There is word that Joe Biden has narrowed down the list of potential running mates. It’s hard to imagine that the former Vice President won’t pick a minority woman, but there is a controversial push from some to have him select Senator Elizabeth Warren. 100+ self-described “progressive former public officials, authors, actors, activists, advocates and scholars” signed a letter stating, “Elizabeth Warren has proven herself most prepared to be President if the occasion arises and deeply expert on the overlapping emergencies now plaguing America – Covid-19, Economic Insecurity, Racial Injustice and Climate Change.”
The letter portrays Warren (D-Mass.) as the best prepared prospect to serve as president and one uniquely capable of helping Biden politically in the November election. It asserts that he is “already strong” among nonwhite voters but could use help winning over disaffected voters who backed Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) in the primary — even as some of them have soured on Warren.
The newspaper adds:
Laurence Tribe, a constitutional law professor at Harvard University, where Warren once taught, said that there would be some “symbolic ways in which some people would be disappointed” if Biden does not choose an African American woman, and that disappointment should count. But Warren’s record, he said, makes her the strongest choice.
“I think African Americans above all would be the first to say they are more interested in results than cosmetics,” said Tribe, who signed the letter.
As one person wrote on Twitter, “Imagine, knowing Biden is considering many WOC, rushing to speak to the media to say ‘hold up, this white lady is the best, and better for minorities than an actual minority.'”
Tribe tried to clarify his remarks today saying:
In urging @SenWarren as the strongest VP choice, I didn’t mean to express any doubt at all that several women of color currently on what’s said to be the Biden short list would be excellent choices as well.
According to The Associated Press, Biden’s shortlist reportedly also includes Senator Kamala Harris, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, Rep. Val Demings (D-FL), former national security adviser Susan Rice and New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham.
