Kamala Harris Is Biden’s VP Pick

[flash2015]

For the record, Octavious made several valid points before this all derailed into the predictable yelling match

The main one being:

- By narrowing the field SOLELY based on race and gender, the Democrats did Kamala (or whomever they had chosen) a disservice, and gave independent voters a reason to dismiss/downplay her appointment.

It's very sad. I used to be a registered Democrat. I am truly happy for Kamala, but the party is damn near beyond repair.

He made a solid point about the Democrats being an uneasy alliance between disparate groups (I am 100% in agreement there), sure, but the issue with how Harris was chosen is way, way overplayed.

[cormorant]

I used to be a registered Democrat

You don't seem like a Trump voter though...can you bring yourself to vote for Biden/Harris despite your discomfort with the process?

[Octavious]

but the issue with how Harris was chosen is way, way overplayed.

Overplayed? You seem to be suggesting the existence of a wider game that I have a stake in. No such game exists. The way Harris was chosen was my sole interest and I find it abhorrent. Of the shortlist Harris was ny second favourite behind Tammy Duckworth, but regardless of who won the selection process was abhorrent. The Democrats seem to go out of their way to create reasons not to vote for them.

[cormorant]

Octavious - why do you think the signers of this letter are racist and sexist?

https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/bla ... en-for-vp/

April 24, 2020

Biden for President
Philadelphia, PA

Dear Presidential Candidate Biden,

We congratulate you as the Democratic presumptive nominee for president of the United States. We are encouraged, heartened and inspired by your commitment to select a woman as your vice- presidential running mate.

To that end, we the undersigned Black women leaders from a variety of backgrounds and experiences, from both the public and the private sectors, who have all, time and time again supported the Democratic party nationally and across the country -- -are writing to recommend and encourage you to recognize and seize this moment in our country’s history, and its bold future, by selecting a Black woman to serve as your vice-presidential running mate.

Each of the Black women who have been discussed publicly, including Leader Stacey Abrams, Congresswoman Karen Bass, Congresswoman Val Demings, Congresswoman Marcia Fudge, Senator Kamala Harris, Mayor Keisha Lance-Bottoms, and Ambassador Susan Rice, would bring enthusiasm, strength, authority, credibility, organization, integrity, foresight, reliability, trust and honor to the Democratic ticket.

Every one of these women is already leading in the roles they presently occupy and in the leadership positions they have previously held, from the local, state, and Federal levels, including domestic and foreign policy. They have the experience, qualifications and principled core values of a true leader that would make for the right partner to help catapult the Democrats to victory in November. Every one of these women has the skills, competence, and knowledge required of an effective governing partner who will help you lead America in this unprecedented moment in our history.

Further, it is a fact that the road to the White House is powered by Black women and Black women are the key to a Democratic victory in 2020. Black women are not only the most loyal voters for the Democratic party—we are key to igniting Black voters across all demographics to show up in record numbers. There has not been a Democratic presidential nominee in over 40 years that has won the White House without Black women’s leadership and vote—including President Barack Obama, President Bill Clinton, and President Jimmy Carter.

Therefore, we urge you to seize this historic opportunity to choose a Black woman running mate who will fight for the issues that matter most to the American people and help deliver a decisive victory and a successful Biden presidency.

