At a virtual fundraiser Thursday evening, former vice president and presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden indicated he might name some Cabinet secretaries during the race. "There are at least two or three people qualified for every one of those positions," he said. He added: "One advantage of being around a long time is you get to know an awful lot of people. In the private sector, in the public sector, people who are committed first and foremost — are thoroughly honorable." Biden continued: "I have had literally several hundred serious, serious players who have been held positions in every department in the federal government who have said, including some Republicans, who have said if you win, I want to come back. I'm ready to serve."
There is a lot to unpack there. Let's start with naming Cabinet positions during the campaign. It's a dicey proposition because you do not want to wind up with an unfavorable assessment, let alone a scandal, involving someone who doesn't need to be named for months. Moreover, events and issues can shift over time, thereby favoring someone different in the role than you initially had in mind.
That said, in some instances the contrast with President Trump's crew of third-rate, ethically challenged cronies would be great enough to provide incentive for unveiling them before the election. Imagine saying, for example, that instead of Attorney General William P. Barr — who has misled the public on the Mueller report, refused to recuse himself from the Ukraine investigation, propagated a dangerous view of executive power and acted like Trump's personal lawyer — Biden named former U.S. attorney for the Southern District Preet Bharara or former acting attorney general Sally Yates.
Instead of Defense Secretary Mark Esper (who allowed Navy Capt. Brett Crozier to be removed and was less than candid on the killing of Iranian Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani), we could get universally well-regarded Michèle Flournoy, who would be the first woman to head the Pentagon. Still, it is not clear that Biden would gain votes putting out names that are largely unknown outside the Beltway.
Biden could, however, make news and make a point in other ways without naming specific individuals to Cabinet posts. Some would be no-brainers designed to critique Trump's egregiously compromised and conflicted appointees in top positions: The head of the Environmental Protection Agency must understand climate change science; no oil, coal, gas or lumber executives heading up the Interior Department; and no relatives working in the White House. Biden also could pledge that all Cabinet officials will sell or put stocks and other financial holdings in a blind trust.
Biden could go even further, underscoring the hacks Trump has put in high positions. Judges rated unqualified by the American Bar Association will not be nominated. Only economists will get appointed to the Federal Reserve and to the Council of Economic Advisers. Only educators will get appointed as education secretary, and only intelligence professionals will get appointed to the CIA and the Director of National Intelligence. How novel that all would be.
Biden would show he will bring competent, ethical people into government. If he does not want to name particular individuals, he surely could make a list of the egregious personnel traits and backgrounds that would be unwelcome in his administration. Best of all, he could promise never to go around the table at a Cabinet meeting to receive praise as if he were some tin-pot dictator. That might be reason enough to vote for him.
Jennifer Rubin, Washington Post, April 17, 2020
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April 18, 2020
Voices4America Post Script. Imagine having a competent, calm, intelligent President, rather than the chaotic, evil, ignorant imbecile who is in the White House now! Get ready. Biden is ready. Make sure you are registered! #JoeBiden2020 #November2020
