Bottom line: Biden needs to pick a woman of color as his VP pick

[CatWoman]

and one with EXPERIENCE.

Lack of experience/expertise is what got us here.

He also needs her to help garner the black vote.

[Skittles]

1. I could get behind Kamala Harris

she was a pitbull during the Barr hearings

[tinrobot]

6. I addition to being a pitbull, she can also be down to earth and rather charming.

A rare combination. She'd be a great pick.

[Skittles]

23. I know this is superficial but

she is VERY pretty

[Bettie]

27. I was surprised to see how tiny she is

I expected her to be taller when we went to see her speak! LOL.

[Skittles]

36. 5'2"

cannot fault her for wearing high heels

[Bettie]

38. She has a HUGE personality

so I just never realized she was small. I was sad when she left the race.

[Skittles]

39. yeah well

Last edited Thu Apr 16, 2020, 03:44 PM - Edit history (1)

but...and I HATE this expression: it is what it is

[Bettie]

67. You're not wrong

not at all.

[Demsrule86]

72. Let me just say, you are both wrong.

[Demsrule86]

71. What we have is just fine...and It really disturbs me off to see posters here basically not

supporting the Democratic nominee who is the only person who can beat Trump...I also find it somewhat arrogant that some lament the voters overwhelming choice of Biden as the nominee as if the American people are children and such posters know what is best for them.

[Skittles]

101. nonsense

I would vote for a HAM SANDWICH if they ran it against Donald Fucking Trump

[Demsrule86]

104. That is not my point...Joe Biden is not a damn ham sandwich. He is a great nominee.

[Skittles]

105. well, I agree he is not a ham sandwich

Last edited Thu Apr 16, 2020, 05:25 PM - Edit history (1)

[Demsrule86]

123. Very clever...not a ham sandwich but not a great nominee...I see.

And you are wrong...Trump could win. We need everyone on board.

[Skittles]

133. I agree

we don't have a choice

[panader0]

79. That did not go unnoticed by me.

Very pretty, that's a bonus. More to the point, she is smart as a whip and
fearless. As the AG of the world's 6th largest economy, she has the gravitas
for the job. Susan Rice as well. Abrams to a lesser extent, although I think
she'd be great too. The truth is that the Democratic party has a wealth of
great candidates, not only for VP, but for every cabinet position. Biden's
administration will have a tremendous task on their hands, bringing this
country back from the brink and fixing the mess trump leaves. But we will!
This next administration will be historic.

[Skittles]

100. you know it, panader0

all these ladies would make fine VPs.......bring it on! IT IS LONG PAST TIME!

[RB TexLa]

43. I think we need to have an African-American.

[Skittles]

44. I disagree

I would like a young POC.

[brush]

49. An African American is a POC.

[Skittles]

58. I know that

but I don't think the POC necessarily needs to be AA

[Behind the Aegis]

63. Tammy Duckworth

[Skittles]

66. she is amazing

[Dem4Life1102]

75. She is from a solid blue state

and won't help flip any swing states. Plus her record as a prosecutor might not help attract more progressive voters. There are better choices, none of whom accused Biden of being a racist on national TV.

[RDANGELO]

2. I agree.

Harris would be a great pick.

[Demonaut]

3. who's best qualified, color is secondary

[question everything]

28. +1

[WheelWalker]

4. It's going to be Susan Rice.

[elleng]

5. According to whom? (aside from you)

[WheelWalker]

17. 2020 Wheelwalker 0415

Never been timid about citing myself, LOL.

[elleng]

18. No prob!!!

[leftieNanner]

8. Susan Rice would be fabulous!

She would be great as SOS too.

We do have a wonderful amount of wealth in the Democratic Party!

[Celerity]

42. if the Rethugs still control the Senate after 2020, they will never confirm Rice as SoS, it will be

a Benghazi 2.0 shitshow



I think Rice is (on paper) probably the 2nd or 3rd best VP choice after Abrams and maybe Harris, BUT again, will the risk-adverse Biden want to open up the Benghazi can of worms that would surely explode via Rump and the 'Thugs?

[Demsrule86]

73. Susan Rice would give the repukes a chance to resurrect Benghazi, Benghazi and Benghazi.

She is very smart but should not be the VP nor the SOS. Biden needs to have his own people not just pick all of Obama's people. I am sure Biden will choose wisely.

