Amount Quote by Kevin Drum
“Betsy DeVos, for example, has shown that she’s flatly ignorant of an astounding amount of basic education policy. It might be possible to persuade two or three Republicans to oppose her on these grounds - but only if the entire confirmation process isn’t a pure partisan battle.”
About This Quote
Source Article: The Washington Post, “Betsy DeVos and Education Policy”, 2017
DeVos lacks basic knowledge, making bipartisan opposition possible only if the process stays non‑partisan.
In simple terms: She’s uninformed; politics matter.
Key Takeaway
Focus on facts, avoid partisan traps.
Themes
education policy
politics
partisanship
knowledge gaps
legislative strategy
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
political
policy
When to use this quote
- Congressional hearings
- media interviews
- policy briefings
Key Concepts
policy analysis
political strategy
public accountability
Questions to Reflect On
- How can legislators prioritize expertise over party?
- What mechanisms ensure informed confirmation?
A Different Perspective
Partisanship can still dominate despite facts.
![“[Betsy DeVos] is quite a smart person, capable, pretty sophisticated in subtle thought. And so to me, that puts her in the realm of policy. But we're in a climate where, as today, she tries to visit a school, and she can't even do that because protesters are blocking that.” quote by David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/886/david-brooks-644_block_betsy-devos-is-quite-a-smart-person-capa_1834524.jpg)
![“Would [Betsy DeVos] be my first pick? No. Is she someone who has dedicated her life to education policy? Yes, actually, she has.” quote by David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0af/david-brooks-644_dedicated_would-betsy-devos-be-my-first-pick-no-is_2972455.jpg)
![“I have seen [Betsy DeVos] present a few times. I don't really know her. But I have seen her present on education policy, and she's not a stupid person.” quote by David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9bb/david-brooks-644_education_i-have-seen-betsy-devos-present-a-few-ti_431069.jpg)
![“[Betsy] DeVos's statement turned a well-known Trump slogan, and proclaimed, we will make American education great again. Proponents of school choice were ecstatic, including Sandy Kress, a top education adviser in George W. Bush's administration.” quote by Claudio Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/8ce/claudio-sanchez-35119_administration_betsy-devos-s-statement-turned-a-well-kn_548362.jpg)
![“President-elect [Donald] Trump has made a provocative choice for secretary of education. Betsy DeVos comes from a wealthy Michigan family. She is an advocate for school choice. That phrase means, in essence, directing public education money to charter schools, private schools or parochial schools.” quote by Steve Inskeep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b94/steve-inskeep-10882_charter_president-elect-donald-trump-has-made-a_2437134.jpg)
![“[Donald trump] was steamed about [Hillary] Clinton's suggestion that he might not be as rich as he says. So he ditched the email stuff and instead spend a couple of minutes defending the greatness of his income, his company, his debts, his bankers, his buildings - and then sort of forgot what he…” quote by Kevin Drum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/81b/kevin-drum-9635_bankers_donald-trump-was-steamed-about-hillary-c_101748.jpg)
