Black activists warn Biden: Don't pick Klobuchar as VP

[riversedge]

I think she would do fine as VP. She would have done fine as President also.




Black activists warn Biden: Don't pick Klobuchar as VP

https://www.politico.com/news/2020/05/23/black-activists-joe-biden-amy-klobuchar-vice-president-275326

The Minnesota senator and former prosecutor has problems with communities of colors that another top white contender, Elizabeth Warren, does not.
Joe Biden and Amy Klobuchar

Sen. Amy Klobuchar has regularly appeared as a surrogate and a fundraiser for Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden. | Eric Gay/AP Photo

By ELENA SCHNEIDER

05/23/2020 02:56 PM EDT


Amy Klobuchar performed abysmally among black voters in the Democratic primary. It’s haunting her now as Joe Biden decides on a running mate.

The Minnesota Democrat has the governing experience and ideological profile to mesh well with Biden, and she’s regularly appeared as a surrogate and a fundraiser for him, raking in more than $1.5 million for a single event she headlined. The pair have a warm relationship, trading phone calls when her husband was hospitalized with Covid-19 and they didn’t tangle publicly during primary.......................




....................Klobuchar's boosters counter that Donald Trump will drive out the Democratic base no matter what, and that the key Rust Belt states that Democrats have to win play to Klobuchar's strengths.

"I think she could help put the upper Midwest in play, and that's an invaluable asset," said Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, who backed Bernie Sanders during the presidential primary. He also noted that "there are a lot of black people" in the Midwest, in cities like Detroit and Milwaukee, who will also be key for Democrats in winning back those states.

"I think the base is going to be excited enough because, before, Trump was an idea, now Trump is the reality," Ellison continued.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

1. She's my senator and I do not want her as VP or president.

[scarletwoman]

12. Same here from a fellow Minnesotan.

Aside from her other various drawbacks, I also don't see how she would add any excitement to the ticket. Too bland.

[underpants]

2. Ka ma la

[sprinkleeninow]

5. Ka-ma-la....😊 💙

[Celerity]

7. +100000

[trueblue2007]

13. KAMALA HARRIS NOW !!!!!

[frazzled]

14. Kamala did miserably with the black vote as well

In case you’ve forgotten. Both Harris and Klobuchar have records as prosecutors that didn’t sit well with the black community. Kind of unfair since other candidates never held that position and thus are not suffering the consequences.

[BeyondGeography]

24. Yup, it's a bizarre notion that Biden needs Harris to seal the deal with black voters

When she did nothing but sink with them in the primary while he went from strong to stronger.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

30. Yes, why neither Amy nor Kamala will be the VP pick.

[Blue_true]

32. Whoa. Where have you been, in witness protection?

Turns out that I completely agree with your point. I believe that Cortez-Mastro, Duckworth or Demmings would be better choices. Demmings, in particular, was a big county Sheriff in Florida, but was well regarded the whole time in the AA community and statewide.

[Bettie]

26. Works for me

works well for me.

[Celerity]

3. she would probably be the worst pick of the 11 or 12 under consideration that we know of

1. She is the most problematic with PoC of the 11 or so frontrunners (she polled worse that Buttigieg did with A-A's and does not have a great legal background when it comes to race-related justice issues from her time as Hennepin County Attorney.) She also, at one point, she had voted for nearly 2/3rds of Trump's judicial nominees, some of them who were clearly unqualified.

2. She lacks the temperament, IMHO, based off her past interactions with staff and subordinates, which was on exhibit in the last several debates.

3. She would be the most antagonistic pick in regards to the left half (not just the far left Sanders people) of the party as she ran one of the most hostile-to-progressives primaries (only surpassed by Hickenlooper, Delaney, and Bloomberg IMHO.)

4. She adds little in terms of energising and attracting the under 45yo vote (she polled very poorly with them the entire primary campaign), which is a pre-existing issue with Biden himself.

