Watch Now!: Senate Hearing on D.C. Vouchers

Katherine Mangu-Ward | May 13, 2009

Feeling cheery or optimistic? Tamp those feelings down by watching a live stream of the doubly-depressing spectacle of a Senate hearing on the cancellation of the D.C. voucher program, which highlights the sad end of the small glimmer of hope for the few D.C. kids who had escaped the dysfunctional D.C. school system, showcased within the always depressing context of a congressional hearing.

The first panel, featuring several D.C. schoolkids, was brutal. The kids were so smart and so ambitious—and so screwed. At the end of the panel, Se. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) uttered some "I'm sure you will all be very successful" pleasantries. But that's exactly the point of these hearings: Those sentiments are totally standard for folks in Lieberman's social class. But success is far from assured for D.C. public school kids. Being bright, charming, and ambitious doesn't do you much good if you don't meet any of the matriculation requirements for a college.  

Reason has been covering this issue for many years, most recently in a great video by Dan Hayes:

The Washington Post also has a star-studded forum on D.C. vouchers this weekend. Read it here.

Comments

|5.13.09 @ 11:57AM|#

Lieberman.

Won't somebody please drop a piano on that guy?

Xeones|5.13.09 @ 12:00PM|#

Won't somebody please drop a piano on that guy?

Maybe Ted Kennedy could take him for a drive out Chappaquiddick way. That would be two birds/one stone, actually, 'cause ol' Ted's in no shape to swim away this time.

|5.13.09 @ 12:05PM|#

If we ask real nice, maybe they'll let Biden ride along.

KT|5.13.09 @ 12:05PM|#

Can't he and Arlen Specter get caught making out or something?

|5.13.09 @ 12:07PM|#

I'm thinking Obama wasn't sure if Sasha and malie could get into those elite prive schools in DC, so he had to open up some slots, or at least reduce the competition from DC area slum chuildren.

|5.13.09 @ 12:09PM|#

It has always amazed me how Lieberman could continue to get elected. As a former resident of CT all I can say is that Nutmeggers seem to like having the same Senators forever, and are strangely loyal to them not based on their politics but just their incumbency.

And drop a safe on him; it's heavier.

Kyle Jordan|5.13.09 @ 12:14PM|#

"It has always amazed me how Lieberman could continue to get elected. As a former resident of CT all I can say is that Nutmeggers seem to like having the same Senators forever, and are strangely loyal to them not based on their politics but just their incumbency.

And drop a safe on him; it's heavier."

I've felt the same way about many politicians. I know people are fucking stupid, but something like this seems beyond that.

I'm telling you, it's all a fucking fix. I should turn this in to a graphic novel.

Xeones|5.13.09 @ 12:17PM|#

And drop a safe on him; it's heavier.

Better yet, drop Barney Frank on him.

Other Matt|5.13.09 @ 12:30PM|#

Better yet, drop Barney Frank on him.

I would prefer to drop him and Barney Frank into the ocean in the safe, personally, but that's just me.

Enyap|5.13.09 @ 12:32PM|#

Lieberman and Dodd

Yo fuck Connecticut

Wanda Sykes|5.13.09 @ 12:35PM|#

Is it okay with you folks if I use some of this material in my act? But only on Republicans, naturally.....

|5.13.09 @ 12:42PM|#

Is it okay with you folks if I use some of this material in my act?

No. You suck, and you'd fuck it up.

John|5.13.09 @ 1:16PM|#

Standard for Lieberman's social class? Actually, he grew up relatively middle class. Now that he's made it big, he's pulling up the ladder behind him.

|5.13.09 @ 1:23PM|#

Class, let's do some electoral math.

DC's three electoral votes are going Democratic no matter what.
+
NEA and AFT votes could make the difference in many district or statewide elections.
=
Fuck those little nigger kids.

Any questions?

P Dier|5.13.09 @ 1:50PM|#

had to stop it... can't stand listening to that whiny motherfucker

|5.13.09 @ 2:00PM|#

They don't need vouchers, they don't need fancy educations let the USMC educate them in high school. Guaranteed careers.

|5.13.09 @ 2:59PM|#

"Hi, kids! Here's the bus we'll be throwing you under."

-jcr

Anal Fury!|5.13.09 @ 3:08PM|#

Why do Democrats hate brown children?

|5.13.09 @ 3:54PM|#

Public education is responsible for more cognitive dysfunction than all the illegal drugs ever consumed.

|5.13.09 @ 9:00PM|#

No. You suck, and you'd fuck it up.

...and the audience would still laugh (and applaud).

Adam S|5.13.09 @ 10:54PM|#

John, that is the crux of the issue right there. Limousine liberals (or chardonnay socialists as we call them here in OZ) are not about maximising opportunties for all. They won't admit it, but their actions are so often "screw you, I got mine and I'm not going to let anyone else succeed like I did".

Their intentions are probably good, but it frustrates me that their policy decisions in government achieve the exact opposite result.

|5.14.09 @ 4:56AM|#

their actions are so often "screw you, I got mine and I'm not going to let anyone else succeed like I did".

I tend to see it more as an attitude of "I have more money than I deserve, but I'm not giving any of it away, so I think the state should force you to make the charitable efforts that I'm not willing to do."

Limousine liberals tend to be those who came by their money with very little effort, such as hollywood bubbleheads, rich kids who don't learn how to run the family business, or politicians who rake in a pile of cash on the royalties on their ghostwriters' work.

-jcr

|5.14.09 @ 4:57AM|#

Why do Democrats hate brown children?

Oh, they don't hate them anymore than wolves hate sheep. They're useful, that's all. Hate has nothing to do with it.

-jcr