War Criminal Condi Rice Backs Out Of $35,000 Commencement Address

usa.gov
usa.gov

Former Sec. of State?Condoleezza Rice was all set to deliver the commencement address on May 18 at Rutgers University and pocket a whopping $35,000 for her little speech, but there was one problem: the students?didn’t want her there.

Students protested Rice’s role in the Iraq war. From Huffington?Post:

“But some students and faculty at New Jersey’s flagship university had protested, staging sit-ins and saying Rice bore some responsibility for the Iraq War as a member of the Bush administration. Barchi and other school leaders had resisted the calls to disinvite Rice, saying the university welcomes open discourse on controversial topics.”

Rice defended her record and and tried to make it all about her and said that she has “defended America’s belief in free speech and the exchange of ideas.” She played down the protests and issued this statement.

“Commencement should be a time of joyous celebration for the graduates and their families,” Rice said. “Rutgers’ invitation to me to speak has become a distraction for the university community at this very special time.”

In spite of protests, Rutgers President Robert Barchi refused to back down from paying Rice?more than an average American’s yearly salary and letting her speak. He said that the board of governors refused to rescind their decision.


In addition to pocketing her huge speaking fee, Rice — currently a professor of political science at Stanford University — ?would have received an honorary doctorate.

It’s a sad state of affairs when a war criminal can get rich and receive high esteem in America. Good for these students for taking a stand and not backing down.

 

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