Kaine will oppose Carson after Brown, Warren back nomination

[DonViejo]

Source: The Hill



BY PETER SCHROEDER - 01/30/17 03:46 PM EST

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) announced Monday that he would oppose Ben Carson’s nomination to head the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), citing his “zero experience” in that area.

In a statement, Kaine said he would vote against Carson on the Senate floor after the former neurosurgeon and GOP presidential candidate was cleared unanimously from the Senate Banking Committee.

“Putting someone in charge with zero experience in housing policy or urban development sends a message that the Department’s work is a low priority. I strongly object to this,” Kaine said in a statement. “Just as some positions demand medical expertise, HUD deserves a leader who embraces the Department’s mission and possesses the skills needed to run the nation’s largest housing and community development programs.”

Kaine, who ran last year as Hillary Clinton's vice presidential pick, is viewed as a more moderate Democrat. But his opposition to Carson comes after liberal stalwarts on the Banking Committee felt blowback from their base for letting Carson’s nomination pass without objection.

Read more: http://thehill.com/policy/finance/316932-kaine-will-oppose-carson-after-brown-warren-back-pick

[Mike Nelson]

1. Yay!

...raise Kaine!

[Lulu KC]

2. Good job!

[La Lioness Priyanka]

3. good. democrats care about housing, so we should oppose Carson

even though Carson is simply too lazy to actual do anything at HUD

[former9thward]

18. Interesting you call the only black nominee lazy.

One of Carson's surgeries lasted 52 hours. If you have a job do you work 52 straight hours? Have you ever worked 52 straight hours at anything?

[La Lioness Priyanka]

20. Firstly I am way too lazy to lead a federal department

Secondly, he himself says he is not competent for the job of heading a fed dept.

Thirdly, his performance thru the GOP primary indicated a severe laziness in his approach to government.

[Seedersandleechers]

4. Warren and Brown backing Carson

is disappointing.

[DK504]

16. Time for some faxes need to be sent.

[-Steph-]

5. Thank you Tim Kaine!

[Else You Are Mad]

6. I do not know why Warren and Brown are backing Carson.

By voting g to approve of Carson does not make any difference because all Carson needs is a simple majority of the Senate -- which the GOP has. Now, when Carson funnels money to Trump and/or Kushner properties, the Trump administration can counter such by saying "Warren, one of the most liberal Democrats, voted to confirm Carson so why are you complaining you agreed he was a good choice!"

No matter how you spin this, Warren really fucked the Democratic party because she gained no political capital and hurt the party in the long run.

[joshcryer]

11. Warren has always done the politically expedient thing.

When he ran TARP oversight she didn't ruffle feathers at all, and when she head CFPB creation she allowed it to be the only admin to be vetoed by other admins (a break from the Administrative Pricedure Act).

[pangaia]

7. good. How could ANYBODY... N E BAAA D

vote for this ignorant, sleep-addled moron ?????

[brer cat]

8. Thanks to Kaine

for supporting Democratic party values. I can't imagine how any Democrat could justify supporting Carson.

[Cha]

21. I really like this statement from Senator Kaine, brer

Exactly as it should be. I happen to be a recipient of getting help from HUD.. and more than a little apprehensive about what will happen with the crime lords taking over. There's a lot of us out here!

[brer cat]

22. Oh, Cha.

More anxiety! The people who will be hurt by this maladministration will number in the millions and millions. I hope you won't be among them.

[Cha]

23. I know... Thank you!

So many people are getting help with their expensive rent.. it's gaged on one's income.. with trump vengeful hate. who the hell knows what will happen.

That's what the woman at the HUD office said.. in so many words.

Mahalo, brer

[tenorly]

9. Good. Carson has 'Samuel Pierce' written all over.

To those unfamiliar with Pierce, this was the infamous Reagan HUD Secretary who not only supported segregation despite being African-American himself; but used his office to enrich himself and his friends and hangers-on like there was no tomorrow.

The difference is that, unlike the Pierce scandal, there are absolutely no checks and balances to hold grifters like Carson and Trump accountable any more.

[Sunny05]

10. I think Kaine would have done this regardless.

He understands housing issues very, well, as his earlier legal career and much of his political career have focused on just this. He "gets it".

[Angry Dragon]

12. Carson would better spend his time examining Trump's brain

that is what he is qualified to do

[Hulk]

13. How could they, let alone anyone, back that worthless wet rag??

There has to be some explanation as to why Brown and Warren would back such an unqualified douche bag?? I'll be waiting to hear what it is.

"Picking your battles" is NOT what I want to hear. You can pick many battles, but at least stand up for principles.

[Retrograde]

24. Carson's unqualified, but I don't think he's actively malicious

unlike most of the nominees. The country's in sad shape when he looks like one of the better ones.

[usaf-vet]

14. No sh*t without objection. GDit democrats have you learned nothing in 8 years

Obama was obstructed at every step. Stop being nice. Nice is being stupid. It's an alley fight bring a GD shovel to bury the remains.

[yurbud]

27. and learned nothing from 8 years of Baby Bush

[Paladin]

15. Shameful for any Democrats to support a piece of filth like Carson.

Thank you, Senator Kaine, for voting against trump's inexperienced, prejudiced, hateful pick to head up HUD.

[mcar]

17. K&R

[BigDemVoter]

19. What in the FUCK is wrong with Elizabeth Warren and Sherrod Brown?

I had thought of giving money to Warren, but NO FUCKING WAY now. Talk, talk, talk, talk. . . . NO action.

I'm not saying that Warren is bad, but I'm more than a little annoyed with her, as she KNOWS better.

In any case, if there is something I should be aware of regarding Ms. Warren, please let me know, as I have always liked her.

[yurbud]

25. if Trump had appointed him surgeon general, maybe

That's just a bully pulpit, and since it touches on their profession, eighties in the job sometimes do well, like C Everett Coop.

[yurbud]

26. I never thought I'd be on same said as Kaine and against Warren