Virginia State Senate rejects board candidate who defended Constitution, condemned socialism
Suparna Dutta, a Virginia Education Board member candidate rejected after defending the Constitution and condemning socialism, joins 'Fox & Friends First' to share her side of the story.
An Indian immigrant appointed by Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin to the state Board of Education sounded off Thursday after her nomination was rejected following a contentious exchange with another board member on socialism.
"I'm just a proud immigrant standing up for what I believe is a fantastic country, the best country in the world," Suparna Dutta told "Fox & Friends First." "We recognize how truly great America's founding was, and I believe that our children should be taught about the Founding Fathers, founding documents, and, if children are untethered from this country, what would our future look like?"
Dutta, who was appointed by Youngkin in July, was set to be confirmed by the Senate of Virginia Tuesday when a last-minute Democrat amendment to remove her from nominations passed on a party-line vote, according to a progressive group that tracks the state's General Assembly.
EDUCATION BOARD MEMBER GETS BOOTED AFTER DEFENDING CONSTITUTION, SPEAKING OUT AGAINST SOCIALISM
Gov. Glenn Youngkin appointed Suparna Dutta to the Virginia Board of Education in July 2022. (Fox News Digital)
The ousting followed a heated exchange last week during a board meeting reviewing proposed changes to history and social science standards in Virginia public schools. Two of the foundational principles outlined in the learning standards are that the "Declaration of Independence and the Constitution are remarkable documents" and that socialism and communism are "incompatible with democracy and individual freedoms."
Board member Anne Holton — who is married to Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine — said she was "uncomfortable" with the language, to which Dutta replied: "Socialism is just about as bad as communism."
Dutta reiterated her belief Thursday that America's schoolchildren should be taught about the values found in the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence.
VIRGINIA SCHOOL AWARDS SCANDAL DEEPENS, DRAWS OUTRAGE FROM GOVERNOR, AG: ‘THIS SHOULD BE ILLEGAL’
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s Bord of Education nominee Suparna Dutta was rejected after sparring with a board member over the Constitution and slamming socialism. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
"I feel that political indoctrination has no place in education in our classrooms, and it's mind-boggling to me how anyone growing up in this country wouldn't learn about it," she said, adding, "The only thing I can think of is that they truly don't believe that America is something to be proud of."
Fox News' Todd Piro asked Dutta if the board's Democratic members toed the party line on defending immigrants and people of color and defended her during the meeting.
VIRGINIA SENATE DEMOCRATS VOTE TO REJECT APPOINTEES OF GOP GOV. GLENN YOUNGKIN
"Did any Democrats stand up for you?" he asked.
"It was incredible," Dutta responded. "When blatant lies and mistruths and smears are peddled on the floor of the State Senate by Senator Hashmi… not a single Democrat senator questions it… it makes one wonder…"
With Virginia schools remaining a focal point for education – not only for relentless controversies surrounding content in the classroom, but also for "equity-based" policies that kept some students in the dark by withholding their merit awards until crucial scholarship deadlines had passed – Dutta pointed out the pressing issue of parental rights, claiming Republicans have been the only beacon of hope for them.
"It's only one side of the aisle, from the Republican side, we have had any support over the last few years," she said, adding of the terse exchange with board Democrats, "I just wondered, for a second, was this really the country I immigrated to?"
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In a statement, Youngkin said Senate Democrats were "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 continued.
Fox News' Hannah Ray Lambert and Megan Myers contributed to this report.