AOC calls on Senate to reject Rahm Emanuel as Japan ambassador

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) on Wednesday urged the Senate to vote down President Biden's nomination of Rahm Emanuel to serve as U.S. ambassador to Japan, citing his handling of the police killing of Laquan McDonald as mayor of Chicago.

"This nomination is deeply shameful," Ocasio-Cortez said in a statement, adding that Emanuel's efforts to suppress video of the McDonald shooting "should be flatly disqualifying for any position of public trust, let alone representing the United States as an ambassador."

"That the Biden administration seeks to reward Emanuel with an ambassadorship is an embarrassment and betrayal of the values we seek to uphold both within our nation and around the world," the congresswoman said. "I urge the Senate to vote NO on his confirmation."

Ocasio-Cortez's fiery criticism of the Emanuel nomination is a preview of the likely fight to come over Biden's pick to represent the U.S. in Tokyo. Progressives have long been opposed to Emanuel having a role in the Biden administration, specifically citing his role in the aftermath of the McDonald shooting.

https://thehill.com/homenews/house/570365-ocasio-cortez-calls-on-senate-to-reject-rahm-emanuel-as-japan-ambassador

[DURHAM D]

1. Come on AOC. We have more important fights.

jftr - I can't stand Rahm.

[Mad_Machine76]

3. Yeah

Not a huge fan of him either but this is really trivial compared to literally everything else going on right now.

[DFW]

4. I can't stand him either, and Japan is ill-suited for him (Poland would be better). But still!

I cringed when Obama made Rahm WH Chief of staff. I knew there and then that Howard Dean, whom Obama had to thank for coming into office with a thundering victory plus a Democratic Senate and House, would get shut out of the position of Secretary of HHS--a position tailor-made for Howard. Rahm made sure Howard was shut of the Obama administration altogether, soothing Rahm's ego, and screwing the country as well as Howard (who shrugged his shoulders and thought "OK, jerk, it's your loss" ).

For all that, however--to make a big issue about it in the House--who doesn't even vote on ambassadorship posts!--is pure grandstanding. Does it really show a good sense of priorities to try to whip this up into a huge issue at a time when abortion rights and voting rights are in mortal danger? It's like screaming at a doctor in the emergency room to fix your broken hangnail while your severed femoral artery is bleeding out.

[NurseJackie]

6. This part... well-said!

For all that, however--to make a big issue about it in the House--who doesn't even vote on ambassadorship posts!--is pure grandstanding. Does it really show a good sense of priorities to try to whip this up into a huge issue at a time when abortion rights and voting rights are in mortal danger? It's like screaming at a doctor in the emergency room to fix your broken hangnail while your severed femoral artery is bleeding out.

Excellent analogy. It's my firm belief that all politicians should avoid grandstanding and showboating. It's always better to do the hard work that is actually part of their job description. I'm sick of it.

[NurseJackie]

17. No.

[onetexan]

8. Spot in. Much bigger fish to fry. I dont like it when AOC does this type of annoying grandstanding

[DFW]

12. I don't like it when ANYONE does it.

She doesn't have a monopoly on poorly thought-out acts.

[Sympthsical]

42. I think racist comments towards Asians should be noted

When selecting an ambassador for an Asian nation. Quite a facepalm here.

The man has a shitty racial history. Doesn't need rewarding.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

2. She's right. He's a racist piece of shit and would be an embarrassment to the country.

Link to tweet

[NurseJackie]

5. Lulz.

[UTUSN]

7. Note to AOC: If you must focus on Dems, how about on MANCHIN/SINEMA? - *Or* here's an original idea:

How about focusing on Repukes instead of Dems at all?!

[Vinca]

9. Dear AOC - We've got bigger problems than Rahm. Much bigger. Forget the piddling issues

and purity tests, rights to your own body are up for grabs. Voting is on the line. No one cares what Rahm does.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

10. I care what he does, because it's usually shit.

Link to tweet

[soryang]

14. +++++++

thanks for posting! Rahm as an ambassador? LOL.

