Does Bass' support of Scientology make her VP candidacy a non-starter?

[Drunken Irishman]

I'm very discouraged to see she praised Scientology in 2010.

Karen Bass, Speaker Emeritus of the California State Assembly: “As a public servant, I try to do everything in my power to give a voice to the voiceless, and to guarantee that no one goes unheard. But through human rights education, we empower everyone to lift their voice and to be heard. The Church of Scientology I know has made a difference, because your Creed is a universal creed and one that speaks to all people everywhere.”

https://www.scientology.org/scientology-today/church-openings/church-of-scientology-los-angeles.html

I think that's problematic. Way more than her Castro quote.

[NRaleighLiberal]

1. ugh .

[JonLP24]

2. I don't know much about it

I agree it is more problematic though.

[LakeArenal]

3. 🙄

[DBoon]

4. Someone else please

[ornotna]

5. Yeah, that's not good

For me anyway.

[BannonsLiver]

6. Wait...what the fuck?

Uh yeah. It’s disqualifying IMO but the first I’ve heard of it.

[Trumpocalypse]

7. It's more problematic

that she’s from a solid blue state and doesn’t help in any swing states

[sunonmars]

8. Just was reading about this, the GOP would paint whackjob all over this.

This is one thing she really should have stayed away from.

Bass has problematic baggage with the cuban stuff and now this.

Wonder what else is lurking in the shadows, just glad its coming to the fore now.

[marybourg]

21. The gop is in no position to pronounce "wackjob"

on anyone. But we dems can disdain her for it.

[Caliman73]

40. I agree, but their position on "wack jobs" is irrelevant politically.

They are complete idiots but they will still decry her as a weirdo. They will do so loudly, with very little insight, and with no remorse or shame whatsoever.

Trump called Hillary Clinton "Crooked". He calls Biden, a man in better shape than many men younger that him, and definitely in better shape than Trump, "Sleepy Joe".

You better believe they will go after Bass over this, and anyone (Democratic Party members included) who has a problem with Scientology, will hear it.

I don't even disdain her. Politicians often do dumb things because of politics and money. I would like to know how she is connected to the church and why she chose to speak there.

[ProfessorGAC]

50. They'll Do It Anyway

Unless Biden and his surrogates are willing to counterattack on the "whackjob" angle, her adherence to quack religion is a liability.
If the "whack job" angle is exploited by the dems, the best we do is break even.
Better to not hand ammunition to an enemy out of bullets.

[Foolacious]

77. "Quack religion"?

As opposed to “non-quack religion”?

[ProfessorGAC]

82. You Missed My Point

I agree with you about all religion.
But, to the dumbvangelicals, Scientology will be considered a quack religion.
And, they can weaponize that.
Best to not provide ammunition.

[Foolacious]

86. Ah! I got you now, sorry. N/T

[tenderfoot]

64. Why would they do that $cientology is very supportive of Trump and the GOP

eom

[SlogginThroughIt]

72. They will do it under the guise of a progressive

[tenderfoot]

75. FWIW - Bass can go pound sand

no way am I supporting this.

[SlogginThroughIt]

79. I agree!

There is no way she is seriously being considered

[rzemanfl]

9. I have lived near Clearwater, Florida for coming up on 24 years.

In all that time NOT ONCE has a Scientologist come to my door trying to get me to believe in their religion. Can't say the same for a number of other religious groups.

[unc70]

10. A big red flag for me

Don't know the context, but I can't think of a decent excuse.

[PCIntern]

11. Oh shit. Yes.

[Stinky The Clown]

12. If true, this is an absolute NO! A real deal breaker

[sunonmars]

13. Its true, its on the scientology website as I wanted to check for truth, she was there and said it

[Beaverhausen]

55. and you trust them?

[PTWB]

87. Her words are on video...

[ace3csusm]

48. Agree

[SharonClark]

14. She would be a disaster.

[dem4decades]

17. + 10000

[Coventina]

16. Yep. Deal-breaker for sure for me. nt

[Nikki28]

18. She was

not even on my list of top 10,sorry she does nothing for me and is not a strong option. Maxine has more fire in her than her. Sorry.

[Nikki28]

19. She was

not even on my list of top 10,sorry she does nothing for me and is not a strong option. Maxine has more fire in her than her. Sorry.

[demmiblue]

20. Ugh. n/t

[Hortensis]

22. For me, yes. But then any form of irrationality, extremism,

religion, or anti-democratic belief that suggests bad judgement and bad character is unacceptable.