[leftieNanner]

89. Very good point

How could I have forgotten Benghazi???

Biden needs his own people.

[shanti]

10. That would be awesome

She's brilliant.

[Ilsa]

32. I could easily get on board with that!

I wonder if Stacey Abrams could put Georgia in play?

I love Kamala Harris, but we already have CA.

Warren? Check.

Klobuchar? Check.

[MrsCoffee]

83. It's going to be Kamala Harris.

[jcgoldie]

9. 2 senate seats in Georgia means Stacey Abrams would not be a bad pick

By my count if we win presidency and CO, AZ, ME... lose back AL... we need 1...

[Demsrule86]

74. I love Stacy but we need a more experienced VP based on Biden's age.

[Dem4Life1102]

76. Stop repeating GOP talking points

Any discussion of Biden's age will just feed into the GOP's narrative and help Trump. And experience has never mattered in Presidential elections.

[Demsrule86]

124. That fact is realistically the VP matters when a candidate is above 70...I think the VP will be

scrutinized. So we need a 'Ceaser's wife' (above reproach) kind of VP. Please do not accuse me of repeating a GOP talking point, I did no such thing. As you well know it has been discussed. at length here during the primary and beyond by Democrats who expressed concern. I do not share such concerns but I recognize that some do and such views should be considered.

[Dem4Life1102]

127. It is a GOP talking point

that will only help Trump.

[Demsrule86]

132. No it doesn't because Trump is also above 70...so it just doesn't . That being said, I have my

opinion and you have yours.

[Dem4Life1102]

136. Yes it does

help Trump.

[jcgoldie]

91. experienced at doing what exactly?

[Demsrule86]

125. She has only served in the state house. She needs to run for a house seat or a Senate seat.

[OnDoutside]

134. Stacey's been my pick since last July !

[handmade34]

11. Harris would

be best debating Pence

[Demsrule86]

77. Harris has baggage which is why she didn't do well in the primary. I really like her but I don't

think she would be a good VP pick. There is a reason AA voters chose Biden and not Harris. I will not discuss it here but many here know some of it and google is your friend.

[MrsCoffee]

86. Oh ffs.

[Demsrule86]

131. I like her...it is not that. I think there are others who would be better. But I am OK with whoever

Biden chooses...and some think it will be Kamala...sure could be. Her being from California does not give us a state so that concerns me. And can she help with the Senate?

[PunkinPi]

96. Kamala Harris has high net favorability ratings among African American voters...

Poll: Black VP pick could boost Biden
Kamala Harris has high net favorability ratings among African American voters.

Black voters in battleground states would be more enthusiastic about voting for Joe Biden in November if he were to choose an African American woman as a running mate, a new poll shows.

Biden is already highly popular with black voters, according to the poll of 800 black voters conducted for BlackPAC, a progressive-leaning advocacy group. But 55 percent of African American voters said they would be more excited to turn out or vote for Biden if he were to pick a black woman to join his ticket, the poll showed. However, 27 percent said the pick made no difference because they would stick with Biden.

...

The poll shows 50 percent of those surveyed view Harris favorably and 18 percent unfavorably, giving her a net favorability rating of 32 percentage points.

Georgia Democrats’ 2016 gubernatorial nominee Stacy Abrams, whom Biden advisers have also discussed as a running mate, has a net favorability rating of 36 points. Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, a Biden surrogate in Georgia and with black voters, is lesser-known than Harris and Abrams and has a net favorability rating of 17 points, as does Florida Rep. Val Demings.

More here -> https://www.politico.com/news/2020/04/14/poll-biden-black-vp-185043
Link to poll referenced -> https://www.politico.com/f/?id=00000171-7663-ddd3-a173-f7f356c80000

[Demsrule86]

122. I don't know what would be best honestly. I don't see Biden picking Harris but I could certainly be

wrong.

[pnwmom]

107. Her "baggage" as a prosecutor won't hurt her in the general. nt

[Demsrule86]

121. You may be right. I don't know how it works out... but I do think she brings nothing to the ticket

that helps us in states we must win...blue wall states, Southern states or states like Arizona.

