Reason: his body of work isn't great enough yet.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com.../new-commencement-headache-for-wh/

Why isn't it? He's been president for almost three months!!!

Why is this an issue, is ASU required to give him an honorary degree?

Quoting Homer71 (Reply 1): Why isn't it? He's been president for almost three months!!!

That's three months longer than any other person ASU has honored with a degree.

Besides that, he has been a constitutional law professor, a senator, and a best-selling author.

Quoting Homer71 (Reply 1): Why is this an issue, is ASU required to give him an honorary degree?

It is customary. I don't know if this is the first time that ASU isn't honoring their commencement speaker, but I imagine it is rare.

Quoting D L X (Reply 2): It is customary.

But not required. If it is that big a deal than he can spend that time somewhere else. Maybe in the White House.

I guess the ASU administration wants to have increases in their funding from the very conservative Republican state legislature and the brainless Republican Governor, Jan Brewer. What an utterly stupid, politically motivated move on ASU's part.

The President is a best-selling author, the first African-American editor of the Harvard Law Review, a former U.S. Senator, and - of course - the first African-American President of the United States. But I guess he hasn't done enough with his life to merit a friggin' honorary degree from one of the biggest "party" schools in the entire country.

Whatever, ASU....   

The people mentioned in the article in the OP have some connection to Arizona or Arizona State.

The university's guidelines say the degree is merited by "significant contributions to education and society over the course of a person's career," though Sandra Day O'Connor and Barry Goldwater — both Arizonans — received the honor after the latter had served just over one term in the Senate, and the former was roughly three years into her Supreme Court tenure. Also honored: activist Cesar Chavez, legendary Arizona senator and former presidential candidate Mo Udall, and broadcaster Walter Cronkite.

Quoting D L X (Reply 2): Besides that, he has been a constitutional law professor, a senator, and a best-selling author.

Just name a street after him, then. There's plenty of those around.

Quoting Lowrider (Reply 3): If it is that big a deal than he can spend that time somewhere else. Maybe in the White House.

Clever, yet obvious.   

Quoting StasisLAX (Reply 4): I guess the ASU administration wants to have increases in their funding from the very conservative Republican state legislature and the brainless Republican Governor, Jan Brewer.

Yes, absolutely, considering AZ itself is a swing state, not to mention there's quite the political disparity in the individuals listed below . . .

Quoting 767Lover (Reply 5): The university's guidelines say the degree is merited by "significant contributions to education and society over the course of a person's career," though Sandra Day O'Connor and Barry Goldwater — both Arizonans — received the honor after the latter had served just over one term in the Senate, and the former was roughly three years into her Supreme Court tenure. Also honored: activist Cesar Chavez, legendary Arizona senator and former presidential candidate Mo Udall, and broadcaster Walter Cronkite

Quoting StasisLAX (Reply 4): Whatever

Well said.

I don't think Obama is really worried about getting an Honorary Degree from ASU. I mean, who hasn't seen the advertisements online from ASU about getting your associates degree in year? It's not like Obama needs it, or wants it. He's a Harvard Law Grad. An ASU Honorary degree really isn't going to add to his resume, even though, he probably has the best resume in US history.

If the White House is pissed about it, then so be it, but ASU is not obliged to do anything for anyone, even the president. But I doubt he cares that much anyway.

UAL

Quoting Lowrider (Reply 3): Quoting D L X (Reply 2): It is customary. But not required.

No, it's not required. But if it is customary, then it is a major slight to not give one to him absent a good reason, and frankly, their reason is nuts.

Quoting 767Lover (Reply 5): The people mentioned in the article in the OP have some connection to Arizona or Arizona State.

So? Their reason was that Obama's body of work was insufficient. Clearly, it has nothing to do with him not being from Arizona.


Even Pat Buchanan agrees with me on this one.  

Quoting D L X (Reply 8): No, it's not required. But if it is customary, then it is a major slight to not give one to him absent a good reason,

Sort of like returning a bust of Winston Churchill, not having a joint press conference, and giving a box of old movies as a present?