5. I think the entire 'she will bring the Midwest for sure' angle is overrated, as she did fairly poorly in Iowa (5th place), which is adjacent to Minnesota. I think she brings little to the table in terms of winning Florida (as massively crucial state) as well, the same for North Carolina. Georgia, and Nevada (5th place). She won 3% of the vote in SC, a heavily A-A primary.

I am leaning towards Harris, Rice, Abrams, Demings, or maybe Lujan Grisham, but I would be fine with most all of the other top 10 or 11 over Klobuchar. Rice is maybe a risk due the Rethugs going insane over the Benghazi claptrap, but they can sod the fuck off, although Biden seems risk-averse, so may not put her in the top 5 or so.

Klobuchar has Kaine 2016 written all over her, with many of the same potential downsides. This is not the election to play 'let's ram in the most centrist VP pick of all the 11 or so favourites and the one with the least strength amongst PoC and younger voters' games.

[tavernier]

6. "She lacks the temperament"

Is that like saying she can be a real _itch? Because I’ve read that some of her former employees have encountered that side of personality.

After Rump, I think we need intelligence and integrity over ego and tantrums. Most Americans are tired of that.

[wellst0nev0ter]

17. We've seen her debate performance with Buttigieg

She's a disciplined "folksy" politician until she's not.

[JustAnotherGen]

8. I want Duckworth

[Celerity]

10. Another great choice. I am open to most all of them, save Klobuchar, and even she, obviously

is so not a deal breaker. I just think she makes it the hardest for us to win, which is the exact opposite of what we want.

[Bradshaw3]

15. I do as well

She brings the same positive qualities people tout in Klobuchar, plus many more, without the negatives. She is a decorated vet, a POC and comes off as a down-to-earth type who will appeal to a wide range of people.

[Freethinker65]

23. She would be great. Veteran, working Mom

Not afraid to speak her mind about injustice.

[Blue_true]

33. It seems that she is well liked in Chicago, a massive plus. nt

[struggle4progress]

43. +

[madaboutharry]

4. Biden will listen and choose someone else.

The conversation would be about her and that isn’t what we need now.

[tman]

9. He has less room to move now because of yesterday.

"Democrats take the black vote for granted" has now become mainstream.

Like it or not, it will be used against him, to surpress the vote. His VP choice is set against this backdrop.

[Wanderlust988]

18. I agree. I almost think he has to pick a black woman now

It'll probably be Harris or Demings.

[cwydro]

22. He doesn't have to do anything.

I trust Biden to make a good choice, whomever it may be.

[Blue_true]

34. I believe that Cortez-Mastro and Duckworth would bring enormous positives. nt

[SMC22307]

38. He really stepped in it yesterday. Choose a black woman...

and he'll be accused of pandering. Choose a white woman and some AAs may not be excited and sit out, like some sat out for Hillary. It'll be interesting to see who he ultimately chooses.

[Brainfodder]

11. OH! Then I guess I have to vote for satan's helper then??

FUCK OFF!




*There is nothing Joe Biden has done that is even in the same hemisphere as Death Count Donnie's vast empire of crimes?

Politicians have to deal with stuff coming from all angles, and yes donor $ does buy some influence, otherwise who the fuck gives a dollar, even people giving small amounts, still have an agenda they want!

[panader0]

16. I don't think Biden ever really considered Klobuchar as VP.

Vetting her and appearing to consider her will impress some of those upper Midwesterners.

[judeling]

19. Klobuchar's only problem with Black activists is she isn't black.

She probably has a better prosecutorial record as far as POC goes then Harris.

In regards to the Burrell case she did what Amy always does let the local NAACP and Ellison save face. They were headed down a dangerous path that was going to backfire on them. Ellison came back pretty quickly and will be a great asset for her.

As long as Biden was in the race she was not going to get great African American support. Her path to support outside of Minnesota was through the exact same validators that where on the Biden team and without the name id as Obama's wingman.

I will also say this. The "Black Activists" better tone it down a bit or Biden will be boxed in with choice of seeming to cave to demands and that is something the Trump campaign will really go all out on.