That includes ANY group who think the right thing to do is to dishonestly demonize opponents (usually the Democratic Party for these types), try to steal elections for their own factions, or serve god's wishes in conflict with the voters' secular choices. The wrong stuff for democracy.

[Spider Jerusalem]

23. It should (n/t)

[50 Shades Of Blue]

24. Anybody who supports an evil cult like that doesn't even belong in public office much less

on a presidential ticket.

[sarcasmo]

25. Deal Breaker.

[Sogo]

26. She does nothing for me, anyway,

but this definitely takes her out of the running, as far as I'm concerned.

[Miguelito Loveless]

27. I have zero trust in anyone praising $cientology

They are a criminal organization. Anyone not knowing this either gullible, disqualifyingly ignorant, or a member.

[dem4decades]

28. Does she support her constituents or the church? Is this Republican bullshit?

[mcar]

29. It sure is

Biden needs to get this right. Having a bunch of old white guys leaking crap to the media to slam Harris is not a good look for the campaign.

Bass will lose us Florida with her Castro appreciation. And now this?

Oh, but Harris is "ambitious."

[hedda_foil]

62. No doubt this came from a leak courtesy of the same old white guys as the Harris leaks.

[Mme. Defarge]

30. Yes.

[Indykatie]

31. I Don't See How Biden Selects Bass over Kamala Harris Who To Me is More Qualified

They are both CA Democrats so geography is not an concern for one over the other. Bass has never won a State wide race or faced the level of attacks and criticism that Harris has experienced. We know Harris is a great debater on the "big stage". Bass is an unknown.

[Bettie]

32. Yes, it is a non-starter

Scientology? Seriously?

[a kennedy]

33. my lunch group who met yesterday in a park here so we could social distance....

most of them said Joe better not pick a “Sarah Palin” for his Vice President. I hope it isn’t this one. JMHO.

[BeyondGeography]

34. Bass is the anyone-but-Kamala candidate pushed by CA and Beltway Dems who don't like Harris

The fact that she has gotten this far means there obviously are a lot of them.

Joe, who doesn’t have much of a relationship with either one, should stay away from both of them.

His buddy Susan Rice is looking better every day IMO. R’s can Benghazi their asses off as much as they want; Rice can give it back to them with both barrels.

[DFW]

35. She should be asked outright for her current position

If it is anything other than unequivocally negative, her name should be removed from all consideration.

[csziggy]

36. Scientology would be an absolute "NO" for me

I dislike religious persons for the most part and someone who follows a totally fake, controlling religion would make me think long and hard before I supported them on the ticket.

[Fiendish Thingy]

37. Uh oh- not clear- is she a Scientologist, or just gave a speech praising them? Nt

[PTWB]

88. They're both disqualifying.

[hlthe2b]

38. It isn't as though SHE is a Scientologist. Politicians not infrequently provide "polite" praise to

groups, issues, people--on a superficial level-- during their interactions. Quite different from actively working towards that group's goals and objectives, though...

So unless you have more, I'd say no.

And, this from a Harris-supporter so I'm not apologizing for either Bass or Scientology (as if... )

[Codeine]

39. Yeah, fuck that shit and fuck all Scientologists. nt

[avebury]

41. Yes. NT

[flamingdem]

42. This makes her a strong NO

but I don't believe she was really in the running anyway.

Seems likely to be Kamala, especially since we got to see the notes!

[beachbumbob]

43. Scientology is a CULT, praising any cult is problematic

[moonscape]

44. Definitely a problem, and disqualifying, for me. Dang. n/t

[obamanut2012]

45. How disappointing -- yeah, a hard no from me if she supports Co$

Disgusting bigoted human traffickers and grifters and criminals.

[smirkymonkey]

46. Yes. Absolutely.

No religious whackos. Sorry.

[qazplm135]

47. oof

I mean...I get that folks don't like Harris because she's "too ambitious" or "she was mean to Biden" but Scientology? This is why a thoroughly vetted nominee is so important. This is why Harris makes so much sense because there aren't going to be any little bits of uh-oh coming out about her.

[hatrack]

49. More than a little problematic

We're already dealing with the party of fanatical mystical bullshit.

We don't need farcical B-movie space opera fraudulent mystical bullshit anywhere near this ticket.

