#BTColumn – Biden’s female-led Cabinet

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by this author are their own and do not represent the official position of the Barbados Today.

by Dominic Hewitt and Arlington Kenneth

Notwithstanding the posturing, on 20 January President elect Biden will formally assume office and any objections, protests, or squatting will be rendered moot. While the death throes of the current administration distracts much of America, the Biden camp is focused on the next stage, that is, exercising power by assembling a governing team.

In the face of passé patriarchal political pugilism, Biden is leading a quiet revolution, honouring the loyalty of women voters, particularly suburban and Black women, by assembling a formidable female-led Cabinet.

The Biden transition team recently unveiled its COVID-19 task force, but the real task is appointing a Cabinet. Apart from the President, the US Cabinet includes the Vice President, 15 secretaries of executive departments, and six other Cabinet-rank executive positions, including UN Ambassador.

In less than two-and-a-half months, Biden will need a team capable of fighting on many fronts: to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic, reignite the world’s largest economy and reassert global leadership.

All this needs to happen in the shadow of a possible Republican-controlled Senate – Cabinet appointees require Senate confirmation– and a Democratic big tent that is prone to sway.

Given the diversity of the support that got him to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Biden will get many demands to nominate the most diverse Cabinet in history. However, the Wall Street and Silicon Valley donations that poured money into his campaign will have a different set of priorities, as will Senate Republicans, whom Biden will need to confirm his nominees, if the Republicans maintain control of the chamber.

Success under these circumstances would cause the President-elect to lay claim to his former boss’ title of ‘Conciliator in Chief.’

It is expected that the President-elect will give priority to posts related to health and the economy. He would make history if he nominates a woman or a person of colour to head the Treasury or Defence departments – the last two departments that have only ever been led by white men. As the Biden team has been vetting potential cabinet picks for months, let’s consider some of the names that we are familiar with.

State Department: Susan Rice. A top contender to be Biden’s running mate, this former National Security Adviser and US Ambassador to the UN under Obama is the main contender to become America’s top diplomat.

UN Ambassador: Stacey Abrams. Kamala Harris made history becoming the first female vice-president but Stacey Abrams played a historically crucial role in the success of the Biden-Harris bid for the White House.

As the two Senate seats from Georgia will determine control of the chamber in the rare double-barrelled election runoff on 5 January, Abrams, whose playbook turned Georgia blue, should get early recognition for her past efforts and impending role over the next two months. Her interest in a 2022 Georgia gubernatorial rematch eliminates her from consideration for senior posts.

Treasury: Lael Brainard. The progressive arm of the Democratic Party is keen to see Senator Elizabeth Warren get this post. Biden may have been similarly disposed as Warren, like Kamala Harris, once a primary rival, dropped out after Super Tuesday and threw her support behind him and also did some major fundraising.

Although a key Biden adviser on personal debt, bankruptcy and Social Security, her history of fighting for the working class and battling big banks and corporations would make her appointment politically costly.

Importantly, as Massachusetts has a Republican governor, her leaving the senate could cost the Democrats their possible majority.

This reality is why Lael Brainard, Federal Reserve governor and former undersecretary of the Treasury under Obama, should be the frontrunner. She would also make history as the first woman to lead the Treasury.

Health and Human Services (HHS): Michelle Lujan Grisham. The competitiveness of the Southwest as legitimate swing states makes the New Mexico governor a top pick. A health care expert and former New Mexico secretary of health, Grisham gained national attention for her quick response to COVID-19, declaring in March a state of emergency and locking down the state with only four confirmed cases. She is also one of the highest-ranking Latina officials in the country.

Veterans Affairs: Pete Buttigieg. Buttigieg has many loyalty rewards with Biden after his crucial endorsement ahead of Super Tuesday and his subsequent major role as a surrogate. While VA Secretary is a low-reward, high-risk start with notable bureaucratic scandals afflicting prior post-holders, it gets him onto the first rung of the national executive ladder. At 38 years old, many believe that in time he shall be president.

Attorney General/Justice: Doug Jones. Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey and Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota were both rivals of Biden for the presidential nomination, then staunch supporters. As members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, either would be suitable to be Attorney General. Both are dynamic and bring diversity.

The problem is there are two of them, hard to choose. Tommy Tuberville’s defeat of Alabama Senator Doug Jones means Jones, a long-time Biden ally going back to his first presidential campaign, will be out of a job come January.

Although Jones wouldn’t add diversity, he is highly credible on civil rights issues having led the successful prosecutions of two Ku Klux Klan members involved in the 1963 bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham.

Defence: Michele Flournoy. A former undersecretary of defence in the Obama administration, she appears to be the popular choice to lead the Pentagon. She would also make history as the first woman to lead this department. Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois is being touted as an alternate for defence secretary.

The Iraq War veteran was on Biden’s shortlist for running mate and was an assistant secretary of Veterans Affairs under Obama. Importantly, Illinois has a Democratic governor.

Housing and Urban Development (HUD): Keisha Lance Bottoms. Everyone knows that Biden values loyalty and the Atlanta Mayor was a prominent supporter and surrogate for the President-elect especially when he looked like he was down and out earlier in the primaries.

Labour: Last but by no means least, is Senator Bernie Sanders. Biden is the number one contender for the nomination; his subsequent endorsement and campaigning helped bring out the progressive and youth votes. Sanders indicated his interest in joining the Cabinet as Labour Secretary.

The challenge however, like with Senator Warren, is that as Vermont has a Republican governor, the Democrats would really ‘feel the Bern,’ as his leaving the Senate could negate any majority they hope to secure. He may have to be content with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

How things have changed. A generation ago Shirley Chisholm, the first Black American Congresswoman and Democratic presidential candidate, noted: “Tremendous amounts of talent are being lost to our society just because that talent wears a skirt.”

To those afflicted with even the mildest case of misogyny prepare yourselves for, in the next four years, more is to come. This is not a threat, but an inevitability.

As British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher famously said, “If you want something said, ask a man; if you want something done, ask a woman.” Let’s keep hope alive and our sisters roaring.

Dominic Hewitt is pursuing postgraduate and professional studies in law and is passionate about politics, aspiring to be a political commentator. Arlington Kenneth is trained in political sociology.