[brush]

27. You're telling black people to tone it down?

We're the reason Biden has the nomination, and our turnout is critical for a Dem win.

[Blue_true]

36. I believe the last paragraph of the post you responded to was ill advised.

I am AA. I don't insist that the VP nominee must be AA. I can accept a POC or White female that made it a point early in her career to maintain excellent relations with AA leaders and the larger AA community that she served.

Also, I believe that a Hispanic may bring as many or more votes than an AA nominee.

What I want to see is a strong choice that doesn't have critical skeletons in her closet on the issues of racial relations with POC of all colors or have hidden ethics issues.

[brush]

40. Latinx Dem votes is always in the 70% range...

whereas the black vote is always in the 90% range. We can't win without an enthusiastic black response. With all the excellent AA women candidates it doesn't take a rocket scientist to pick Harris, Demings, Abrams or Rice to bring out a large black response.

[Blue_true]

46. The % of AA in America is 12%. The % of Latin groups is 20%.

In my county in Florida as well as the I4 corridor, there are more Latins than AA. In my county, 15% of the population is Latin, versus 10% for AA.

Cubans pose a unique challenge for us given they tend to vote more republican, though that has changed fast because young Cubans tend to vote blue as a whole. But Cubans are concentrated in two areas of Florida and one area of New Jersey, if I remember correctly. In Florida, other Latin groups have largely overtaken Cubans, that is even more so now that a good contingent of Puerto Ricans have made their way to Florida to live.

It simply boils down to numbers, a 10% increase in Latins voting for the democrat has the same effect of an approximate 17% change in AA votes.

But for me, it is even more fundamental than numbers. I am simply not sold on Harris being a great choice, nor do I feel that Abrams has the level of national or statewide presence that a second needs, IMO. That leaves Demings and Rice. I don't know much about Demings other than she is a very popular politician in one of the most populated areas of Florida, and she was a Sheriff there for several years, with solid results. I believe that Rice would bring out a lot of BS from the right and not bring in the increased AA vote that you seem to be sure that she would.

My personal favorite is Cortez-Mastro. She was solid in Nevada and has built a sound record nationally. I believe that she would dramatically liven the Latin vote for Biden, and as far as I can tell, she has nothing in her past that will prove to be something that republicans can demogogue. I believe that with President Obama and Michelle being very active this time around, the AA vote for Biden will hold up well if he picks someone like Cortez-Mastro or Duckworth as his second.

[brush]

47. AA turnout is aways most consistent..

and VP candidates more nationally known. We saw what happened with the Kaine pic, AA turnout went down. Taking the black vote for granted is not smart. Saving the party over and over and not being rewarded gets old.

[Blue_true]

49. Hillary made a horrific choice in Kaine.

Frankly, I was stunned by that choice. She picked the goofy guy in high school that always wore the poorly fitting clothes and never got a date, but he was whip-smart.

Unfortunately politics boils down to making choices that bring in more than they give up. I believe in net, Cortez-Mastro brings in a lot more than her as a choice gives up. I plan to support and vote for Biden regardless of who he picks, the only thing that I see is he would be worlds more competent and compassionate than Trump. Given the rather stark choice that will exist in November, there is no way that I am even going to toy with "either this type of choice or I won't be excited" BS.

[brush]

50. Kaine didn't excite, let's not repeat history.

[Blue_true]

51. I believe your seeming premise that only an AA will excite is flawed.

For example, Susan Rice doesn't seem to be the type that excites, her thing is cool, calm analysis. I don't know how Demings fall in this area.

For me, a competent, youngish woman would be exciting enough, in particular if she is a choice that comes free of past questionable choices. Those are the only conditions that I set.

[brush]

53. Your opinion.

[Blue_true]

54. You know the saying about opinions. But it is what it is. nt

[budkin]

20. Totally agree

It would be worse than Hillary picking Tim Kaine.

[Blue_true]

37. I agree with that view. nt

[R02091201]

21. I'm sure they'd prefer her to Pence.

She is well qualified and would help on the Midwest. I also like Harris and Demmings.

