VA Dems boot education board member appointed by Youngkin who championed ‘traditional American values’

A Virginia Board of Education member named Suparna Dutta, who was appointed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin, was booted from the board by Senate Democrats because she ardently defended the Constitution and spoke out against socialism to another board member, calling it “very destructive.”

(Video Credit: Fox News)

Dutta, who immigrated from India to the United States, championed “traditional American values” to the other board member concerning whether public schools should present socialism as “incompatible with democracy,” according to Fox News.

“I thought people celebrated diversity. Whether it’s diversity of thought, diversity of viewpoint, or diversity of any of the many characteristics,” Dutta commented ahead of the vote. “I’m flummoxed.”

Youngkin appointed Dutta to the Virginia Board of Education in July. She was set to be confirmed Tuesday night along with other appointees to various government positions. Democrats in the Virginia Senate blocked the appointments by Youngkin of Virginia Health Commissioner Dr. Colin Greene and parole board member Steven Buck as well, according to Wavy.

Virginia state Sen. Ghazala Hashmi introduced a last-minute amendment that removed Dutta from the nominations. It passed on a party-line vote, according to a progressive group that tracks the state’s General Assembly.

Youngkin released a statement announcing that Senate Democrats “voted to remove Suparna Dutta, shockingly claiming that a public school parent isn’t qualified to serve on the Board of Education. She is a mother and advocate for parents’ rights, she is an immigrant and an advocate for Asian American rights, she is an engineer and advocate for STEM in education.”

“She is not only qualified, she epitomizes parental involvement in our schools and we need her voice on our Board of Education,” the governor asserted.

The booting of Dutta follows a heated exchange last week during a board meeting that was intended to review proposed changes to history and social science standards in Virginia public schools. Two of the primary principles outlined in the learning standards contend that the “Declaration of Independence and the Constitution are remarkable documents” and that socialism and communism are “incompatible with democracy and individual freedoms.”

Anne Holton, who is a board member and married to Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine, claimed she was “uncomfortable” with that language.

“You cannot reference the Declaration of Independence and Constitution as remarkable documents without also acknowledging that they contain fundamental flaws of enshrining slavery and limiting the protections that they provided for only to white, propertied men,” she declared.

Holton did concede that communism is not compatible with democracy, but she also said that “plenty of governments” call themselves socialist democratic governments.

“So is socialism compatible with democracy?” she asked. “That would be a great debate to have in a 12th-grade government civics class.”

At that point, Dutta spoke up in defense of the Constitution and to blast socialism.

“I think socialism is just about as bad as communism,” she commented. “It co-opts the important decisions belonging to families and individuals.”

“Somebody had to jump in and challenge that viewpoint,” Dutta told Fox News in an interview on Tuesday. “America is great. America’s founding documents are great. And I do believe that socialism is very destructive, coming from a country which was founded as a socialist country.”

The drafting of the new standards began under Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam. It was continued in August after Youngkin became governor and appointed new board members, including Dutta, according to local news outlet WRIC.

Dutta was branded a “far-right extremist” by the democratic Virginia Grassroots Coalition. The group started a campaign against her confirmation. They called her divisive, disruptive, and “not qualified” to be a board member, and pointed to remarks she made previously, such as branding colonialism, enslavement, and racism “questionable concepts.”

Dutta fervently denied the allegations.

She also stated at a previous meeting that she would like to see public school curriculums based on “traditional American values.”

Before the confirmation vote took place, Dutta remarked that no matter what the outcome was, she is “always be thankful to be in America” and participate in democracy.

“Only in America can a common person be heard … and be part of the process,” she noted. “And I will continue to fight for education for our children.”

 

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