[tenderfoot]

129. Those are some plum right wing talking points

that you accuse others of.

[Demsrule86]

130. That is not true. I am not going to re-litigate this...I have my opinion and you have yours.

I will not discuss it further...safe to say, I think there are some who would be better choices in my opinion.

[Renew Deal]

12. Do you have any names?

Because there isn't really anyone currently in politics that I can think of that fits your criteria (outside the House).

Harris doesn't have a lot of experience. Susan Rice has never run for anything.

[msongs]

14. does not harris have as much senate time as obama? nt

[Renew Deal]

16. Yes, and that's the point

[panader0]

82. AG of California, the world's 6th largest economy equals gravitas.

[CatWoman]

22. Kamala is my name

[Renew Deal]

24. That is a name

There are pros and cons

Pros
Knowledgeable
Youthful and energetic
Decent debater

Cons
Poor campaigner
People are suspicious of her AG history
Doesn't expand the map

Biden could do worse, but he could also do better.

[brush]

47. Apparently you know little about her AG history. You need to research it and...

not go buy rumors generated by opponents.

[Renew Deal]

54. It's up to her to educate us, which she failed to do in the primary.

Democratic voters were openly suspicious of her in the primary because she couldn't adequately explain her time as AG, took contradictory positions on big issues, and took extremist positions.

Her handling of these two issues demonstrate her underwhelming skills as a campaigner, and partially explains why she was polling 4th in her home state before dropping out.

https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/11/politics/kamala-harris-marijuana-legalization/index.html
https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/2019/2/7/18202084/kamala-harris-truancy-prosecutor-president-2020

National politics isn't for everyone. There are good things about her (knowledgeable, generally honest, decent debater), but negatives are significant.

[brush]

61. It's up to people to research it and stop spreading rumors

If she had such a bad AG record she wouldn't have been elected to the Senate.

[Laffy Kat]

13. I agree. As much as I like Warren, it should be a WOC.

And there is an embarrassment of riches to pick from!

[Renew Deal]

19. Really?

Last edited Wed Apr 15, 2020, 10:51 PM - Edit history (1)

Who outside the House? The criteria includes "experience." Remove that and you get the governor of NM, Kamala Harris, maybe a few other people. But it's harder to come up with a list of people that have "experience."

[Laffy Kat]

30. Why outside of the House? nt

[Renew Deal]

33. House experience is more limited than Senate

The Senate advises on the presidency. The House does much less so. The last person to go from the House to VP was Ford, but you know what happened there. Prior to that it was in 1933! John Garner. He didn't get along with FDR.

[Laffy Kat]

35. Yes, I know, but House experience still counts, IMO. nt

[mshasta]

15. Mss STACEY.

We need you

[brooklynite]

20. I don't agree that a WOC is essential...

I think Midwest Governor Gretchen Whitmer would be a killer running mate.

[phylny]

21. This 60+-year-old white woman

totally agrees.

[JI7]

25. Harris was Attorney General in California before she got to the Senate

[42bambi]

26. From day one I have wanted Susan Rice to be the VP pick. What a team!

[bubbazero]

31. Agreed

Not because of gender, race, or ethnic makeup. But rather VISION, and the BRAINS and BACKBONE to make said VISION a reality............Simple put THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICAN IS (supposed to be) A LAND WHERE DREAMS CAN BECOME POSSIBLITIES!.............For everyone, period

[Dem4Life1102]

78. Has she ever run for office before?

Can she help flip a swing state? And doesn't that just give the GOP the excuse to bring up Benghazi again?

[babylonsister]

29. I trust he's getting some good advice!

[JI7]

40. It has nothing to do with needing Cred. It's about representing the party

[LakeArenal]

37. I hope it's not a primary candidate.

[GusFring]

41. God I hate this line of thinking. And I'm black btw. And plenty of black ppl can't stand Kamala

Harris. I actually prefer Warren or Amy. Mainly Warren.

[brush]

45. Why do you say that about Harris? I'm also AA and I and my friends love Harris.

[GusFring]

52. I have my reasons. As a California resident some of her gun legislation will be a huge burden in the

Midwest imo.

[brush]

53. Biden has blue collar and union appeal that works well in the Midwest.

Being in favor of gun regulation shouldn't be a problem as most gun owners actually favor that too. It's the NRA that's against it.

