Education Secretary Arne Duncan Says No To Secretary Of State

Nov. 28, 2012— -- Education Secretary Arne Duncan on Wednesday jokingly dismissed the notion he's the best person to serve as Secretary of State.

New York Times columnist Tom Friedman argued in a piece published Tuesday that Duncan is most qualified to serve as the nation's top diplomat due to his ability to negotiate, find common ground and the prospect that he could grow educational opportunities in the Middle East.

But when asked about the head-scratching idea, Duncan declined address it seriously.

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"Last week, The Onion said I was going to become a male stripper," Duncan said during a question and answer session following his speech to the Foundation for Excellence in Education in Washington. "The Onion is probably more accurate than Tom Friedman."

Duncan also spoke about the need for immigration reform as a means to improve the educational prospects of Hispanic youth. He said it is "absolutely crazy" that the DREAM Act, which would provide a path to citizenship to undocumented youth seeking a college degree, has not yet been passed.