Sanders and Graham confront Neera Tanden with ‘vicious attacks’ on GOP, progressives

Neera Tanden, President Biden’s choice for director of the Bureau of Management and Budget, was immediately faced with concerns about her appointment from both sides when she appeared before the Senate Budget Committee on Wednesday.

Leaders on both sides of the political spectrum called out Tanden for personal attacks and statements she made on social media. Additionally, committee chair Senator Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., Said he was concerned about the millions of dollars the Center for American Progress that Tanden ran had received from large corporations and interest groups. specials.

“So before you vote on your nomination, it is important for me and the members of this committee to know that the donations you have secured at CAP will not influence your decision making at OMB,” Sanders said in his opening speech.

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Ranking member Sen. Lindsey Graham, RS.C., then said he didn’t care where CAP’s money came from, but was concerned about some of Tanden’s past statements.

“You’ve been a very partisan character, you’ve been a very tough character when it comes to political discourse, and that’s good too. But calling Mitch McConnell ‘Moscow Mitch’ is probably not a very good thing to say.”

Graham also quoted Tanden as saying that “the GOP’s capacity for evil knows no bounds”.

The GOP leader then noted that “Tanden’s contempt was not confined to Republicans”, referring to a Tweeter in which she said: “Russia has done a lot more to help Bernie than the DNC’s random internal emails to help Hillary.”

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“The point I’m trying to make here,” Graham said, “is that in a period of oneness we choose someone who throws sharp elbows, and there will be a consequence to that.”

Tanden addressed his past remarks in his opening statement, saying that in recent years “it has been part of my role to be a passionate lawyer.” She said she regretted her past speech and had “expressed that regret to Senator Sanders and the rest of this committee.”

Sanders then directly questioned Tanden about his past statements to kick off the question-and-answer portion of the hearing.

“I think most of us understand the importance of debating the issues and trying to minimize the level of personal and vicious attacks that seem so prevalent across this country today,” Sanders said. before mentioning that he had received a letter from Republicans expressing concern over past attacks by Tanden.

“But of course your attacks weren’t just directed at Republicans,” Sanders said. “There have been vicious attacks on progressives, people that I have worked with, me personally. As you come before this committee to assume a very important role in the government of the United States, at a time when we need to work seriously on serious issues and not personal attacks on anyone, whatever. either left or right, can you reflect a bit on some of the personal decisions and statements you have made in recent years? “

Tanden said she now recognizes the damage her statements have caused and that she feels “bad” about it.

“And I really regret it and I recognize that it is really important for me to demonstrate that I can work with others and I can’t wait to take this burden and I apologize to people on the left or the right who have been hurt by what I said., “she added.

Sanders said the question was not whether people were hurt by Tanden’s words, but the words themselves.

“It’s not about being hurt, we’re all big boys,” Sanders said. “But it’s important that we make the attacks that express our differences in politics, that we don’t need to make personal attacks, no matter what opinions someone may have. So can we assume that as the director of OMB we are going to see a different approach if you are appointed than you adopted at CAP? “

“Absolutely,” Tanden said.

Sanders once went on to refer to the millions of dollars the CAP has received from large corporations under Tanden’s leadership, representing “some of our country’s most powerful special interests.” He said that since 2014, the group has received $ 5.5 million from Walmart, $ 1.4 million from Google, $ 900,000 from Bank of America, $ 800,000 from Facebook and $ 550,000 from Amazon.

Tanden assured Sanders that these donations “will have no impact on my decision making” and that she will act on behalf of “the interests of the American people.”

Wednesday’s hearing was Tanden’s second of consecutive days. On Tuesday, she appeared before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs, where she was also confronted with her past statements.

The first Republican on the Senate Homeland Security Committee to interview Tanden, Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, immediately referred to Tanden’s positions, many of which she cut late last year.

“I believe that the tone, content and aggressive partisanship of some of your public statements have added to the disturbing trend of more incivility and division in our public life, and in your case, I fear your personal attacks on specific senators will make it more difficult for you to work with them, ”said Portman.

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Portman then cited several examples of Tanden’s statements, including his appeal to Senator Susan Collins, R-Maine, “the worst” and Senator Tom Cotton, R-Ark., A “fraud,” claiming that “vampires have more heart than Ted Cruz, ”and referring to then-Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., as“ Moscow Mitch ”and“ Voldemort, ”referring to Harry Potter’s villain.

“I recognize the concern,” Tanden replied. “I deeply regret and apologize for my language – part of my old language. I recognize that this role is a bipartisan role, and I know that I must earn the trust of senators on all sides. I will work in such a way. very aggressive in addressing this concern. “