Perhaps we will save a few bucks by spending the weekend at Camp David with his kids instead of revving up AF1 again.

And it seems that the administration at ASU has finally come to terms with the firestorm they created:

"Arizona State University says it will name a scholarship program after President Barack Obama as it continues to be stung by its decision not to award him an honorary degree.

ASU President Michael Crow issued a statement Saturday afternoon apologizing for the "confusion" surrounding a decision not to award a degree when Obama gives a commencement address on May 13.

Crow says it has always been ASU's plan to honor Obama. Since the decision not to give a degree was first reported by the student-run State Press newspaper early this week, the school has been mocked in various forums, and Politico.com reported on Friday that Crow was reconsidering."

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30169491/

Quoting StasisLAX (Reply 10): And it seems that the administration at ASU has finally come to terms with the firestorm they created:

Firestorm? I've heard far more about President Obama and Notre Dame than ASU so "firestorm" may be a bit strong don't you think?

Quoting StasisLAX (Reply 10): the school has been mocked in various forums, and Politico.com reported on Friday that Crow was reconsidering."

Now that's standing on your prinicples.

Quoting D L X (Reply 8): frankly, their reason is nuts

...in your opinion.

And we all know what opinions are like, don't we?  

I'd be curious to see who were their past commencement speakers and whether or not those people got honorary degrees.

Quoting EA CO AS (Reply 12): Quoting D L X (Reply 8): frankly, their reason is nuts ...in your opinion.

Good answer.

Please tell me how saying Obama's body of work is insufficient while they have also honored people with less accomplishment than he is at all consistent.

You can try to shoot down my position by calling it just "an opinion" but it is an opinion backed with facts. Without a counteropinion based on facts, your criticism is empty.

Quoting D L X (Reply 14): Please tell me how saying Obama's body of work is insufficient while they have also honored people with less accomplishment than he is at all consistent.

What defines a body of work? (This is an honest question, not a rhetorical one).

Quoting D L X (Reply 2): That's three months longer than any other person ASU has honored with a degree.

Thanks D L X, sent me off to bed laughing. Good one.

Quoting 767Lover (Reply 15): What defines a body of work? (This is an honest question, not a rhetorical one).

D L X has given an excellent short summary. You would look at his books, his teaching achievements any other publications and in the case of a politician at the body of work embodied in his major speeches.

And with Obama, it would be more than a usually black mark if the answer did not come up positive.

If I were on the committee, I would be asking on a point of principle with a record like Obama's should the award not be the degree itself rather than the honorary degree. And trust me, that is not a common question asked in relation to pollies being given an Hon degree.

If his current "body of work " is not enough.. why even invite him?.

Quoting Mt99 (Reply 17): If his current "body of work " is not enough.. why even invite him?.

Publicity, then again, don't give him an honorary degree, even more publicity...?

Actually, they sort of make themselves look like asses because Obama IS the first African American President in the history of the US, if that isn't enough, I don't know what is. Perhaps the first Lesbian Woman African/Asian-American President?

It IS status quo to give your graduation keynote speaker an Honorary Diploma, and being president of the United States, it would only seem proper to do this for Obama. It would only seem proper for Bush, Clinton, Bush Sr., Reagan, Carter, et al.

But really, even I wouldn't be offended not getting an honorary degree from ASU, I doubt Obama's Harvard degree would disagree with me.

UAL

Quoting D L X (Reply 14): Please tell me how saying Obama's body of work is insufficient while they have also honored people with less accomplishment than he is at all consistent.

What, exactly, has he accomplished that is noteworthy??

And writing a book doesn't count.

Quoting Starbuk7 (Reply 19): What, exactly, has he accomplished that is noteworthy?? And writing a book doesn't count.

So why invite him? If you don't think he has done ANYTHING noteworthy, don't even invite him.

Quoting Starbuk7 (Reply 19): What, exactly, has he accomplished that is noteworthy?? And writing a book doesn't count.

And do not forget being a community organizer. Thar should put him over the top

Maybe we are looking at this backwards..

How about a list of who has received ASU honorary degrees?

Quoting Mt99 (Reply 22): How about a list of who has received ASU honorary degrees?