[GusFring]

109. Gun regulation is 1 thing. She was one of the ppl responsible for the quasi ban on new firearms in

California. We still can't just go in a store and legally purchase a gen 5 glock. It makes zero sense.

[brush]

110. How many guns do you need?

[GusFring]

111. I only have 1. But I would definitely get a few more if I didn't have to pick 1 off some dumb roster

And the NRA will definitely use that against Harris in a national election.

[brush]

116. And you think that will over well with voters? Most people don't have multiple guns.

[GusFring]

117. I said in the midwest. Yes, I do think her stance on guns will hurt in

Ohio, Mich, Wis. And some eastern states like Pennsylvania.

[Luciferous]

56. Didn't she have a pretty questionable record when it comes to criminal justice issues?

[brush]

60. No. Don't go by rumors from opponents. Research it, she was very progressive

AG. That's how she became a senator. If she had a bad record she wouldn't have been elected to the Senate.

[Demsrule86]

81. Look up police shootings...for a start.

[brush]

92. What are you alleging?

Last edited Thu Apr 16, 2020, 11:45 AM - Edit history (1)

[Demsrule86]

128. I allege nothing...our VP must be beyond reproach period.

I actually like Harris but don't think she would be a good choice based on geography and some of the attacks we would undoubtedly endure.

[MrsCoffee]

87. No.

[Takket]

46. I love Kamala... but

As nice of a VP as she would be. I am salivating at the idea of her being AG and spending the next four years eating the drumpf cabal for breakfast lol

[PunkinPi]

93. She turned down the AG position when it was offered to her and...

AG would be a demotion from senator. Kamala for VP, Sally Yates for AG.

[oasis]

48. Joe guaranteed a black woman would serve on SCOTUS. He, Jill

and the Obama's will be inseparable on the campaign trail. Joe will win convincingly with any woman he chooses.

[shanti]

57. Dare we hope

Michelle Obama?

[smirkymonkey]

62. I love Michelle Obama more than anyone, but I hate to think of putting that

family more than they have already been through. They deserve to live their lives in peace.

[RicROC]

50. Val Demings

sorry to use these words but I think Val Demings is the dark horse in this VP race. She was impressive during the impeachment proceedings

She's a former Police chief from Orlando and it would be nice to put the state of Florida in play, too.

[3catwoman3]

59. I find her most impressive.

I think she would intimidate the hell out of Pence.

[quickesst]

51. Joe Biden already has the black vote....

.... which means he doesn't need someone to capture something he already has. So the answer is no. He does not have to choose woman of color. He should choose the person most qualified. It's called The Logical and Common Sense approach.

[hughee99]

68. Clinton got the black vote too. It's one thing to win

A significant portion of the vote, it’s another thing to create enough enthusiasm to get larger numbers to come out and vote.

[quickesst]

97. different candidate....

..... different election. I think the black vote will turn out on a par with the black vote that turned out for President Obama.
Add to that the fact, in 2016 Donald Trump was a candidate for president who wasn't taken too seriously. This time around, voters will have lived through 4 years of a disastrous Trump presidency. That is a colossal motivation for anyone who does not belong to his cult.

[Dem4Life1102]

108. Why risk it?

Since there are multiple women of color all of whom would make a great running mate, why risk not picking one of them?

[quickesst]

114. I am not against...

..... Joe Biden picking a woman of color for his running mate. As a matter of fact one of my leading and favorite choices would be Val Demings. My point is, by his own words, he will choose a woman as his running mate, but is not locked into choosing a woman of color. There are women of color, and white women who I think would be a huge mistake on his part were he to choose one of them. I should be clear on one thing. I believe it would be a mistake for Joe Biden to choose any of the former Democratic candidates who ran in the primary. Given their performance in the Democratic primary, none of them would contribute much in the way of attracting black voters.

[Dem4Life1102]

118. I agree that the former primary candidates

are all poor choices and that Val Demings would be a good choice. She could help flip Florida and help to energize the African American vote. Thanks

[quickesst]

120. it's always nice to say....

.... we're good.

[hughee99]

112. Regardless of race, the people who are paying attention to politics are going to

show up and vote. What we need is for people who rarely (or never) pay attention to politics to show up and vote. They aren't colossally motivated, because they don't pay much (or any) attention to politics.

