It's Kamala!

[Dill]

(08-15-2020, 11:14 AM)hollodero Wrote: I also did not miss the point that black women did a lot of groundwork for the democratic party. I'd hope they did it because they saw promise in Democratic politics, or to promote certain politics and policies, and not to ensure one of their own gender and race a VP post. For that's what it's about, isn't it? One can argue that a black woman is particularly suited to implement good policies for black women, but that is far from a given and other qualifications - like competence, the right ideas, or understanding of the law and politics etc - are far more decisive, also not every black woman is automatically a blessing for all black people. One wouldn't support Ann Coulter on the grounds that she's a woman and women were historically marginalized. This is no shot against Kamala, again, it's a shot against the principle. I gave my reasons why I think so, I don't feel like rephrasing all the points already made.

Correct. All those women traipsing the back roads of SC and Alabama in the 60s and 70s were likely NOT thinking of a black vp then, but of empowering the party whose policies would empower them, achieving the promise of equality for all.

But 60 years later, they and their daughters and granddaughters still traipsing those roads, may feel entitled to wonder why, if black women are possessed of the same rights and competencies as white and black men, and why, if the Dem party loudly affirms that possession, no black woman has EVER been on a Dem national ticket. Year in and year out, the "best person" just randomly turns out to be white in a country where "merit" has been one of the prime criteria for excluding worthy black candidates from all manner of responsible positions, in government and out? Once one finally is nominated, then "merit" is a big question? I'm not going to say to those women: "But ladies, you were working for the common good all along, right, not just to get one of your group in a top position? Thank you for your service, and remember, ALL lives matter." Even if you don't actually say that, that is what those women will hear.

If Biden, who incidently also wants to stop the decrease in Black support for Dem presidential candidates, decides to make "black female" a criterion for VP, that does not automatically discount all other criteria, such as experience and competence. If there is now a deep bench of really experienced and competent black women, then it should be possible to find that one who is also a "blessing."  Frankly, there is in fact an abundance of riches in that department, and that is one reason why so many voters, black AND white, thought it was time. No more excuses.

No one, not Biden, not anyone, is assuming that blackness is a kind of "competence" in itself, helpful to the implementation of "good policies for black women."  Real political and legal competence has to be there, the kind someone who had been AG of the largest state and sits on the Senate intel committee could reasonably be expected to possess.

I can understand somewhat why the choice and debate over it might puzzle you. You're sitting over there in Wien and you hear all these Americans claiming the choice was political and demographic. "Time for a black female VP!" So naturally, given your great familiarity with our politics, your first impulse is to wonder--"Why this minority and not that?" And then to run the percentages to figure what "really" makes the best mathematical sense. And to re-affirm that anyway competence ought to be basis of such selections.