Posh Conn. Prep School up in arms over Rove's selection as commencement speaker

[NewJeffCT]

This is Choate Rosemary Hall in Wallingford, CT - a school that counts JFK and Adlai Stevenson among its alumni. Please DU the poll, and leave a comment in the article, if you can.

Karl Rove At Choate? Maybe, Maybe Not

He may have been the president's closest adviser, but many students at Choate Rosemary Hall don't want Karl Rove offering them any advice at graduation.

Some are plotting a walkout. Others are thinking of holding placards or turning around their chairs when Rove addresses the graduates. The campus newspaper, The News, has urged the school to reject Rove as the speaker.

And the decision to have Rove has added fuel to a movement aimed at bringing another figure — comedian Stephen Colbert, Comedy Central's faux conservative news icon — to campus, perhaps to speak separately as part of a compromise solution.

http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-rove0125.artjan25,0,5662543.story

An opinion piece in the paper as well.

Let's say you could select anyone in the world to speak at the graduation of one of the nation's most prestigious prep schools.

I'm guessing most people probably would not think of Karl Rove.

But in a stroke of ironic genius, Choate Rosemary Hall Headmaster Edward J. Shanahan has made a brilliant choice in bringing Rove to his Wallingford campus. Finally, a commencement speaker who truly stands for something — power, deception and how to slip away without getting caught.

http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-rgreen0125.artjan25,0,7123947.column

[Laura PourMeADrink]

1. I say - let him speak. The protest would be a great statement ! nt

[C_U_L8R]

2. I hear the Turdblossom likes cream pie

[Captain Hilts]

3. He belongs in jail, yet he's making commencement speeches and getting writng contracts.

[CTyankee]

4. The Colbert idea is wonderful!

What a great showdown that would be! Is Colbert interested in being part of this? After all, Wallingford CT isn't exactly a very large venue, but he might see some interesting possibilities therein...

[NewJeffCT]

5. If Colbert's show is out of NYC

then, Wallingford is only a little over an hour away by car. It would put him in the heart of an elite/ivory tower liberal institution as well. (I'm guessing it's a good $30K per year to attend, if not more)

Plus, Choate has graduated a ton of famous people over the years besdies JFK & Stevenson: Michael Douglas, Jamie Lee Curtis, Glenn Close, Paul Giamatti, Ali McGraw, Bruce Dern, Edward Albee...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Choate_Rosemary_Hall

[CTyankee]

6. It would be wonderful if he did it, I totally agree.

Wallingford is just kinda out of the way. He'd probably get more out of visit to Yale. But ya never know! If Colbert is on book tour, it would work out pretty well for him!

[sharp_stick]

7. It's not out of the way at all

Choate is 15 minutes straight North of Yale.

[NewJeffCT]

8. they've certainly had some prestigious speakers over the years

The article mentioned the "very liberal" Chris Dodd. I guess protecting & defending the Constitution is a liberal value now?

[CTyankee]

9. Oh I know. I live in New Haven. I guess I meant out of the way in the sense

that it isn't a very big town, like most of CT towns, not just Wallingford. Maybe it's just my perspective living in New Haven, which is probably pretty narrow of me!

However, the prep school angle might tickle Colbert's fancy. He could probably provoke lots of laughs at Rove's expense. That would be lovely to see!

[NewJeffCT]

10. It depends, I guess

a place where a liberal icon like JFK went to school, plus is home to a bunch of Hollywood types, might appeal to Colbert.

[Winterblues]

11. Why would any school want a TRAITOR to speak

This man has committed TREASON. He outed a Covert CIA Agent and then Bragged about it by claiming she was "Fair Game" Their decision is unconscionable

[CTyankee]

12. Methinks one of their "illustrious" alums, equally as corrupt and vile as Rove,

got him to agree to come. That could be the only way Rove could get invited to a school like Choate Rosemary Hall, IMO. The student body has demonstrated they don't want him!