Clyburn: Biden fails to name black characters to top positions

Capitol Hill’s oldest black lawmaker takes Joe bidenJoe BidenHarris says she has’ not yet ‘spoken to Pence Kamala Harris, Stacey Abrams among Time Obama magazine’s 2020 Person of the Year nominees: Republican Party members think’ men whites are victims ” MORE to the task on administrative appointments, claiming that the president-elect fails to appoint black figures to the highest positions.

Representative James Clyburn (DS.C.), the House Majority Whip and a close ally of Biden, expressed disappointment on Wednesday that African Americans – a crucial voting bloc for Biden’s presidential victory – n have not figured more prominently among the first choices to be filled. senior administrative positions next year.

In an interview with Juan Williams, Clyburn praised Biden’s selection of Linda Thomas-Greenfield, a former Black Diplomatic Corps combatant, to serve as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. But he lamented that she was so far alone among black women in demand for cabinet seats and other senior locations.

“From everything I hear, black people have been given due consideration,” Clyburn told Williams, a columnist for The Hill. “But there is only one black woman at the moment.”

“I want to see where the process leads, what it produces,” he added. “But so far it’s not good.”

Coming from Clyburn, the criticism carries particular weight. The 14-term South Carolinian is not only the third House Democrat, a veteran of the civil rights movement and the most powerful African American in Congress, but he also helped deliver the Palmetto state. to Biden at a crucial time in the Democratic primary. , when Biden was limping behind the senator’s booming campaign. Bernie sandersBernie Sanders Clyburn: Biden fails to name black personalities to top positions Brace buyer’s remorse when Biden / Harris nationalizes healthcare Biden: ‘Tough decision’ to handle personnel administration with members of the House and Senate PLUS (I-Vt.).

Clyburn’s voice has a disproportionate influence among the state’s Democratic voters, many of whom are African-American, and his decision to endorse Biden before the primary vote gave a boost to the former vice president, who carried South Carolina’s momentum to Super Tuesday when it shocked the pitch with decisive wins en route to the Democratic nomination. Black voters, in these contests, have been a major source of Biden’s success.

While President TrumpDonald John TrumpUSAID administrator tests positive for COVID-19 Kamala Harris, Stacey Abrams among nominees for Time magazine’s 2020 Person of the Year appeal decision, preventing him from replacing Trump in defamation lawsuit against E. Jean Carroll PLUS has yet to concede, Biden is advancing towards his slated January 20 inauguration. And in recent days, he’s started to nominate his picks for Cabinet and other leadership positions in his White House next year.

The first selections are not devoid of diversity.

To head the Department of Homeland Security, Biden chose Alejandro Mayorkas, a Cuban American and the first Hispanic to fill the role.

representative Cedric RichmondCedric Levon Richmond Clyburn: Biden fails to name black figures to top positions Biden: ‘Tough decision’ to staff the staff administration with House, Senate members Five House Democrats who could join the Biden PLUS cabinet (D-La.), Former head of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) and a close friend of Clyburn, has been appointed director of the White House’s Office of Public Engagement, where he will serve as a senior advisor to Biden and a liaison between the West Wing and Congress, where he maintains close ties with lawmakers from both parties.

And Biden’s future vice president is the senator. Kamala harrisKamala Harris Harris says she has ‘not yet’ spoken to Pence Kamala Harris, Stacey Abrams among Time magazine’s 2020 Personality of the Year nominees Mexican president breaks with other world leaders, refusing to recognize Biden’s victory until the end of the election. (D-Calif.), Most Powerful Black Woman Elected in U.S. History.

Clyburn, however, says he can’t wait to see more minorities rise, and he has multiple numbers in mind as Biden fills his cabinet in the days and weeks to come.

For the Secretary of Agriculture, Clyburn promotes Rep. Marcia FudgeMarcia Louise FudgeClyburn: Biden fails to nominate black figures to top positions OVER NIGHT ENERGY: Kerry says Paris climate deal ‘is not enough’ | EPA Halts Wheeler’s Planned Trip to Taiwan | EPA sued government to extend lifespan of toxic coal ash ponds Major unions back Fudge for Secretary of Agriculture READ MORE (D-Ohio), former president of the CRS and a strong advocate of food stamps and other low-income nutrition programs under the purview of the ministry. Although Fudge represents a relatively urban neighborhood in and around Cleveland, Clyburn suggested it was an asset for the position.

“Eighty percent of the Department of Agriculture’s work has nothing to do with agriculture,” he told Williams. “It’s food stamps, nutrition, building schools in rural areas, making sure people have broadband … [and] telehealth programs.

“People wonder why Democrats don’t do well in rural communities, and that’s one of the reasons.”

Clyburn is also arguing for Jaime Harrison, a black lobbyist turned Senate candidate in South Carolina, to lead the Democratic National Committee (DNC). Although Harrison was easily defeated by the Senator. Lindsey GrahamLindsey Olin GrahamClyburn: Biden fails to name black figures in top positions Feinstein’s departure from first post sets the stage for court fight Spokesman says Tennessee Democrat made a ‘bad analogy’ in saying voters in South Carolina have an extra PLUS chromosome (R) This month he rose to national prominence for carrying over $ 100 million in the race, shattering fundraising records for a single Senate cycle along the way.

Clyburn said Harrison’s “proven talent” for fundraising makes him an ideal choice at the top of the DNC.

“We cannot leave our young talents on the battlefield,” Clyburn said.

To complement some of his favorite picks for the new administration, Clyburn is advocating for Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown to lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development, while promoting the California Attorney General. Xavier BecerraXavier BecerraClyburn: Biden fails to name black figures to top positions Biden chooses first Latino to head Homeland Security House Hispanic Republicans welcome four new members MORE assume the same place at the federal level.

Clyburn came up with several other names as potential choices for Attorney General, including Sen. Doug Jones (D-Ala.), Who lost his bid for re-election this month, and former Deputy Attorney General. Sally yatesSally Caroline Yates Clyburn: Biden fails to name black figures to top positions The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by the United Arab Emirates Embassy in Washington, DC – Calls are growing to begin the transition as Biden prepares for the choice of Cabinet Women are poised to take on key roles in the administration of Biden PLUS, who served as Acting Attorney General for 10 days in 2017 before Trump sacked her.

But Becerra is a former House veteran who chaired both the Hispanic caucus and the full Democratic caucus before leaving Congress after the 2016 cycle. Clyburn said he was a “big fan” of promoting his former colleague to replace the outgoing Attorney General William barrBill BarrClyburn: Biden fails to name black figures to top positions Five federal inmates to be executed before inauguration day Redeem Justice: The Next Attorney General MORE.

A Biden-Harris transition manager championed the team’s efforts for diversity, noting that 46% of all staff are people of color and 52% are women.

Additionally, the official said, Biden has already picked the country’s first black woman to join him at the top of the post, and the list of those named is only just starting to be finalized.

“He has only announced a few White House staff and cabinet candidates at this point, and his success in finding diverse voices to develop and implement his political vision to address the most difficult challenges of our time. country will be clear when our full list of nominees and nominees is complete, ”the official said in an email.