Asking Michelle Rhee “what’s next” has become one of Washington’s favorite questions — who hasn’t pestered the former D.C. schools chief about the future? But Stephen Colbert, host of the satirical news show “The Colbert Report,” brought a little bit of style to the question Wednesday night: “What job will you be forced out of next?”
Here’s some highlights from their Q&A; the full episode can be viewed here.
On federal education policy:
Colbert: Are you a fan of No Child Left Behind, by the way?
Rhee: I actually am a fan of No Child Left Behind.
Colbert: Thank you for saying George Bush was our greatest president.
(laughter)
Colbert: That’s kind of what you’re saying then — that was his thing, right?
Rhee: It was his thing, and I actually think that you should give credit where credit is due, and this is one area in which President Bush actually did a very good job in, because he brought accountability to the public schools.
Rhee: I actually am a fan of No Child Left Behind.
Colbert: Thank you for saying George Bush was our greatest president.
(laughter)
Colbert: That’s kind of what you’re saying then — that was his thing, right?
Rhee: It was his thing, and I actually think that you should give credit where credit is due, and this is one area in which President Bush actually did a very good job in, because he brought accountability to the public schools.
On dealing with dissident unions:
Colbert: I sent out hooligans with truncheons…and I beat my writers until they came back here and started to tippy tappity.
On the United States’ education standings in the world:
Colbert: OK, let me take you to task here for a second. What is the big deal on education? Sell me on educating children — why?…Why should I care about the kids at George Carver High School when my kids are doing fine at Ed Begley Junior Prep?
Rhee: Well, actually, a lot of parents think their kids are doing well at Ed Begley Junior Prep …
Colbert: They’re the smartest kids in the world. My children are the most brilliant, beautiful, perfect children in the world.
Rhee: … however, you may think so, but what the data says, if you look at the top 5 percent of American students, that they are actually 25th out of 30 developed nations…
Colbert: But if I refuse to learn math, I won’t know that.
Rhee: Well, actually, a lot of parents think their kids are doing well at Ed Begley Junior Prep …
Colbert: They’re the smartest kids in the world. My children are the most brilliant, beautiful, perfect children in the world.
Rhee: … however, you may think so, but what the data says, if you look at the top 5 percent of American students, that they are actually 25th out of 30 developed nations…
Colbert: But if I refuse to learn math, I won’t know that.
And of course, on what’s next for Rhee:
Colbert: What is next for you? What job will you be forced out of next?
Rhee: Well, hopefully I won’t be forced out of any job, but I’m trying to figure out what makes sense right now in terms of a next job.
Colbert: You ever thought about being a correspondent?
Rhee: Well, I’d be very into joining the team.
Colbert: Do you have a resume?
Rhee: No, I don’t.
Colbert: Well, we’ll need to see some references.
Rhee: Well, hopefully I won’t be forced out of any job, but I’m trying to figure out what makes sense right now in terms of a next job.
Colbert: You ever thought about being a correspondent?
Rhee: Well, I’d be very into joining the team.
Colbert: Do you have a resume?
Rhee: No, I don’t.
Colbert: Well, we’ll need to see some references.