[gibraltar72]

51. Wow I would have never guessed.

I would say I certainly hope it's not her. You have to question judgement on that sort of shit.

[rusty fender]

52. Absolutely!

Scientology is for batshit crazies

[Paladin]

53. Yes, for sure. (nt)

[Beaverhausen]

54. Do you have any source besides Scientology itself?

[JonLP24]

59. The Daily Caller originally dug it up

The Daily Beast picked it up

Top Veep Contender Praised Scientology at Church’s 2010 Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony

Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA), a leading contender to be Joe Biden’s running mate, heaped praise on the Church of Scientology at a 2010 ribbon-cutting ceremony for a Los Angeles facility, The Daily Caller reports. At the event, which was filmed, Bass praised the church’s founder L. Ron Hubbard and told the 6,000 attendees that the opening was “an exciting moment because I know your goal and your commitment is truly to make a difference.” Bass, 66, was a member of the California General Assembly at the time. The shady church has been accused by former members of operating like a cult, allowing sexual and physical abuse to proliferate, and intimidating former members into silence by stalking and threatening them.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/top-veep-contender-karen-bass-praised-scientology-at-churchs-2010-ribbon-cutting-ceremony?via=twitter_page

[Beaverhausen]

60. so Daily Caller and Daily Beast quoting Scientology

Ok

[Drunken Irishman]

68. I mean, there's video.

Or are you going to claim it's CGI?

Link to tweet

[Beaverhausen]

71. I wouldn't put it past Scientology to do that. They have a very sophisticated propaganda network.

I have many friends who are in the cult and some who got out.

I also know that they spread their money around here in Los Angeles which allows them to get away with murder-literally.

It is sad that Bass praised them. I know my own rep (Brad Sherman) has also praised them. I'm sad to say it's possible there might even be video of Schiff praising them. Unfortunately they are extremely powerful.

[pnwmom]

90. She hasn't denied the video. nt

[Dagstead Bumwood]

56. Yep, this is a deal-breaker.

There are too many superior candidates to choose her and suffer the fallout from her double-albatross Scientology and Castro remarks.

[leftyladyfrommo]

57. She will get ripped to pieces. nt

[Progressive Jones]

58. It makes her a no go for me. Scientology Scumbaggery. nt

[Happy Hoosier]

61. I'd still vote for Joe, of course....

... but fuck that noise. Disqualifying.

[MoonRiver]

63. I hope he doesn't pick her. But even if he does I will vote for Biden.

[quickesst]

65. Anyone who supports....

....or belongs to the Church of Scientology should be banned from any position that comes with the power to influence anyone's life in any way. Although it probably won't happen, one of the most joyous days of my life before I die would be the day the Church of Scientology was utterly and completely destroyed with David Miscavige buried under its tons of rubble.

Fuck John Travolta and Tom Cruise too!

[ananda]

66. Oh dear.

Yes, that matters.

[Stuart G]

67. Yes, Totally

[Demsrule86]

69. Yes that combined with the Castro remark which hurts us in Florida, this makes here a less than

desirable choice...VP must 'do no harm'.

[burrowowl]

70. Yes

[lame54]

73. Too many non scientologists to choose from

[budkin]

74. Yeah F that

I can’t support a Scientologist.

[Lars39]

76. Yes

[tinrobot]

78. I didn't think she was that strong of a contender in the first place.

This certainly doesn't add to that impression.

[SiliconValley_Dem]

80. yes

[Marrah_Goodman]

81. Yes, I think it does

You have to be a special kind of gullible to believe their horsecrap. Plus, part of their way to become "clear" is to tell them everything you have ever done or thought of doing wrong. They then blackmail people with the information.

[BSdetect]

83. No friggin way is she acceptable.

[Tom Rinaldo]

84. It does give me pause and makes me prefer others n/t

[crickets]

85. That's a hard pass.

I didn't really have her at the top of my wish list anyway, but this? Oh, hell no.

[ucrdem]

89. Much prefer Bass to Harris.

And frankly the way this Scientology thing went down doesn't move the needle one bit for my junior senator. Au contraire.

[nsd]

91. The VP nominee's first duty is to do no harm.

Between Cuba (both the Castro quote and the Venceremos Brigade stuff) and Scientology, Bass might not pass that test.

I'm not a big fan of Kamala Harris, but she's a much safer pick. I'm also interested by Val Demings -- though I don't know how much she's been vetted.

[yardwork]

92. That is a problem for me.