Walz education appointee called for overthrow of U.S. nation-state
He's working on implementation of "ethnic studies" in Minnesota's schools as a means to that end
Brian Lozenski was appointed by Tim Walz’s state education department to help write the statewide curriculum for Minnesota’s new “ethnic studies” standards. I discussed that state’s ethnic studies program in this post, noting that Minnesota has embraced an approach so radically left-wing that even Gavin Newsom rejected it in California.
Now, Stanley Kurtz tells us that in a 2022 video (since removed from YouTube), Lozenski called for the overthrow of the American state. This is what Lozenski said:
The first tenet of critical race theory is that the United States as constructed is irreversibly racist. So if the nation-state as constructed is irreversibly racist, then it must be done with, it must be overthrown.
And so we can’t be like, “Oh no, critical race theory is just about telling our stories and divers[ity].” It’s not about that. It’s about overthrow. It’s insurgent. And we, we need to be, I think, more honest with that.. . . .
You can’t be a critical race theorist and be pro-U.S. Okay, it is an anti-state theory that says, The United States needs to be deconstructed, period. . .And that’s why I’m a critical race theorist.
(Emphasis added)
Stanley shows that Walz has had plenty of warning about Lozenski’s radical anti-Americanism and plenty of opportunities to pull back from the extremist version of ethnic studies — as Newsom did in California. Yet, Walz has continued to delegate power to Lozenski and his supporters, and has now charged them with designing an “implementation framework” for ethnic studies.
For Walz, then, Lozenski’s radicalism is a feature, not a bug.
But we shouldn’t be surprised. Walz is the man who, as BLM rioters torched Minneapolis, responded by expressing sympathy for the rioters, and then blamed others for his inaction in the face of the destruction.
Indeed, Walz’s statement about the rioting — “The ashes are symbolic of decades and generations of pain, of anguish unheard” — could have been written by Lozenski. Maybe after the election, it will be included in Minnesota’s ethnic studies standards.
Does Walz favor the overthrow of the American state (“our democracy”). I doubt it.
I believe, instead, that he wants to gain control over all of its branches and then use that power to overthrow many of the arrangements by which we live. The word “deconstruct,” which Lozenski also used in the discussion quoted above, comes close to what Walz has in mind for America.
Is this why Kamala Harris picked Walz, the most far-left governor in America, as her running mate? I think so.
Harris shares Walz’s radicalism, as so many of her past positions make clear. She also shared his sympathy for the rioters who torched Minneapolis. In fact, she supported a bail fund to free them.
What’s the alternative theory for Harris’ selection of Walz? His small-town neighborliness?
Not very plausible. In a race like this, a candidate doesn’t reject a potential running mate who can help her win a crucial 50-50 state like Pennsylvania, in favor of someone from a state she’s very likely to carry, because she wants a friendly-seeming guy on the ticket. She will, however, reject the not-very-radical Pennsylvania man in favor of an ideological soulmate who can pass as a friendly guy.
Tim Walz is easily the most radical candidate ever to seek national office on a major party ticket. I’m coming to believe that the woman who picked him might well be the most radical candidate ever to seek the presidency on such a ticket.
Name two things that are never going to happen: 1. Kamala will go an entire paragraph without using a platitude. 2. Kamala will get asked by the MSM about the judgment and patriotism of her chosen running mate in light of his education appointee's words calling for the overthrow of the government. Bonus item 3: The appointee will get accused of supporting "insurrection."
Good reporting here, Paul. Unlike you and your former colleagues at Powerline, most of us know nothing about Walz and Minnesota progressive politics, but we're getting a fast education. From what I can see, the DFL Party sounds like the Komsomol.