self-important much?

The New York Times reports that Bob Kerrey’s decision to invite John McCain to give the commencement speech at New School University (where Kerrey is president) didn’t go over too well with the very liberal faculty and student body:

But instead of welcoming Mr. McCain, an Arizona Republican who is considered a possible presidential candidate, hundreds of students and faculty members are up in arms, calling the invitation a prime example of what they see as the disconnect between Mr. Kerrey, the onetime Democratic senator from Nebraska, and the institution he leads.

They say their school, with its long legacy of progressivism, should not be used to give Mr. McCain, who is lately stressing his conservative pedigree, any New York credibility as a moderate….

“Senator John McCain does not believe in a woman’s right to control her own fertility,” shouted Ann Snitow, a professor of literature and gender studies. “He has been opposed to Roe v. Wade for more than 20 years. He is a man who believes in female sexual slavery.” Ms. Snitow added: “What would he have to do to not be invited? Would he have to say we should drop a nuclear bomb on Iran tomorrow?”

Ya know, not that many people know what “New School University” is, though they have heard of New York. Maybe he shouldn’t be allowed to speak anywhere in New York. Now, there’s an idea!

Bob Kerrey made a different point [emphasis mine]:

Mr. Kerrey said graduating seniors might learn something from Mr. McCain about character.

He recalled the bitter opposition that he and Mr. McCain faced from fellow veterans during their work to normalize American relations with Vietnam. “My guess is Senator McCain is going to talk a lot about character and part of character is willing to stand before protest,” Mr. Kerrey said. “I have been with John when both of us were spat upon for advocating normalizing relations with Vietnam, called him a traitor.”

Bravo.