Two Democratic senators have backtracked after threatening to oppose President Joe Biden’s executive and judicial nominees based on race.
The lead-ups: Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth, one of two Asian-Americans in the Senate, told reporters Tuesday that she would vote “no” on any nominees who are heterosexual and white.
- Duckworth said she was doing so to protest the absence of Asian Americans in Biden’s much-touted diversity cabinet.
- When asked to clarify, Duckworth explained that she would, “vote for racial minorities and LGBTQ but anybody else, I’m not voting for.”
Hawaii Sen. Mazie Hirono also told reporters she intended to join Duckworth in voting “no” on any “non-diversity nominees.”
- “We would like to have a commitment from the White House that there be more diversity representation in the Cabinet and in senior White House positions and until that happens I will be joining her in voting on non-diversity nominees,” she said.
The call: The senators’ decision came following a contentious call with the Biden administration on Monday, in which deputy chief of staff Jennifer O’Malley Dillon said Vice President Kamala Harris is of Indian descent in response to Duckworth’s concerns about cabinet diversity.
- Duckworth called O’Malley Dillon’s response “incredibly insulting.”
- The conversation followed a March 16 shooting in Atlanta that has led to heightened concern in the media regarding violence against Asian Americans.
The reaction: Duckworth and Mizono’s statements sparked backlash, especially from conservatives and Republicans.
- “I’m very much considered a squish on the right for my defense of diversity, BLM, etc., but his team and his Cabinet are (quite!) diverse, and saying you won’t vote for any “non-minority” nominees anyway? Eh, that way lies Balkanization,” tweeted Washington Examiner executive editor Seth Mandel.
The backtrack: Later in the day, Duckworth spokesman Ben Garmisa said in a statement that the senator would commit to voting for Biden nominees after receiving “assurances” that the White House is planning to nominate more Asian Americans and establish an administration special liaison for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
- Hirono echoed Duckworth’s office in a pair of tweets, saying she “will continue voting to confirm the historic and highly qualified nominees President Biden has appointed to serve in his administration.
