Why Joe Biden should pick 'that governor' to be his running mate - Karen Tumulty [View all]

Former vice president Joe Biden has already announced his plans to pick a female running mate. It’s becoming increasingly apparent that “that governor" should be at the top of his list. She is Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D), who seems to be getting under President Trump’s skin as she stands up for her state, which has not been getting adequate help from the federal government during the coronavirus crisis.

While Whitmer was waiting for Washington to approve disaster aid for Michigan, the president attacked her during a call-in interview Thursday on Sean Hannity’s show. His complaint: She was insufficiently obsequious at what is a life-or-death moment for her constituents. Servility is a condition of employment at the White House, of course. But there is something in particular about a woman who refuses to pay him homage that seems to drive Trump around the bend. (See: Pelosi, Nancy.)

Michigan has been one of the hardest-hit states by the pandemic, and its governor has not been shy in calling out the federal government for sending woefully inadequate protective gear for its medical personnel on the front lines. Whitmer pointed out that one recent delivery of masks, gowns, face shields and gloves from the national strategic stockpile to a hospital in southeast Michigan was, with the exception of the gloves, barely enough to cover the needs of a single workshift at the hospital.

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She added in a subsequent tweet that she is “happy to work with the VP! We get along well.” All of which infuriated Trump even more. “Don’t call the woman in Michigan,” he instructed his vice president during his news conference on Friday, adding: “I want them to be appreciative.” But by Saturday morning, he had approved Michigan’s disaster declaration.

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There has been some talk that he should abandon his pledge to select a woman as his running mate, and tap New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, who has been earning high praise for his handling of the crisis. But Cuomo has insisted he doesn’t want the nod. By selecting Whitmer — whose endorsement no doubt boosted the former vice president in his staggering victory over Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) in the March 10 Michigan primary — Biden could get both a woman and a competent governor.

As Biden himself pointed out: "Donald Trump could learn a thing or two from Governor Whitmer — speed matters, details matter, and people matter. She’s secured more than 10 million N95 masks, more than 4 million gloves, thousands of gallons of hand sanitizer, and critical equipment for health care providers.” Something else: After all this is over, voters will remember who put their needs front and center when they were in the fight of their lives. And Trump might, finally, be able to remember “that governor’s” name.


https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/03/28/why-joe-biden-should-pick-that-governor-be-his-running-mate


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She had a very impressive appearance on PBS NewsHour on Frida

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100213188335