He really blew it. I don't understand why Arizona State University would've invited Obama to speak and then announce a few days later that Obama wouldn't be awarded an honorary degree. It seemed like a set up. At worst it was intentional, meant to embarrass Obama or save face for McCain. At best it was a public relations faux pas.
It now just looks like Crow's feet are all muddy and he's trying to clean them off, saying he's still not sure the university will award Obama a degree but will designate a scholarship in Obama's name. That's pretty cool but ASU's press release still isn't forthcoming.
Politico: Stung by the embarrassment surrounding his school's initial refusal to award Obama an honorary degree, Crow issued a statement Saturday apologizing for "the confusion" and announced the school would designate a group of scholarship students as the "President Barack Obama Scholars."
But Crow still didn't say whether the president would receive an honorary degree when he speaks at the school's graduation ceremony on May 13th.
“It has always been our intention to recognize and honor President Obama's accomplishments during his visit, but we had not yet determined the best or most appropriate way to do so," Crow said in the statement, posted on the university's website. "Although the focus and attention of the media and others has been on an honorary degree, we never felt that was the only—or even the best—means of honoring his tremendous service to our country."
