• FlowVoid@lemmy.worldEnglish
      253·
      2 months ago

      It’s normal.

      JFK, LBJ, Nixon, Carter, Reagan, GHWB, Clinton, GWB, and Obama all appointed to their cabinet at least one person from the opposite party.

      And Harris didn’t say she would appoint a Republican politician. When Obama chose Bob McDonald for Veterans Affairs, people barely noticed he was registered as a Republican. And one of Donald Trump’s senior advisors was Ivanka Trump - who at the time was a registered Democrat.

      • Zaktor@sopuli.xyzEnglish
        309·
        2 months ago

        And one of Donald Trump’s senior advisors was Ivanka Trump - who at the time was a registered Democrat.

        I’m literally shocked you thought this was a good thing to write to support your point.

        • Nurse_Robot@lemmy.world
          226·
          2 months ago

          It’s a comment about appointing people from the other side of the aisle. They posted an example of trump appointing a registered Democrat. There’s plenty of criticism about it which is valid, but being literally shocked is a bit of a melodramatic overreaction

          • Zaktor@sopuli.xyzEnglish
            222·
            2 months ago

            It’s his literal daughter. She’s not “on the other side of the aisle”. There is absolutely no one with a smidgen of intelligence that thinks this was in some way evidencing bipartisanship or a concession to the left.

            • FlowVoid@lemmy.worldEnglish
              272·
              2 months ago

              That’s my point. “I will appoint a Republican” does not necessarily mean “I will reach across the aisle to the opposing politicians who are ruining America”.

              It could very well mean “I will appoint old friends from law school and the private sector, even if they happen to be registered Republicans.” People like Bob McDonald.

              • Ensign_Crab@lemmy.worldEnglish
                21·
                2 months ago

                That’s my point. “I will appoint a Republican” does not necessarily mean “I will reach across the aisle to the opposing politicians who are ruining America”.

                No, “I’m a Democrat” means that.

              • gatorgato@lemmy.world
                52·
                2 months ago

                I’m with Zaktor on this one. NOBODY thinks Trump appointing his kid was comparable to this Harris promise or other historical examples. Sure, you technically made a factuql observation. But, it seems like a bad faith argument in this discourse.

                Or maybe some people really believe that Ivanka Trump (hang on, I’m laughing) is a Democrat.

              • archomrade [he/him]@midwest.socialEnglish
                4·
                2 months ago

                I’m still confused why 'it’s normal to appoint old friends from the private sector" is being tossed around as if it’s a defense of the practice.

                • FlowVoid@lemmy.worldEnglish
                  41·
                  2 months ago

                  Because presidents, like everyone else, prefer to hire people their team knows and trusts.

                  • archomrade [he/him]@midwest.socialEnglish
                    31·
                    2 months ago

                    I understand why you’re saying it’s normal, i’m questioning why ‘it’s normal’ is being used as if it’s a defense.

                    Her appointing a republican could be fine, sure, but it could also be exactly as bad is people are interpreting it. The way the question was posed in the context of working and compromising with republicans certainly seems to favor the latter interpretation, and the way she responded certainly doesn’t dispel the concern over it.

                    She could have said, “I’ll select the best people for the job that are aligned with our administration’s goals, regardless of party affiliation”, but instead she laughed about it and dangled it like a carrot. That’s not a comforting response.

    • randon31415@lemmy.world
      44·
      2 months ago

      Would appoint a Republican to Attorney general, most likely. Don’t want a democrat going after the “wrong crooks”