Sincerely,

Ms. Katrina Adams,Yonkers, NY
Ms. Aimee Allison, Oakland, CA
Taryn E. Anthony, Alexandria, VA
Honorable Wandra Ashley-Williams, Owings Mills, MD
Delegate Vanessa E. Atterbeary, Fulton, MD
Rev. Shavon Arline-Bradley, Laurel MD
Ms. Miranda Askew-Brown, Syracuse, NY
Ms. Joy Atkinson, Los Angeles, CA
Ms. Shawn W. Ashworth, Ed.D., Pasadena, MD
State Senator Raumesh A. Akbari, Memphis, TN
Rev. Aundreia Alexander, Esq., Washington, DC
Ms. Bobbiejean Anderson, Los Angeles, CA
Ms. Estina Baker, Hackensack, NJ
Ms. Monifa Bandele, Brooklyn, NY
Mrs. Cora Masters Barry, Washington, DC
Lady Sharon J. Beard, Houston, TX
Honorable Gail Beatty, Kansas City, MO
Ms. Belinda Beeks, Sacramento, CA
Councilwoman Maria Begg-Roberson, Rutherford, NJ
Honorable Ashley Bennett, Egg Harbor, NJ
Dr. Carol J. Bennett, California
Dr. Arla J. Bentley, Glen Burnie, MD
Ms. Salandra Benton, Titusville, FL
Ms. Angelia Bibbs-Sanders, California
Rev Dr Myra Turner Billips, Somerset, NJ
Rev. Traci D. Blackmon, Washington, DC
Rev. Morine A. Bowen-Avery,
Ms. Cherolynn W. Blackwell, Davidsonville, MD
Rev. Anna C. Bradley, Chesterfield County, VA
Ms. Donna Brazile, Washington, DC
Rev. Valerie Bridgeman, Ph.D., Delaware, OH
Rev. Dr. Roslyn M. Brock, Upper Marlboro, MD
Councilwoman Edina Brown, Old Bridge, NJ
Ms. Clayola Brown, Washington, DC
Ms. Latosha Brown, Atlanta, GA
Ms. Taisha Brown, Los Angeles, CA
Ms. Helen Butler, Atlanta, GA
Senator Gloria Butler, Stone Mountain, GA
Ms. Debra Burris, Oklahoma City, OK
Bishop E. Anne Henning Byfield, Indianapolis, IN
Ms. Kamaria Byrd, MA, Princeton, NJ
Ms. Melanie L. Campbell, Alexandria, VA
Honorable Karen D. Camper, Memphis, TN
Yolanda H. Caraway, Washington, DC
Ms. Pamela G. Carlton, New York, NY
Ms. Glynda C. Carr, Brooklyn, NY
Debra Martin Chase – California
Rev. Andrea Clark Chambers, Tulsa, OK
Rev. C. Jacqueiline Chaney, Philadelphia, PA
Councilwoman Brittany Claybrooks,
East Orange, NJ
Ms. Angela Bibbs-Sanders, CA
Ms. Delmarie Cobb, Chicago, IL
Ms. Alice D. Cole, Randallstown, MD
Dr. Johnetta Betsch Cole, Fernandina Beach, FL
Ms. Malaak Compton, Alpine, NJ
Ms. Cheryl Contee, CA
Ms Brittney Cooper, PhD, New Brunswick, NJ
Councilwoman Ruby Cotton, Paterson, NJ
Freeholder Tyshami Cooper, Essex County, NJ
Honorable Lisa A. Copeland, Mount Vernon, NY
Rev. Dr. Leslie Copeland-Tune, Silver Spring, MD
Ms. Diane Cottrell, Chicago, IL
Dr. Karen T. Craddock Ph.D., Boston, MA
Ms. Crystal D. Crawford, Esq., Los Angeles, CA
Rev. Dr. Erika D. Crawford, D.Min., Dover, DE
Ms. Sandra Crowder, Norfolk, VA
Honorable Mildred Crump, Newark, NJ
Dr. Maya Rockeymoore Cummings, MD
Senator Sandra B. Cunningham, Bayonne, NJ
Ms. Allora Goode Cyrus, Silver Spring, MD
Doris Ramseur Davis, Fayetteville, AR
Councilwoman Ashley Davis, Plainfield, NJ
Ms. Felicia Davis, Forest Park, GA
Ms. Kiahna W. Davis, Indianapolis, IN
Ms. Lisa E. Davis, South Orange, NJ
Marilyn D. Davis, Harrison, NJ
Rev. Dr. Karen S. Daughtry, NY
Bishop Leah D. Daughtry, Washington, DC
Rev. Dr. Dawnique Daughtry, Englewood, NJ
Ms. Sharon Daughtry, Brooklyn, NY
Pastor Kaji Dousa, New York, NY
Ms. LaDavia S. Drane, Esq., New Albany, OH
Ms. Hazel Dukes, New York, NY
Rev. Marcia Dyson, Washington, DC
Ms. Jotaka Eaddy, Washington, DC
