Kerry Says His Daughter Has Won Fulbright (AP) ?why?

"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."

Why don't these go to underprivilated students? Wierd.

nt

with strict requirements...

To be chosen for this scholarship is an honor.

http://www.cies.org/us_scholars/eligibility.htm

and the family pays its own way for her London studies. Just a thought. She undoubtedly deserves it, but politically it may make better sense to take a pass.

I understand your point about her parents money, but I suspect she's wanting to pay her own way in the world....I know I would. You earn a Fulbright based on what you accomplish....good for her.

and yes, I paid the bills for all my degrees, so I understand the desire of a young person to make it on their own.

I also drank far more than the Bush twins ever did, and partook of more than my share of illicit activities.

However, my Dad never ran for President, but if he had I’m sure my actions and behavior would have reflected a consideration of his unique situation.

It would look really really bad if she were to decline the award because of pressure from her father's campaign advisors. Would you let that happen to your kid?

If they Kerry's want to highlight their support of education, they can, I don't know, run a philanthropic foundation that gives generous awards to others, or run against George Bush* on a platform that includes expanding college opportunities for all Americans.

Baseless attack #32767...

(n/t)

Wow! If your daughter/son won this, you'd be telling the world too...

That's so wonderful! He must be so proud of his daughter....

Bet the Bush daughters couldn't even dream of qualifying for this....I know people with top grades at top notch ivy league schools who were finalists, but didn't get it. Very hard to get and completely merit based.

I knew Vanessa was smart, obviously VERY SMART....

Hmmm....they say intelligence is inherited....

:eyes:

Yale needs to be shut down.

Can you show that they don't?

the only reason I can think of is a political stepping stone.

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

They are for high achievers (rich or poor) in a wide variety of fields.

I think there are other need-based scholarships available.

Right up there with the Rhodes scholarship program. For students who have REALLY distinguished themselves, and a major honor.

big dog got a rhodes scholarship and he certainly wasn`t a "rich kid" he got it because he was worthy, same with kerry-she got it because she`s worthy..

... they were too busy taking mixology courses.

It is indeed a merit-based scholarship, and the Kerrys have every right to be proud. I am NOT attacking Kerry. Nor am I attacking anyone who's financially well off who's won such a scholarship. No knee-jerking please.

However I can also see how this could look to someone who - say - had just enough money to take three quarter-long classes at a community college before all his savings dried up and he had to get out into the workforce so he could eat peanut butter and top ramen, and so had no means available to gain the merit to win such a scholarship.

The Kerry family is no different from any others that have won something like this, except they are extremely visible figures right now. A bit of care needs to be taken on their parts.

Pretend for an instant that Shrub's daughters were actually intelligent enough to win such a thing (a stretch, I know). With their billionaire robber-baron family behind them, getting even more free money would seem unjust regardless of how merited it might be.

is based on merit.

Without such distinctions people would assume she got ahead just because she was rich and famous.

If Babsie won it, I'd tell her to take it, too.

J.

Not every award needs to be given to someone of need, sometimes an award can go to someone regardless of their class and income level. Should the Nobel Prize only go to the scientist with the worst funding?

When talking about grants and aid, yes, need should be factored in. When talking about merit based scholarships, no, needs shouldn't be factored in.

(participating involves much more than receiving a scholarship), and she should turn it down - or shouldn't have applied, because of who her father is? So when she earns something on her own - not due to her name or her family's money - she should walk away from it because of her name and her family's money? That makes no sense whatsover. :crazy:

It is like saying that when she finishes her studies, if she were offered a job practicing at the top medical facility in her field, that she should turn it down to allow someone else the opportunity for that job.

Fulbright scholar to study medicine in London?

Whoo-hoo for her!

:toast: :hi:

with an upcoming presidential election and an unelected dictator in the WH that is destroying my country.

is that a bushism?

RL

I'm a wee bit more concerned about the 44 million people in this country who don't even have health coverage than whether or not Vanessa Kerry won a scholarship.

That ok with you?