022 - 00:47
/ foxnews.com
The Washington Post’s Jennifer Rubin denounced Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., after years of previously praising him, for planning to step down and accept a position as president of the University of Florida. Rubin denounced Sasse on Wednesday in an op-ed calling him "an affirmative action hire if there ever was one" by Gov.
Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., to "install" in his stead. "Sasse is the quintessential affirmative action hire that Republicans love to denounce. His selection certainly appears to be based on political identity, not merit.
No one can seriously argue that Sasse is the finest candidate in the country for the position. DeSantis might as well have put in the job description: ‘Compliant Republican hostile to liberal ideas,’" Rubin wrote. Rubin also attacked Sasse, who previously served as president of Midland University, as not up to the task of heading up a "major university." Sen.
Ben Sasse, R-Neb., speaks during a confirmation hearing for Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Monday, Oct. 12, 2020, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, Pool) "If DeSantis wanted a slippery, right-wing politician for the job, he chose well. Sasse has long been considered bright by the standards of the U.S.
Senate, but that does not necessarily mean he is up to the intellectual rigor of a major university," Rubin wrote. This contrasted with Rubin's position from years prior when she frequently praised the senator and even pushed him to run for president in 2016 against Donald Trump based on his experience as a university president. "He is an accomplished man.