by James A. Bacon

Today, Governor Glenn Youngkin, who is not known for political pugilism retaliated against Senate Democrats for rejecting six of his nominees to the board of George Mason University and the Virginia Military Institute, as well as the state School Board.

Youngkin avoided contentious rhetoric for his first three years as president, at least in relation to the issues I was following. He may have concluded that adopting an amiable political tone got him nowhere.

In a late afternoon press release, he stated that his administration had been a champion of excellence for three years by appointing outstanding individuals to Virginia’s state and university boards. “Yet today, Senate Democrats have rejected individuals who are highly qualified and nationally recognized, but had already served with distinction as volunteers. What other reasons have they given for their extreme partisanship than themselves? None. They could not give a single reason for rejecting them.”

Youngkin, in a reference to Kenneth Marcus, an antisemitism expert and professor at George Washington University, said: “It is shocking that Senate Democrats have rejected a George Mason University Board member who is a leading legal expert in the country in combating antisemitism. Youngkin’s leadership at the University has proven invaluable during a period when an investigation is underway into actions that were warranted to protect Jewish students and a student was arrested for planning a terrorist attack against the Israeli consulate.

He added: “Other board nominees rejected include leaders in their respective fields, such as law, psychology and finance, and in education and law enforcement, with notable personal and professional distinction. They have served in both Republican- and Democrat-led administrations.

The governor concluded that “Senate Democrats rejected excellence.” This isn’t petty political nonsense; their actions have hurt Virginia, and institutions such as George Mason University and Virginia Military Institute. “Virginians look to the House to correct this wrong.”