Ms. Kimberly Ellis, JD, Richmond, CA
Ms. Lisa Fager, Odenton, MD
Ms. C. Virginia Fields, New York, NY
Ms. Karen Finney, Washington, DC
Ms. Meshelle Foreman, Baltimore, MD
Ms. Alexandria D. Forsh, Loganville, GA
Ms. Dianne Forsh, Loganville, GA
Ms. Lucille Frierson, MA, Charlotte, NC
Ms. Demetria Gallagher, Chicago, IL
Ms. Eboni Gates, Chicago, IL
Honorable Angela R. Garretson, MPA,
Hillside, NJ
Ms. V. E. Gaskins, Elizabeth, NJ
Ms. Glenda A. Gill, Los Angeles, CA
Senator Nia H. Gill, Esq., Montclair, NJ
Honorable Brenda Gilmore, Nashville, TN
Ms. Glenda Glover, Nashville, TN
Presiding Elder Elaine Gordon, Peoria, IL
Rev. Dr. Cassandra Gould, St. Louis, MO
Ms. Alma Howard Graham, Woodland Hills, CA
Dr. Christina Greer, New York, NY
Rev. Brenda Grier-Miller, Oberlin, OH
Hon. Cheryl Gray Evans, New Orleans, LA
Rev. Ebony Grisom, Falls Church, VA
Councilwoman Susan Hairston, Summit, NJ
Honorable Laura Hall, Huntsville, AL
Rev Stacey Hamilton, Galloway, NJ
Rev. Dr. Cynthia L. Hale, Conyers, GA
Ms. Diane M. Harley
Ms. Gwendolyn Hatten Butler, IL
Ms. LT Hilton, San Francisco, CA
Dr. Gayle Holliday, Kansas City, MO
Ms. Valerie Hollingsworth Baker, Brooklyn, NY
Councilwoman Alicia Holman, East Orange, NJ
Ms. Holli Holliday, Esq., Hyattsville, MD
Ms. Alice Huffman, CA
Ms. Ifeoma Ike, Brooklyn, NY
Ms. April Jackson, Atlanta, GA
Ms. Carolyn F. Jackson, MEd, Hiram, GA
Rev. Debora Jackson, DMin, Newton, MA
Ms. Latanya Richardson Jackson,
Beverly Hills, CA
Ms. Letetia Daniels Jackson, Dothan, AL
Assemblywoman Mila M. Jasey,
South Orange, NJ
Reverend Melanie C. Jones, Richmond, VA
Ms. Ricarra Jones, MPA, Baltimore, MD
Ms. Star Jones, Esq., Chicago, IL
Ms. Tonia Jones Powell, Esq., Upper
Marlboro, MD
The Rev. Dr. Emma Jordan-Simpson,
Brooklyn, NY
Honorable Arthenia L. Joyner, Tampa, FL
Councilwoman Deborah Keeling-Geddis, Hackensack, NJ
Ms. Andrea Lawrence-Hyatt, CPM, Hillside, NJ
Dr. Kimberly Jeffries Leonard, PhD,
Washington, DC
Dr. Deborah LeBlanc, Los Angeles, CA
Ms. Debra L. Lee, Los Angeles, California
Dr. Leone R. Lettsome, Raleigh, NC
Councilwoman Amy Lewis, East Orange, NJ
Mrs. Catherine Lewis, Columbia, SC
Dr. L. Toni Lewis, MD, Brooklyn, CA
Honorable Reta Jo Lewis, Esq., Washington, DC
Ms. Jeanine Liburd, NY
Ms. Erika F. Liles, NJ
Ms. Amanda Brown Lierman, Silver Spring, MD
Ms. Lillian M Long, Upper Marlboro, MD
Ms. Michele Renee Long, Esq., Upper
Marlboro, MD
Ms. Tamika Mallory, Brooklyn, NY
Ms. Arletha Manlove, Kansas City, MO
Ms. Ann Walker Marchant, Palm Beach, FL
The Rev. Eboni Marshall Turman, Ph.D., NY, NY
Rev. Angelique J. Mason, Baltimore, MD
Ms. Dee Marshall, Newark, NJ
Ms. Terri Massie-Burrell, PhD
Ms. Janice L. Mathis, Esq., Temple Hills, MD
Ms. Onida Coward Mayers, New York, NY
Ms. Colette McCurdy-Jackson, Miami, FL
Ms. Tina McKinnor, California
Rev. Dr. Della McKinnon, Raleigh, NC
Ms. Nina F. Miles Everett, M.D, FACP,
Crofton, MD
Ms. Gloria Mitchell, California
Honorable Joylette Mills-Ransome,
Plainfield, NH
Councilwoman-at-Large Dr. Lilisa Mimms, Paterson, NJ
Rev. Dr. Judith C. Moore, New Kensington, PA
Ms. Minyon Moore, Washington, DC
Rev. Anna E. Mosby, Upper Marlboro, MD
Honorable Sheila Oliver, New Jersey
Ms. Eva Paterson, Attorney-at-Law, Oakland, CA
Honorable Shawyn Patterson Howard, Mount Vernon, NY