[Vinca]

15. It's not going to matter if the GOP ends up with permanent majorities in this country.

Get back to us when Steve Bannon is the new Japanese Ambassador.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

16. Excusing racism from a Democrat just because he's not Steve Bannon is shit.

[Vinca]

19. I'm not excusing anyone of anything. The point of my post and the main issue of the day is

keeping the GOP from permanent control of this country. We're witnessing a slow-moving coup (although given the speed the voting restrictions and abortion bills are taking effect maybe it's not so slow anymore). I don't appreciate people stewing about fucking Rahm Emanuel when we might end up with a GOP House and Senate in a little more than a year and a pretty much guaranteed installation of Trump or one of his acolytes blessed by him in the White House for 8 years. Then they'll be followed by 8 more years of the next round of nutballs and all the while the things that make this country habitable will be going by the wayside. It seems every day I remind myself I'm old and none of it will affect me much, but it pisses the hell out of me that younger people - especially those in positions like AOC is in - are chewing their fingernails over stuff like this. It's all hands on deck to save the democracy. People must vote. Women don't want people telling them what they can and cannot do with their bodies.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

21. How does not speaking out about a racist pick for ambassador get people fired up for voting for

Democrats? Walk me through it.

[Vinca]

23. It doesn't. You know why? There are probably 5 people in the country who can identify the last

Democrat who was the Japanese Ambassador and they were probably family members. I guess we can spin our wheels and carp about Rahm 24/7 rather than get Democratic voters angry and determined to save the country from the likes of Jim Jordan, but we'll deserve everything we get.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

24. OK wait, so rubberstamping is what gets more Democrats elected?

[Vinca]

26. No. Separating what's really important from what's a distraction does.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

30. The possibility of sending someone who is racist to an Asian-American to Japan in a diplomatic

position is pretty important, and not a distraction.

[Vinca]

32. Well, the way it's going it'll only be until 2024 - then the GOP POTUS will replace him.

[BradAllison]

34. Clearly, there's no one else in America who could replace him.

Whatever.

[iemanja]

29. Oh, God

I may retract my earlier post.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

31. Even if you don't, thank you for considering.

[BradAllison]

33. Wow

Disqualifying.

[George II]

43. No doubt President Barack Obama doesn't agree.

[OhNo-Really]

13. I was appalled by the nomination as well

He’s a raging, potty mouthed man with NO diplomatic experience.

Surely there are State Department personnel more qualified, maybe even a Japanese professional with dual language skills.

Rahm is the antithesis of diplomatic if his reported history is true.

Diplomacy isn’t his thing.

[cinematicdiversions]

35. Good Lord Logan Paul would be a better choice.

I have to agree with AOC on this one. I understand that Biden wants to send Rahl very far away. Certainly there are more appropriate countries.

Nauru perhaps?

[The Mouth]

18. Geeze- what did poor Japan do to piss off President Biden?

This is a head scratcher, to send someone who is on record making racist anti-Asian statements and, while bright, is not exactly the most diplomatic person, to be ambassador to a very sensitive ally?

[tritsofme]

20. Geesh, you just can't make some people happy. I thought sending Rahm to the other side of the world

Would be popular with her crowd?

[48656c6c6f20]

25. Of course she did.

[Tarc]

27. Wouldn't it be nice to name ambassadors who actually have a connection to the nation

that they are being sent to? This is just another in a long line of reward nominations.

[iemanja]

28. Only this ambassadorship has nothing to do

with handling police murders. Emmanuel worked to get Biden elected. Biden wants to pay him back.

ETA: In light of his anti-Asian comments in Whiskey Grinder's post, I have to agree he is unfit for the position.

[TheProle]

36. This is worth a read

https://www.theroot.com/aoc-reminds-america-that-rahm-emanuel-covered-up-the-mu-1847598707

[Celerity]

37. I agree with her in this case. nt

[Boomerproud]

38. Very bad move Joe. Unforced error.

Emmanuel 's popularity among Washington elites is a total mystery to me.

[ripcord]

39. Totally unacceptable in the face of his anti Asian comments

[wellst0nev0ter]

40. I Agree with AOC

What Emmanuel did in Chicago was loathsome and he doesn't deserve to be rehabilitated.

[Sympthsical]

41. One wonders where the vetting team was on this

Just google Rahm Emmanuel, Asian, racism.

Voila.

Seriously. Bare minimum on this one.

[George II]

44. The Senate confirms Ambassador nominations, not the House.

[Celerity]

45. AOC calls on Senate