While the chance to vote AGAINST Trump will be a motivation for some "uninterested voters" to show up, I'm sorry to say it, but I don't think Joe Biden inspires a lot of "uninterested voters" to show up and vote FOR him (at least from what I've seen so far). We need to get out the vote both for Biden and against Trump, and the right VP candidate will help. Personally, I'm not sure who that is, yet.

[quickesst]

115. I am not absolutely sure....

.... who the right person is either. I am however, sure of who it should not be.

[Luciferous]

55. I thought Biden already had the black vote and that's why he won South Carolina?

I think he should pick the best person for the job and not base it on gender or skin color...

[Behind the Aegis]

64. Tammy Duckworth

[RANDYWILDMAN]

65. Stacey Abrams

Young, smart and from the south !!! Fresh blood and tough.

[cbdo2007]

69. Maybe we shouldn't judge them by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.

Or their gender for that matter.

[Demsrule86]

70. No he doesn't actually. He has Black support. He needs to pick the person he thinks helps the

ticket. I will be fine with whomever he picks...so many good options.

[Dem4Life1102]

80. Clinton had black support too

But they didn't come out in the same numbers that they did for Obama. A woman of color on the ticket would help with that.

[Demsrule86]

84. You have to pick the person best for the ticket period. And AA supporters will turn out period. We

all know how important it is to get Trump out. We need to pick someone who can help the ticket. And on a geographical basis neither Harris nor Warren do that.

[Dem4Life1102]

90. That's true

Neither Warren or Harris will help flip a swing state. But there are other choices that could.

[DFW]

85. Agree there

He has said he will pick a woman, which is OK if that's what he wants.

But it needs to be one who can spring into the President's job at any time, and can go through a grueling campaign in 2024 if need be. I don't see limiting Biden's choices as being the job of anyone but Joe Biden. It doesn't NEED to be anyone except someone that can do the job of president competently, and from January 2025 through January 2033. As long as that requirement if filled, I don't give one whit about the color of her hair, skin, or toenail polish. What I care about is her grasp of economics, relations with Congress, ecology, foreign policy, defense and legal matters, and her communication skills.

In short, I care about what is reflected in her resumé, not her mirror.

[dalton99a]

94. +1. Someone ready on day one

[DFW]

95. Exactly. Priority number one

Not to mention two thru ten as well!

[RicROC]

99. Elizabeth Warren

While I totally favor a WOC for the VP slot, I sure like Elizabeth Warren.

Joe could let her loose and she would 'drain the swamp' by herself.

[whistler162]

102. What color blue, green, chartreuse?

[tblue37]

103. Kamala Harris or Stacey Abrams. nt

[MFGsunny]

106. 11 women from article linked below ..... well worth perusing!

https://www.vox.com/2020/4/14/21209668/joe-biden-vice-president-running-mate

In no particular order ::

HARRIS, Kamala (Senator from CA)

KLOBUCHAR, Amy (Senator from MN)

WHITMER, Gretchen (Governor of MI)

WARREN. Elizabeth (Senator from MA)

BALDWIN, Tammy (Senator from WI)

DUCKWORTH, Tammy (Senator from IL)

ABRAMS, Stacey (Fair Voting Activism)

CORTEZ-MASTO, Catherine (Senator from NV)

LUJAN-GRISHAM, Michelle (Governor of New Mexico)

BOTTOMS, Keisha Lance (Mayor of Atlanta, Georgia)

DEMMINGS, Val (House Rep. FL)

[LAS14]

113. He's done his thing by committing to a woman. Now he needs to pick..

... someone who's very compatible.

[ibegurpard]

119. Which one has both name recognition and gravitas?

Kamala is the only one that comes to mind for me. I'm sorry but Stacey Abrams was unable to deliver Georgia for herself... she's not going to do it for Biden. Especially with Kemp in charge keeping Black voter suppression policies in place.

[ElementaryPenguin]

126. No, he doesn't. He needs whomever will help his electability. PERIOD.

If that happens to be a woman of color, then she should be his choice.

[OnDoutside]

135. Harris had a terrible Presidential Campaign, why should the next 6 months be any different ?