Ms. Kimberly Peeler-Allen, Brooklyn, NY
Ms. Barbara A Perkins, Atlanta, GA
Mayor Pat Perkins-Auguste, Elizabeth, NJ
Ms. Aretha Perry, Glen Burnie, MD
Dr. Joia Crear-Perry, MD, New Orleans, LA
Rev. Francine C. Pearce, Augusta, GA
Rev. Zina Pierre, Annapolis, MD
Dr. Holly L. Phillips, MD, New York, NY
Dr. Melanye Price, Houston, TX
Ms. Jonelle Procope, New York, NY
Ms. Tameka M. Ramsey, MPA, BSW, Pontiac, MI
Ms. Darlene Robinson, Eutaw, Alabama
Honorable Dana L. Redd, Camden, New Jersey
Ms. Rene Redwood, Washington, DC
Ms. Angela J. Reddock-Wright, Esq.,
Los Angeles, CA
Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds Jackson, Trenton, NJ
Ms. Sandy Reynolds, CFA, Chicago, IL
Ms. Kimberly Y. Robinson, Esq.,
Owings Mills, MD
Honorable Gervonn C. Romney Rice,
Teaneck, NJ
Honorable Denise Ridley, Jersey City, NJ
Ms. Darlene Robinson, Eutaw, AL
Ms. Natasha Love Rogers, Newark, NJ
Reverend Cheryl J. Sanders, Th.D.,
Washington, DC
Rev. Dawn Sanders, Alexandria, VA
Ms. Deborah Scott, Atlanta, GA
Dr. Elsie Scott, Ph.D., Washington, DC
Representative Kim Schofield, College Park, GA
Ms. Lateefah Simon, Oakland, CA
Ms. Kenosha N. Skinner, Phoenix, AZ
Ms. Marva A. Smalls, Charleston, South Carolina
Ms. Beverly E. Smith, Atlanta, GA
Ms. Eula A. Smith, California
Dr. Marcella K. Smith, EdD
Rev. Dr. Susan K. Smith, Columbus, OH
Honorable Stephanie M. Smith, Baltimore, MD
Assemblywoman Shanique Speight, Newark, NJ
Ms. Kathleen Spencer-Christy, PhD.,
Salt Lake City, UT
Honorable Andrea Staten, Roselle, NJ
Ms. Bonita C. Stewart, Englewood, NJ
Rev. Dr. Gina M. Stewart, Memphis, TN
Honorable Shavonda E. Sumter, Paterson, NJ
Ms. Pierrette “Petee” Talley, Toledo, OH
Ms. Joycelyn Tate, JD, Washington, DC
Dr. Janet Taylor, MD, MPH, FL
Ms. Pamela A. Taylor, MEd, Boston, MA
Ms Susan L. Taylor, New York, NY
Ms. Deborah H. Telman, IL
Assemblywoman Britnee N. Timberlake,
Orange, NJ
Rev. Dr. Regena L. Thomas, Hamilton, NJ
Ms. Belinda Todd, Petersburg, VA
Ms. Kellie Todd Griffin, Long Beach, CA
Dr. Emilie M. Townes, Nashville, TN
Assemblywoman Cleopatra G. Tucker,
Newark, NJ
Ms. Ingrid Tucker, Boston, MA
Ms. Tamara Tunie, New York, NY
Pastor Cynthia Turner Wood, Lanham MD
Commissioner Sheila Tyson, Birmingham, AL
Ms. Tonya Tyson, Upper Marlboro, MD
Ms. Letisa Vereen, Washington, DC
Mayor Dahlia O. Vertreese, Hillside, NJ
Dr. Celestine Villa Ed.D
Honorable Barbara A. Wallace, Sewell,
New Jersey
Councilwoman Tamika Garrett Ward,
East Orange, NJ
State Representative Barbara Washington, Kansas City, MO
Honorable Courtney A. Washington, Roselle, NJ
Ms. Pauletta Washington, Beverly Hills, CA
Ms. A. Shuanise Washington, MD
Rev. Melinda Weekes-Laidlow, Atlanta, GA
Ms. Yvonne Francois Wheeler, Los Angeles, CA
Ms. Dorothy M. White, Chicago, IL
Ms. Sandra C. Wiggins, Fayetteville, NY
Honorable Rebecca Williams, Union, NJ
Ms. L. Joy Williams, Brooklyn, NY
Ms. Tanya Young Williams, Boca Raton, FL
Ms. Tonya Y. Williams, Scotch Plains, NJ
Ms. Wanda J. Williams
Ms. Vanessa Williams, Chappaqua, NY
Dr. Barbara Williams-Skinner, Washington, DC
Ms .Gail Willis, Los Angeles, CA
Delegate Jheanelle Wilkins, Silver Spring, MD
Ms. Dolores M. Wilson, Clifton Park, NY
Ms. Jamia Wilson, New York, NY
Mrs. Drema Lee Woldman, Lynwood, IL

