Posted on 08/15/2004 12:19:04 PM PDT by freespirited
Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry said Saturday that his daughter Vanessa has won a Fulbright scholarship to study medicine in London. Vanessa Kerry is a 27-year-old Harvard medical student who frequently travels with her father's campaign. According to the Fulbright Web site, about 1,000 U.S. students are awarded the federally funded fellowships each year of about 4,500 who apply. Kerry told reporters traveling with him to a long weekend vacation in Idaho that Vanessa recently found out she was one of this year's winners.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
#$%@@#%! Why do all the kids that don't need them get them?! It really pisses me off. I'm sorry, I know that this is a family show, but ARGH. She doesn't need it!!!!!
If you all want to dissect the scholarship and its purpose, her eligibility, or any other worthwhile aspect, go for it. But ad hominem attacks on her looks are irrelevent to the argument.
FYI from the website regarding funding:
Funding and Program Administration
The primary source of funding for the Fulbright Program is an annual appropriation by the United States Congress. Foreign governments and private organizations contribute through cost-sharing and indirect support, such as salary supplements, tuition waivers, university housing, etc. The Congressional appropriation for the Fulbright Program in fiscal year 2003 is $122.9 million. Foreign governments contribute an additional $28 million directly to the Fulbright Program.
The Fulbright Program is sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the United States Department of State under policy guidelines established by the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board. The Board is a presidentially-appointed, independent body that formulates the policies, procedures, and selection criteria which govern the Fulbright Program. Currently, the Program operates in 140 countries, including 51 countries with binational Fulbright Commissions and Foundations. A number of private, cooperating organizations also assist with the administration of the Program.
Program History
The Fulbright Program was established in 1946 under legislation introduced by former Senator J. William Fulbright of Arkansas. Since its inception more than fifty years ago 255,000 "Fulbrighters," 96,400 from the United States and 158,600 from other countries, have participated in the Program. The Fulbright Program awards approximately 4,500 new grants annually.
Fulbright Alumni include Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners, governors and senators, ambassadors and artists, prime ministers and heads of state, professors and scientists, Supreme Court Justices, and CEOs.
Sorry, but the post to which I responded just smacks a little too much of class envy.
While 27 seems a little old for a high-achieving student, she may have decided to be a person rather than a step daughter of a billionaire.
Well said.
Holy cow! 123 million for a program that gives out 1000 scholarships a year. That's $123,000 per student. I guess they have high overheads...
I agree. It's not illegal (that I know of) but , it's not right.The 1001 qualifier lost out.
It's like a restaurant not charging the rich and famous...it's the POORER people that could use a SCHOLASHIP or a free meal sometime!!
"I'm sure some kid who needed that scholarship is happy to see the daughter of a billionaire get it."
Typical of the really selfish elite Gulf Stream Limo Driven Fascists Rats in Power. They take and leave nothing but dredges for someone who doesn't have the money or power.
He is appealing to the intellectual rat community or at least those who think that they are intellectual and highly educated.
Looks like 1 of every 4.5 applicants gets it, so once you make the application standards your chances seem pretty good of getting a scholarship.
Tell that to 1001,1002,1003, and 1003.5:')
Typical of the really selfish elite Gulf Stream Limo Driven Fascists Rats in Power. They take and leave nothing but dredges for someone who doesn't have the money or power.
And then, of course, votes against vouchers.
I wish a non-white republican would jump on this!
My parents were/are rich. They refused to give me a penny for college.
On the other hand, I seriously doubt that Kerry's withholding money from his daughter just to build her character. If she has enough money to go to a Paris film festival in a $3000 dress she sure didn't get that money out of nowhere. (Then again, she obviously couldn't afford underwear...)
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