*William P. Carey founded and chaired the real estate investment-banking firm, W.O. Carey & Co. LLC, in New York City, 1998

* Wu Qidi: the vice minister of education of the People's Republic of China was given an honorary degree at ASU in May 2006

* Cesar Chavez: The Mexican-American labor and civil rights activist was bestowed an honorary degree in 1992.

* Lawrence Douglas Wilder: The nation's first African-American governor in Virginia received an honorary degree and delivered the commencement address at ASU in 2004.


* Rita Colwell: A microbiologist who was the 11th director of the National Science Foundation, received an honorary degree in 2004.

* John Christian: A long-serving lawyer and community activist, received an honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters in 2002.

* Jane Dee Hull: Arizona's first elected female governor received an honorary degree.

* Alfredo Gutierrez: A long time Arizona legislator, was given an honorary doctorate in 2000.

* Kim Campbell: Canada's 19th prime minister, received an honorary degree in 2005.

* Lord John Browne of Madingley: The President of the Royal Academy of Engineering and Chief Executive of BP, received an honorary degree in 2005.

* Peterson Zah: The one time president of the Navajo Nation was honored in 2005.

* Rex G. Maughan: The founder, president, and CEO of Forever Living Products and Terry Labs, was honored in 2002.

Full List:

Frederick M. Irish
May 28, 1940
Arthur John Matthews
May 28, 1940
Charles A. Stauffer
May 22, 1951
Samuel Henry Morris
May 26, 1953
Ira Dawson Payne
May 26, 1953
Abraham Lincoln Krohn
May 24, 1955
Arthur Ervin Smith
May 24, 1955
Alfred Knight
May 29, 1956
Harvey Leslie Taylor
May 29, 1956
Daniel Earl Noble
May 28, 1957
Howard Pyle
May 28, 1957
Walter Reed Bimson
May 27, 1958
John Cromwell Lincoln
May 27, 1958
Carl Sauer
May 27, 1958
Carlos P. Garcia
June 25, 1958
Eugene Collins Pulliam
May 26, 1959
Carl Hayden
Nov. 14, 1959
John Robert Murdock
May 31, 1960
Barry Morris Goldwater
May 30, 1961
George W. Romney
June 5, 1962
Linton Elias Grinter
June 5, 1962
Walter Early Craig
June 4, 1963
Lynn Meade Laney
June 4, 1963
Harvey Harlow Nininger
June 4, 1963
Lillian Moller Gilbreth
May 26, 1964
Julius Charles Wetzler
May 26, 1964
Stewart Lee Udall
June 1, 1965
George Fuller Miller
June 1, 1965
John Alfred Hannah
May 27, 1966
James Bryon McCormick
May 27, 1966
Harold David Richardson
May 26, 1967
Robert Jeffrey Hannelly
May 26, 1967
Karl Clayton Leebrick
May 26, 1967
Lewis Judah Ruskin
June 4, 1968
Harlan Cleveland
June 4, 1968
John Hope Franklin
June 3, 1969
Frank Borman
June 3, 1969
Charles Stewart Mott
Jan 13, 1970
Ernest J. Hopkins
June 2, 1970
George Homer Durham
June 1, 1971
Richard A. Harvill
June 1, 1971
Arthur B. Schellenberg
June 1, 1971
Pablo Casals
Mar 30, 1972
Raul H. Castro
June 2, 1972
O.D. Miller
June 2, 1972
Paolo Soleri
May 18, 1973
Ernest W. McFarland
May 18, 1973
Paul Rappaport
May 17, 1974
Hugh Downs
May 17, 1974
Herbert G. Fales
May 16, 1975
Robert W. Galvin
May 16, 1975
Mae S. Talley
May 14, 1976
John J. Rhodes
May 14, 1976
Louise Lincoln Kerr
May 13, 1977
Bart Jan Bok
May 19, 1978
Henry Eyring
May 19, 1978
David C. Lincoln
May 18, 1979
Erma Bombeck
May 16, 1980
Vincent Persichetti
May 16, 1980
Paul L. Singer
May 16, 1980
Robert Penn Warren