[Matticus13]

I used to be a registered Democrat

You don't seem like a Trump voter though...can you bring yourself to vote for Biden/Harris despite your discomfort with the process?

Doesn't matter who I vote for in KS, Trump will get all 6 electors. I'm voting 3rd party out of protest (but like I said, doesn't matter anyway). Neither party will fix what is broken within the government (since they have created/become the problem), so I refuse to vote for either.

[Matticus13]

For the record, Octavious made several valid points before this all derailed into the predictable yelling match

The main one being:

- By narrowing the field SOLELY based on race and gender, the Democrats did Kamala (or whomever they had chosen) a disservice, and gave independent voters a reason to dismiss/downplay her appointment.

It's very sad. I used to be a registered Democrat. I am truly happy for Kamala, but the party is damn near beyond repair.

He made a solid point about the Democrats being an uneasy alliance between disparate groups (I am 100% in agreement there), sure, but the issue with how Harris was chosen is way, way overplayed.

No, it's not. It's bullshit... I think Kamala will do fine, but that's not the point. It's insulting to the liberal base and minorities in general. The puppet show on both sides is unbearable...

[Octavious]

@ micha

Why do I believe that the signatories of a letter congratulating Biden on declaring his primary requirement for VP is a particular gender, and requesting that he makes a further requirement being one of race, are sexist and racist?

Sorry, is that question a joke?

[Octavious]

I used to be a registered Democrat

You don't seem like a Trump voter though...can you bring yourself to vote for Biden/Harris despite your discomfort with the process?

