The Democratic Party has many irrational aspects, but its campaign against Education Secretary Betsy DeVos is surely one of the worst. It could also cost them.
DeVos, a Michigan native with a lifetime of educational philanthropy behind her, appeared before the House Committee on Education and Labor this week to explain her overhaul of a federal program that makes it more difficult for students to secure loans. But, within minutes, the hearing became personal.
“When you approach a public school, you are protested. When you enter, you are booed,” said Rep. Frederica Wilson. “You are the most unpopular person in our government. Millions will register to vote in 2020. Many will vote to remove you more than to remove the president.”
The program has suffered from a backlog for the past few years while the Education Department rewrote the rules for how to judge claims and clear the pile-up left by the Obama administration. Rep. Josh Harder, however, accused DeVos of intentionally stalling the program to make students’ lives worse.
“Are you deliberately violating this federal court order because you are too corrupt to uphold the law or because you are too incompetent to do your job?” he asked.
The House Democrats’ behavior was unprofessional and certainly out of bounds, but it was also indicative of a larger problem in the party: The Democrats have no idea how to reconcile their anti-school choice platform with their voter base.
More than 80% of Democratic primary voters, including nearly 90% of African American Democratic primary voters, support school choice and the ability to pick between different options in the public school system, according to a recent poll. This was a position former President Barack Obama had started to push the party toward. But, in recent years, the Democratic establishment has reverted to its traditional anti-school choice, pro-teachers union platform.
The result has been a significant disconnect between party leaders and the voters they claim to represent. It’s an unsustainable position, and Democrats know it, which is why DeVos is their new favorite scapegoat. This hearing was just the latest example of how personal and irrational this feud has become.
DeVos isn’t responsible for the Democratic Party’s educational division. She’s been advocating for the same policies for years, and the rest of the country is finally starting to catch on. Unless the Democrats want to lose voters in 2020, they would be wise to do the same.