April 21, 1980
Philip C. Curtis
May 15, 1981
Herb and Dorothy McLaughlin
May 15, 1981
Steve Allen
May 14, 1982
Fredi Chiappelli
May 14, 1982
James Dickey
May 14, 1982
Alan duBois
May 14, 1982
Mstislav Rostropovich
Aug. 6, 1982
Martha Graham
Oct. 17, 1982
Tom Chauncey
May 15, 1983
G.M. Sollenberger
May 15, 1983
Sandra Day O'Connor
May 11, 1984
James William Creasman
May 11, 1984
Leontyne Price
March 8, 1985
Edward F. Albee
May 17, 1985
William A. Fowler
May 17, 1985
Northurp H. Fry
May 17, 1985
Kathryn K. Gammage
May 17, 1985
William G. Payne
May 17, 1985
Edward J. Dwight, Jr.
May 16, 1986
Sylvia Porter
May 16, 1986
John I. Yellott
Aug. 8, 1986
William Reilley
Nov. 7, 1986
Henry Cisneros
Dec. 19, 1986
Frank Snell
May 15, 1987
Gerald Wasserburg
May 15, 1987
Virginia Galvin Piper
May 15, 1987
Mo Udall
Aug. 7, 1987
Kax Herberger
Aug. 7, 1987
Edson W. Spencer
Dec. 18, 1987
Robert S. Dietz
May 13, 1988
Robert J. Eggert
Aug. 5, 1988
Jovita R. Salonga
Dec. 16, 1988
Art Buchwald
Dec. 16, 1988
Walter Cronkite
May 12, 1989
Lorraine Frank
May 12, 1989
William Kajikawa
Aug. 5, 1989
Pearl Bailey
Dec. 22, 1989
Rabbi Albert Plotkin
Dec. 22, 1989
Yuan T. Lee
May 11, 1990
G. Robert Herberger
May 10, 1991
Frank X. Gordon
Dec. 8, 1991
Cesar Chavez
May 11, 1992
Tony Hillerman
May 11, 1992
Alan Pritsker
May 11, 1992
Willard Pedrick
May 11, 1992
Marvin Morrison
Aug. 11, 1992
Karsten Solheim
Dec. 18, 1992
Louise Solheim
Dec. 18, 1992
Daniel Nagrin
Dec. 18, 1992
Dwight Patterson
May 11, 1993
Jesse Jones
May 11, 1993
Polly Rosenbaum
May 11, 1993
Edward Carson
Aug. 10, 1993
Paul Elsner
Dec. 14, 1993
Rose Mofford
May 11, 1994
Herman Chanen
May 11, 1994
Keith Turley
Aug. 5, 1994
Virginia Ullman
Aug. 5, 1994
Maxine Marshall
Dec. 14, 1994
Jonathan Marshall
Dec. 14, 1994
Margaret Gisolo
Dec. 14, 1994
Edward Bud Jacobson
May 14, 1995
Rita Dove
May 14, 1995
Ernest Boyer
May 14, 1995
Florence Nelson
Aug. 10, 1995
William S. Shover
May 10, 1996
Gary L. Tooker
May 10, 1996
Frank J. Sackton
Aug. 9, 1996
Chang-Lin Tien
Dec. 20, 1996
John F. Long
Dec. 20, 1996
Paul J. Fannin
May 16, 1997
Jack W. Whiteman
May 16, 1997
Newton Rosenzweig
Aug. 8, 1997
John P. Frank
Dec. 19, 1997
Craig R. Barrett
May 15, 1998
Wm. Polk Carey
Aug. 7, 1998
Norman William Fain
Dec. 18, 1998
Leon Howard Sullivan
Dec. 18, 1998
Eddie Basha
May 14, 1999
Raul Yzaguirre
May 14, 1999
Alfredo Gutierrez
Dec. 17, 1999
Craig E. Weatherup
Dec. 17, 1999
Barbara McConnell Barrett
May 11, 2000
Rudy E. Campbell
May 11, 2000
Nadine Severns Carson
Aug. 4, 2000
Lamonte H. Lawrence
Aug. 4, 2000
L. Roy Papp
Dec. 14, 2000
Marilyn A. Papp
Dec. 14, 2000
L. William Seidman
Dec. 14, 2000
Alice Wiley Snell
May 10, 2001
Richard Berlin Snell
May 10, 2001
Robert H. Johnson
Aug. 31, 2001
Delbert Ray Lewis
Dec. 31, 2001
Jewell McFarland Lewis
Dec. 31, 2001
Jerry Colangelo
May 9, 2002
Rex G. Maughan
May 9, 2002
John R. Christian
Aug. 2, 2002
Bob Stump
Dec. 19, 2002
Rita R. Colwell
May 13, 2004
Rafael Rangel Sostmann
May 13, 2004
Lawrence Douglas Wilder
May 13, 2004
Peterson Zah
May 12, 2005
Blake Edwards
Sep. 23, 2005
Lord John Browne of Madingley
Dec. 15, 2005
The Right Honourable Kim Campbell
Dec. 15, 2005
Wu Qidi
May 11, 2006
Frank H.T. Rhodes
May 11, 2006
J. Craig Venter
May 10, 2007
Leland Hartwell
Dec. 13, 2007
James J. Duderstadt
May 14, 2008


