PBS star Tavis Smiley brought his ‘Vision For A New America’ tour to the George Washington University campus in Washington, D.C. last night.
The program featured eight panelists, all but one of whom were committed Leftists. The vision presented by the panelists sounded more like communist Cuba or a socialist Greece rather than our nation “conceived in liberty.” But don’t take my word for it. I compiled a list of the top 17 Leftist lines of the evening.
1.“We have been squeezing government…the idea starting in 1981 was to starve the beast.” – Dr. Jeffrey Sacks, Director, The Earth Institute
Yes, according to Dr. Sacks, it’s not the taxpayers who are being squeezed by the government. Rather, government is the victim.
2. “Apartheid schooling [in the United States] is now at a higher rate than when he [Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.] died.”—Jonathan Kozol, advocate and author
Apparently, desegregation and the advancement of civil rights legislation since the 1960’s have been figments of our collective imagination.
3. “Fifty percent of the children born in this country are poor enough to participate in the WIC [Women, Infants, and Children food benefits program]…That’s awesome!”—Dr. Mariana Chilton, Center for Hunger Free Communities
Yes, in Dr. Chilton’s mind, the fact that half our nation’s newborns qualify for WIC assistance is “awesome,” evidently proof of our generosity. But shouldn’t our goal be increased prosperity in order to reduce this level of government dependency?
4. “The American medical system is the most inept system in the industrialized world.”—Rose Ann DeMoro, Executive Director of National Nurses United
The ineptitude of our system is why those with financial means travel from across the globe to receive medical care in the United States?
5. “[What]you call entitlements, I call earned benefits”—Congresswoman Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio)
Really? Enough said.
6. “When you [cut and restrict government], you create a bigger problem than you think you have solved.”—Congresswoman Marcia Fudge
Actually, congresswoman, reducing government spending ultimately allows capital accumulation in the private sector. This leads to increased production capabilities and a stronger economy.
7. “We have no inflation.”—Dr. John Graham, Dean of School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University
This statement runs contrary to practical experience and official statistics.
8. “We’re gutting the government…Nobody’s speaking out to protect the government.”—Dr. Jeffrey Sacks
This truly was not meant to be humorous! Dr. Sacks spoke with gravity and sternness.
9. “There’s a bipartisan consensus that the poor don’t matter.” – Tavis Smiley
10. “[The] best preventative medicine to rescue children from hereditary poverty is to…provide children developmental preschool starting at 2 years old.”—Jonathan Kozel
Really? The solution is government education for toddlers?
11. “Progressive caucus, black caucus—thank God for you. Occupy needs to start up and keep going.”—Rose Ann DeMoro
12. “These people [Republican colleagues] are evil and mean.”—Congresswoman Marcia Fudge
13. “Martin Luther King, Jr. today could be taken to jail under the NDAA.”—Dr. Cornel West, author and professor
Sorry, professor. I’m certain that the civil rights leader did not have ties to violent jihadists.
14. “We have black political prisoners today in America.”—Dr. Cornel West
Of course, the professor failed to mention names or locations.
15. “Since Martin Luther King, the notion of love in our public policy has been absent.”—Tavis Smiley
Can anyone explain what this means?
16. “The word ‘enterprise’ is sickening, has a pathological effect on our schools.”—Jonathan Kozol
17. “Merit pay is one of the most insidious devices.”—Jonathan Kozol
These brilliant panelists are what Tavis Smiley peddles as “experts.” Sadly, Tavis will be spreading his message of Statism and dependency to college campuses across this nation over the remainder of the academic year. And to think that PBS readily provides a stage to this radical ideologue.