[Tarheel_Dem]

25. I'm sorry, but these alleged "activists" do not speak for me, nor indeed do they represent the...

entirety of the AA community. As long as Trump goes, I think that's all the incentive and motivation most of us need.

[nsd]

28. If one of those "activists" is named Jim Clyburn, then this matters a great deal.

But if this group is only comprised of supporters of losing candidates, then it does not.

Biden won. He gets to choose.

[sarisataka]

29. So if Biden does not pick

The correct running mate we could have 4 more years of Trump? The election is not a foregone conclusion?

I thought the mantra was blue no matter who

[Blue_true]

31. She could put Michigan and Wisconsin in play, but she could lose Florida and

take Georgia out of play. In net, unless she can do some big explaining about her prosecutor days, she will likely hurt Biden.

Her case and Pete Buttigieg's case are evidence that young up and comers really need to have a foot in the African American community, going there regularly to take to key civic people there, as well as interact with everyday AA.

[jcgoldie]

35. WI, MI & PA strategy is great but I still havent heard any explanation of...

...what voters does Klobuchar get to the polls that Biden doesnt already get?

[Blue_true]

39. She would be a weak choice. Duckworth, Demmings or Cortez-Mastro would be much stronger choices.

I am AA and I have qualms about Harris. I believe that Warren is a non-starter for several reasons.

[Dem4Life1102]

44. What qualms?

I ask because I have AA friends who feel the same. Just wondering if it is for the same reasons.

[Blue_true]

45. Whether they are valid charges or pure bullshit, her actions toward AA defendants

pose a massive problem for her. Even if it was just a situation where she simply didn't develop strong ties to the AA community, but was fair in her legal proceeding, the situation raises big problems in places like Florida, Georgia, Philadelphia where AA are not familiar with her and where purposely vile innuendo can be used to maximum effect against her and Biden. Even AA that have never been the subject of police misconduct or arrested will react negatively to the charge that she is alleged to have been less than even-handed in dealing out Justice, given the overall history of my ethnic group in being treated fairly in that area. Pete Buttigieg suffered from the same problem, and I argue that was much more an issue than his sexuality among AA, that problem was the perception and eventually the charge that he was deaf to the needs of the AA community in South Bend when it came to policing and community outreach.

My advice to any up and comer is be aware of the damage that perceptions can do. Go into the various communities one serves and spend time with people there, sounding off planned policies and listening to feedback, then insuring that the policies implemented reflect that feedback as best possible, and if they don't go into the communities and explain why the policies must be the way they are. That attention to detail will pay massive dividends later in one's career.

[Dem4Life1102]

56. Thanks

This jibes with what I've heard from others.

[muriel_volestrangler]

41. I thought one of Biden's best features was that he excites black voters?

If so, I'd question whether the VP pick needs to concentrate on that too; the guy at the top of the ticket is always the main draw, and the VP just has the chance to "fill in holes in the resume". Most of the article just seems to be saying she doesn't attract black voters; there's one bit about her record as a prosecutor that could be something that annoys them, but they don't go into detail.

[Tom Rinaldo]

42. This white activist agrees

This is not the time for Democrats to nominate two white relative centrists. One is enough. Of course I would support the ticket, but it would be a body blow to my enthusiasm. Sure I'll vote against Trump, but I also want to vote FOR the future of the Democratic Party, and the generations that are rising increasingly are progressive.

[OnDoutside]

48. Fortune favours the brave. Brave isn't picking Amy.

[misanthrope]

52. So is the part of the program where

all the infighting, purity tests and self-immolation among Democrats turns off American voters and snatches defeat from the jaws of victory yet again?

[pecosbob]

55. I feel that Sen. Klobuchar would be a play for moderates that voted R in the last cycle.

I think that would be a pointless gesture. It would do little to energize the Dem's base and would signal continued Dem deference and capitulation to conservatives in DC to the base.

[essme]

57. Duckworth

Nt

[kcr]

58. I agree. She'd be the worst choice n/t