Source: Huffington Post

UAL

Oh no! He won't have an honorary degree from Arizona State!

I guess he'll have to fall back on his degrees from Columbia and Harvard.

Quoting Travelin man (Reply 24): Oh no! He won't have an honorary degree from Arizona State!

I guess every University in the country is supposed to fall over and give the Chosen one an Honorary degree in community activism

Quoting Baroque (Reply 16): D L X has given an excellent short summary. You would look at his books, his teaching achievements any other publications and in the case of a politician at the body of work embodied in his major speeches.

I meant what is ASU's definition of body of work? What is their criteria?

While Obama's successfully getting himself elected as the first African American president is certainly a huge achievement, isn't the honorary degree more about specific achievements within the recipient's field of expertise (i.e., if he negotiated peace treaties while president or something along those lines. Or if he authored and got passed a landmark piece of legislation.)

I'm not sure his books count (that isn't a criticism of these particular books, but have they had any notable impact to society (besides raising his public profile?)

At any rate, I don't think Obama will feel too slighted -- no offense to ASU but Obama's list of education credentials is already impressive enough.

I never understood these honorary degrees anyway.

Quoting Windy95 (Reply 25): I guess every University in the country is supposed to fall over and give the Chosen one an Honorary degree in community activism

Well he wouldn't be the first..

* John Christian: A long-serving lawyer and community activist, received an honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters in 2002.

Agian, they dont have to give him squat. But if he is so irrelevant, why invite him? Anyone? Bueller?

Quoting Travelin man (Reply 24): I guess he'll have to fall back on his degrees from Columbia and Harvard.

And the 7 or 8 OTHER Honorary Degrees he's gotten.....from much more prestigious universities.

I wonder if John McCain, being from Arizona, would get an Honorary degree?

A lot of the Honorary degrees given at US universities by "non-civil servants" are usually centered around donations and funding for the University, whether it be directly from them, or through their companies they own/work for. Politics, Money, and Legislature which is pro-whatever university is concerned, play a large role in who gets honorary degrees.

Again, it's usually customary to give the POTUS an honorary degree because he is:

1. The President

2. He took time out to come and speak at a University which ranks #123 out of Universities in the US.

I don't understand why he isn't going to receive one, it's not like it hurts the University to do so, and it's rather insulting saying that he basically hasn't done anything, since he is probably going to be one of the most notable African-American figures in US history. But, it's not Obama's legacy they have tarnished, it's ASU's.

The reasoning is rather stupid, and I'm wondering what the motive really was behind this decision, because it really doesn't make any sense.

I'm not confused because of my loyalty to Obama, or me being a Liberal. As much as I don't like Bush, I would be shocked if a University denied him an honorary degree. Especially after the cost of the POTUS coming to that particular University.

