Harris seeks her own unique path at White House

[Klaralven]

When the Biden administration announced Gene Sperling would oversee the execution of its coronavirus relief plan, a question was asked among Democrats: Why wasn’t it Kamala Harris?

After all, when Joe Biden was vice president, he had a similar role for the Obama administration, overseeing the 2009 stimulus bill’s passage and implementation during the downturn known as the Great Recession.

In the first two months of the administration, Harris has been at the forefront of the COVID-19 rescue plan and is a constant fixture at Biden’s side, during speeches, executive order announcements and rollouts.

But she has yet to carve out a specific policy role at the White House, and some were surprised she didn’t get Sperling’s responsibilities.

“I think it took a lot of Democrats by surprise,” said one Democratic strategist close to the White House. “And it made a lot of people question what exactly her role is as vice president.”

“It seems like a lot of people are asking that question,” said one Democratic donor who expressed concern that Harris isn’t yet building her own brand. “She has the unique ability to take on her own portfolio and highlight her strengths so why not capitalize on that?”

https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/544173-harris-seeks-her-own-unique-path-at-white-house

I think she is being "kept in the loop" more than previous VPs in order to provide continuity when/if required.

[Wounded Bear]

1. Hey, Joe's the Prez. This bunch knows what it is doing...

and I'm sure Ms Harris will develop into a real asset to our country in whatever her role grows into.

[Irish_Dem]

2. Yes I agree, she is in the loop tightly in order to provide continuity.

And learn the ropes. She should not be sidelined.

[Midnight Writer]

3. People are sure getting nit picky about how our White House works.

After four years of a corrupt mobster torpedoing everything our country stands for, folks have got nothing better to do than grouse about the VP's portfolio.

I don't think the regular people give a flying fig about who's doing what, as long as the job is getting done.

I can't help notice the old "a lot of people are asking" trope coming from unnamed sources.

[CTyankee]

4. I keep wondering if President Biden is considering not running for a second term (I know it's

early) and that is why he is grooming her...or maybe grooming isn't the right term, maybe training her along with himself in this job). He did hold her job in the Obama administration so it seems natural he might be doing this.

I do believe Joe is more deliberate now, the edge is off, and he is thoughtful. He has to wonder what his legacy will be. I wonder if he sees that what he is doing is just amazing: helping her to be the first woman POTUS, and a woman of color.

Republicans must be sputtering in rage...

[TreasonousBastard]

6. Didn't he say during the campaign that he intended to be one term?

[CTyankee]

10. My memory is faulty (I'm old). I seem to remember something was said like that but I didn't

know if it was actually Joe himself.

[Bev54]

5. She is a president in training!

[lostnfound]

7. Exactly!

She does not need to get her own portfolio. Better if she is in the room for all the big decisions, like Biden was. With one BIG assignment, too much else would get sacrificed because of time constraints.

[lostnfound]

8. This is actually a really dumb perspective "The Hill" is taking

Because Biden as VP was assigned passage of the stimulus bill, Harris should be assigned the execution challenge for the huge Coronavirus Relief Bill? Why?? How is that even related except in the dimmest of minds?

Biden had 30 years experience by then in the federal government. Harris does not.

But being president isn’t about diving deep in one area. It’s about leading and being broad across many areas.

[Mr.Bill]

9. She's working in such close proximity to Biden

that wingnuts on right wing websites are saying behind her mask she is speaking into an earpiece Joe is wearing because, you know, he's too senile to put a sentence together.

I think they are keeping her workload fluid because if we do something about the filibuster, she's going to have to be available to preside over a lot of 51-50 votes in the Senate.

[Deuxcents]

11. Let's not make news

Report the news. The media should revisit their mission.