Biden Cabinet Confirmation Live Thread ***hearings, votes, etc.***

[Citizen (The) Doctor]

I don't see Austin getting through on the waiver.

[Citizen (The) Doctor]

NAYS (Austin Waiver):
Cotton
Blumenthal
Rubio
Scott (FL)
Duckworth
Young
Marshall
Collins
Van Hollen
Warren
Markey
Hawley
Tester
Sasse
Cortez Masto
Rosen
Booker
Gillibrand
Wyden
Merkley
Toomey
Blackburn
Lee
Murray
Baldwin
Barrasso
Lummus

Absolutely fascinating list. Kinda surprised Sanders isn't one of the nays

[Citizen (The) Doctor]

https://mobile.twitter.com/AnnieGabstonH/status/1363681593068453890
This is the problem with some people on the left. Just because someone is a "person of color" or a "woman" - that doesn't absolve them from criticism or opposition. Also, the opposition to Neera Tanden is NOT because she's a "woman of color".

Biden's pick to be Deputy OMB Director is Shalanda Young - she's a Black woman. For all intents and purposes, she's qualified and doesn't have the mean tweets history that Tanden does. Biden should nominate Young to be OMB Director instead.

Eh, I think it's a bit more nuanced than that. It isn't that they're absolved of criticism or opposition -- I think it's that they want to be able to have a level playing field. In other words, lots of folks believe that a woman should be allowed to do all the female equivalent of things that Trump did and largely get away with it, whereas obviously that would never happen.

[Citizen (The) Doctor]

Eh, I think it's a bit more nuanced than that. It isn't that they're absolved of criticism or opposition -- I think it's that they want to be able to have a level playing field. In other words, lots of folks believe that a woman should be allowed to do all the female equivalent of things that Trump did and largely get away with it, whereas obviously that would never happen.

I'm a Black man in America, so I know that there's not a level playing field. However, many of the people who have been angered by Manchin/Collins/Romney opposition to Tanden have basically said "Oh, it must be because she's a POC/woman, that's why they are opposed to her". That's very reductive and obviously false.

I agree that this doesn't tell the story most of the time but does contribute to some of the vitriol toward her. Being "nice on Twitter" is seen as a positive largely only for one side of the aisle at the moment.

[Citizen (The) Doctor]

Once again, not technically a Cabinet pick but an excellent appointment nonetheless:

https://twitter.com/nytimes/status/1389316359557898242

Amazing choice.