GB Sr. came to speak at SMU when I went there, and the entire University shut down because of security. I was getting ready to walk into class and was stopped by a Secret Service agent (I actually didn't know where the president was going to speak), and I explained that I have class in this building, and he replied, "Today you don't." And I just walked away. Was kind of funny though.

UAL

[Edited 2009-04-14 14:42:21]

Quoting Starbuk7 (Reply 19): What, exactly, has he accomplished that is noteworthy??

Do you know who he is? If you know who he is, he has certainly done something "noteworthy" or you wouldn't know who he is.

Besides that, ASU has given the honorary degree out to hundreds of people who are significantly less accomplished than Obama. (Oh, and none of them ever held the highest office in the land.)

Quoting Windy95 (Reply 25): I guess every University in the country is supposed to fall over and give the Chosen one an Honorary degree in community activism

I hope these conservative sheeple continue their campaign of childish pettiness well into 2012. I mean, seriously, I could jump all over you and say "any fool would recognize that becoming president is an incredible accomplishment, never mind that he's the first person of color to do it", but that response is so freaking obvious, that the mere fact that I have to say it calls in to question the people whom I have to say it to.

[Edited 2009-04-14 20:51:59]

Quoting 767Lover (Reply 26): Quoting Baroque (Reply 16): D L X has given an excellent short summary. You would look at his books, his teaching achievements any other publications and in the case of a politician at the body of work embodied in his major speeches. I meant what is ASU's definition of body of work? What is their criteria?

While any given institution might choose to go round those basic criteria, there is no university that will not take that basic set as the general criteria for an award away from the issue of the invited address issue.

So those will be ASU basic criteria. But they might choose to go outside them to accept a person.

And then of course there are political award. I think I see a few in that list!!

And for those who are in need of a bit of cynical mirth.

Yes Minister and the award of the Doctory Honorate (quite difficult to pronounce, esp if drunk I imagine) to Mr Hacker.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080306/episodes

Season 2, Episode 2: Doing the Honours
Original Air Date---2 March 1981
The Minister is appalled when, on the advice of his civil servants, he can't make a modest 5% to his department's budget. To Sir Humphrey's great disbelief, the Minister decides to recommend only those civil servants for the Queen's honors list who can find the 5% cut in their budgets. On another matter, Appleby is approached by the Master of his Oxford college who is finding it impossible to enroll students now that the Minister has instructed that all foreign students must pay the full cost of their studies. Hoping for an exemption from the requirement, they invite the Minister to an alcohol-fueled dinner and the promise of an honorary Doctor of Laws seems to do the trick.

Quoting Travelin man (Reply 24): Oh no! He won't have an honorary degree from Arizona State! I guess he'll have to fall back on his degrees from Columbia and Harvard.

hahahaha well said. That should end this discussion right there.

YOWza

Quoting UAL747 (Reply 23): Kim Campbell: Canada's 19th prime minister, received an honorary degree in 2005.

Holy cow, how did she get on the list? She was PM for all of six months after being annointed to replace a retiring Brian Mulroney, then proceedeed to lead the Conservative Party to its worst defeat in history

[Edited 2009-04-22 17:50:48]

Just to give folks a bit of perspective, when I graduated from Yale in 2001 then brand new President George W. Bush was invited to speak at our commencement ceremony. Same scenario, barely a few months into his presidency, and yet Yale gave him an honorary degree (even though in his case he was a Yale grad to begin with so there was no need for another degree). What ASU did is just foolish, and from the responses I read those who don't see that are being blinded by childish politics. And let me tell you that my classmates where not happy at all with Bush speaking, even more so getting an honorary degree, but on graduation day we left politics aside and we gave him a standing ovation and welcomed him as our President.

Quoting Charles79 (Reply 33): Just to give folks a bit of perspective,

Again in search of perspective, it is possible that Universities might try to regain the high ground with honorary degrees, but to pick President Obama to do so is plain crazy.

I would not go so far as suggest Obama is the only recent Pres sufficiently academically qualified to receive one, but why knock back the guy who is undoubtedly the BEST qualified of this century and the last?

Rather than regain quality as a criterion, this would suggest that quality is being discarded.