Doesn't matter who I vote for in KS, Trump will get all 6 electors. I'm voting 3rd party out of protest (but like I said, doesn't matter anyway). Neither party will fix what is broken within the government (since they have created/become the problem), so I refuse to vote for either.

Ah, now that I disagree with. Regardless of where you live who you actually vote for makes no difference to who wins. Doesn't matter whether it's FPTP or PR, whether it's a close fight or a landslide, at the end of the day (except in exceptionally rare circumstances) whether you vote or go to the pub or stay in bed will not change who is elected. Democracy just doesn't work that way.

What your vote does is register what you would have liked to have seen happen. It's a small thing, but it is important. And if lots of people happen to want the same thing, politicians (whether they're in power or not) take notice. If just you and a handful of others want the same thing, politicians rightly ignore you.

A vote for a third party matters just as much as a vote for a major party in a swing state. In terms of who wins, it matters not. In terms of saying that you are fed up with the both of them, it counts as much as the President's vote.

[cormorant]

Not a Joke. The signers are people who have dedicated their lives to advancing gender and racial equality in the US, which you admitted you know little about. Maybe try to understand where they are coming from?

[flash2015]

For the record, Octavious made several valid points before this all derailed into the predictable yelling match

The main one being:

- By narrowing the field SOLELY based on race and gender, the Democrats did Kamala (or whomever they had chosen) a disservice, and gave independent voters a reason to dismiss/downplay her appointment.

It's very sad. I used to be a registered Democrat. I am truly happy for Kamala, but the party is damn near beyond repair.

He made a solid point about the Democrats being an uneasy alliance between disparate groups (I am 100% in agreement there), sure, but the issue with how Harris was chosen is way, way overplayed.

No, it's not. It's bullshit... I think Kamala will do fine, but that's not the point. It's insulting to the liberal base and minorities in general. The puppet show on both sides is unbearable...

If Kamala is fine, then what is the issue? Politics has always been a sausage factory. The only thing different is this time is that this time the political calculation was more out in the open than usual (Obama in contrast was very secretive with his selection process).

If we really looked like we were going to go down the Lebanon path where the president had to come from one ethnic/religious group, the prime minister had to come from a second group and the Speaker Of The House had to come from the third that would be bad...but I don't see this sort of VP choice calculation necessarily lasting past this election.

[flash2015]

I used to be a registered Democrat

You don't seem like a Trump voter though...can you bring yourself to vote for Biden/Harris despite your discomfort with the process?

Doesn't matter who I vote for in KS, Trump will get all 6 electors. I'm voting 3rd party out of protest (but like I said, doesn't matter anyway). Neither party will fix what is broken within the government (since they have created/become the problem), so I refuse to vote for either.

This is an unfortunate part of the current US electoral system. Even if we keep the Electoral College we should get rid of "winner takes all" so all votes can count. And you should be able to protest vote without necessarily helping the party most opposed to your position (i.e. ranked choice/preferential voting).

[Octavious]

Not a Joke. The signers are people who have dedicated their lives to advancing gender and racial equality in the US, which you admitted you know little about. Maybe try to understand where they are coming from?

The people who dedicated their lives to advancing gender and racial equality in the UK count making discrimination on race and sex illegal amongst their finest achievements. An achievement I celebrate and defend with great enthusiasm.

[Matticus13]

You don't seem like a Trump voter though...can you bring yourself to vote for Biden/Harris despite your discomfort with the process?

Doesn't matter who I vote for in KS, Trump will get all 6 electors. I'm voting 3rd party out of protest (but like I said, doesn't matter anyway). Neither party will fix what is broken within the government (since they have created/become the problem), so I refuse to vote for either.

Ah, now that I disagree with. Regardless of where you live who you actually vote for makes no difference to who wins. Doesn't matter whether it's FPTP or PR, whether it's a close fight or a landslide, at the end of the day (except in exceptionally rare circumstances) whether you vote or go to the pub or stay in bed will not change who is elected. Democracy just doesn't work that way.

