Editorials & Other Articles

demmiblue

(36,885 posts) Wed May 20, 2020, 10:46 AM May 2020

Biden has four great options for a black female running mate. One is his best.

Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has said he will choose a woman as his vice-presidential running mate. In a previous post, I argued that she needs to be African American. And I stressed an often ignored point: Winning the Midwestern states Hillary Clinton lost in 2016 and appealing to African American voters are not mutually exclusive.

Now comes the parlor game of figuring out who that black woman should be.

Biden knows how important it is to have an empowered governing partner who commands respect inside and outside the White House. That’s who he was as vice president to former president Barack Obama, and Biden is right to want the same for himself.

Before I list some popular choices, let me obliterate an argument that has cropped up in response to my first post. When folks say that whomever Biden selects should be the most qualified or that “identity politics only gets you so far,” they should be aware of how that hits the African American ear. Since Jim Crow, such sentiments have been used to question our abilities and snuff out our ambitions. No matter how brilliant we are, we are never brilliant enough in a world that still believes someone not straight or white or male (usually all three) is inherently unqualified for any role, let alone being a heartbeat away from the presidency.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/05/15/biden-has-4-great-options-black-female-vp-one-is-his-best/

6 replies

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Biden has four great options for a black female running mate. One is his best. (Original Post) demmiblue May 2020 OP

Rice and Harris feel too coastal exboyfil May 2020 #1

And yet, in 2 national polls, Dem voters prefer Warren as VP by double Digits Fiendish Thingy May 2020 #2

The only reservation I have with Warren is GemDigger May 2020 #3

You have reservations about Warren being in the Executive branch for 16 years? Why? Nt Fiendish Thingy May 2020 #4

4 for vp and 8 for prez, 12 years. GemDigger May 2020 #5

My feelings are it's going to be Amy K. Dan May 2020 #6

exboyfil

(17,865 posts)

1. Rice and Harris feel too coastal

Reply to demmiblue (Original post)

Wed May 20, 2020, 10:56 AM

May 2020

and would be subject to the elitist label that won't play well in Wisconsin for example. Abrams just hasn't had enough Federal and executive experience. Demings might be the best of the four with her background (a little light on the Federal experience but boatloads of executive experience).

I think Harris would probably make the best VP given her Senate experience. Rice would be great for patching up our international relationships (obviously she would be a strong SecState candidate).

Would Demings help put Florida more in play?

Fiendish Thingy

(15,656 posts)

2. And yet, in 2 national polls, Dem voters prefer Warren as VP by double Digits

Reply to demmiblue (Original post)

Wed May 20, 2020, 12:14 PM

May 2020

And Warren is tied with Harris as Black Dem voters’ first choice.

(Please don’t bother repeating the myth that Warren as VP risks the Dems senate majority- it doesn’t )

GemDigger

(4,305 posts)

3. The only reservation I have with Warren is

Reply to Fiendish Thingy (Reply #2)

Wed May 20, 2020, 12:25 PM

May 2020

Will she be able to do 12 years. 4 as VP and then 8 as prez.

Fiendish Thingy

(15,656 posts)

4. You have reservations about Warren being in the Executive branch for 16 years? Why? Nt

Reply to GemDigger (Reply #3)

Wed May 20, 2020, 12:34 PM

May 2020

GemDigger

(4,305 posts)

5. 4 for vp and 8 for prez, 12 years.

Reply to Fiendish Thingy (Reply #4)

Wed May 20, 2020, 02:44 PM

May 2020

I think we should gear towards someone in their 50's to early 60's. One of the reasons people were hesitant with Joe is because of his age. That is why he said he would only do one term. That is why we need someone to go for 12 years and not be in their 80's at the end of it. Time to turn it over to a newer generation. By the time the 12 years are up, those that are now in their late 20's will be ready for their generation to take the helm.

Liz would be up for any freaking job she wants. Whether she wants to focus on one thing only (being Robin Hood on big money) or a whole department of things.

Dan

(3,579 posts)

6. My feelings are it's going to be Amy K.

Reply to demmiblue (Original post)

Wed May 20, 2020, 08:46 PM

May 2020

Experience in government is going to be very important after all the fuck-ups of Trump and his dismantling of the Federal Government Agencies.

And, the more you hear from her - the more you like her at least I do.

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