What your vote does is register what you would have liked to have seen happen. It's a small thing, but it is important. And if lots of people happen to want the same thing, politicians (whether they're in power or not) take notice. If just you and a handful of others want the same thing, politicians rightly ignore you.

A vote for a third party matters just as much as a vote for a major party in a swing state. In terms of who wins, it matters not. In terms of saying that you are fed up with the both of them, it counts as much as the President's vote.

I mean, technically you are correct (technically correct is the best kind of correct in my book). In the grand scheme of who actually gets elected President of the US, the electoral college is what matters. I suspect that Republicans/Democrats tend to pay more attention to specific issues and political preferences developing within *swing states*. Kansas, at a national level, is less important (not useless, but less insightful than say Florida).

Down ballot voting matters more within a *red* or *blue* non-swing states, of course. Gives parties within the state a better idea of the direction each party needs to lean to secure more votes.

I'm voting Libertarian in hopes that they burn it all down (the government, I mean), while we smoke Kush out of our *Freedom Bongs*. Then, when that all goes horribly wrong, we can start over. That's what I want.

[Matticus13]

Not a Joke. The signers are people who have dedicated their lives to advancing gender and racial equality in the US, which you admitted you know little about. Maybe try to understand where they are coming from?

I understand what they are trying to do.

They are going about it the wrong way.

That's what Octavious has been trying to say, but no one is listening.

They used *color* and *gender* as a starting point in the search. It's wrong.

They made it a requirement. Wrong. All wrong.

[cormorant]

@Octavious

The people who dedicated their lives to advancing gender and racial equality in the UK count making discrimination on race and sex illegal amongst their finest achievements. An achievement I celebrate and defend with great enthusiasm.

according to Wikipedia...
-the UK anti-discrimination law was advanced by the Labour Party (Left, correct?)

and there is an exemption for
"Political parties who use 'protected characteristics' (age, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation) as candidate selection criteria"

Which sounds pretty much like what Joe Biden did. Feel free to correct me.

[cormorant]

@Matticus

They made it a requirement. Wrong. All wrong.

they made a political demand, which is different that a legal requirement

[flash2015]

Not a Joke. The signers are people who have dedicated their lives to advancing gender and racial equality in the US, which you admitted you know little about. Maybe try to understand where they are coming from?

I understand what they are trying to do.

They are going about it the wrong way.

That's what Octavious has been trying to say, but no one is listening.

They used *color* and *gender* as a starting point in the search. It's wrong.

They made it a requirement. Wrong. All wrong.

I am absolutely listening...but you and Octavious keep ignoring that choosing a VP for a specific constituency is absolutely not new.

[flash2015]

@Matticus

They made it a requirement. Wrong. All wrong.

they made a political demand, which is different that a legal requirement

They only have this political power because of the low voter participation rate. The demand isn't that otherwise people will vote for Trump, but that if Biden didn't do this, people that could potentially vote for Biden won't turn up to the polls at all. Same happens with interest groups like the NRA on the other side unfortunately.

[cormorant]

They only have this political power because of the low voter participation rate.

I think you are minimizing the generations of long and very dangerous struggle against institutional and legal white supremacy and sexism that led to building the current level of power. The political stakes are _much_ higher for some communities than others.

[Matticus13]

@Matticus

They made it a requirement. Wrong. All wrong.

they made a political demand, which is different that a legal requirement

Why does it matter if it's legal? Trump has done many *legal* things that the left find abhorrent (myself as well). The right justifies it as a *necessary* or *less* evil. Is that what we are doing here?

What if a minority candidate had won the Presidential sweepstakes and they publicly announce: "To balance the ticket, we are going to vet only white, male candidates for VP." I suspect many on the left would lose their minds.

The hypothetical example is absurd. But, this is essentially what they did, except the requirements were minority women. I don't care if it's legal. It's wrong.