Live updates: Kamala Harris names Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her VP pick | CNN Politics
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Vice President Kamala Harris has selected Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate. Follow here for the latest live updates on the 2024 presidential race.
  • givesomefucks@lemmy.worldEnglish
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    1 month ago

    Great, another politician in the pockets of (checks notes) Orthopedic Surgeons?

    https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/tim-walz/contributors?cid=N00027467&cycle=2018

    Dude seems pretty clean, and looks like he listens to protesters instead of fighting them.

    Disappointing it’s an 80 year old and not someone being groomed for a future run, but overall better than I expected.

    I guess it’s the same logic as pairing Biden with Obama.

    • fukhueson@lemmy.world
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      1 month ago

      Wait until people realize Harris and all the VP candidates have similar views on Israel.

      https://www.axios.com/2024/08/01/josh-shapiro-israel-gaza-harris-jewish

      Between the lines: A story in The Atlantic on Wednesday noted that Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the two other top VP contenders, are not facing such campaigns despite having similarly pro-Israel politics.

      “Activists have not organized in force to discredit any of the non-Jewish contenders for vice president on these grounds. There are no viral memes against ‘Killer Kelly’ or ‘War-Crimes Walz,’” author Yair Rosenberg wrote.

      Several high-profile Jewish lawmakers, including Reps. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.), have since called out what they say is an antisemitic double standard.

      What they’re saying: Rep. Kathy Manning (D-N.C.) told Axios in a statement that Shapiro has been a “highly successful governor” whose position on Israel “is in line with the position of the Biden-Harris Administration.”

      “To judge him differently from any other potential VP candidate simply because he is Jewish is highly offensive and smacks of antisemitism,” she said.

      Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vt.), a progressive who has criticized the Israeli war effort, said she hopes “all the potential VP picks are being given the same level of scrutiny on all the issues.”

      “This is but another example that those who claim to be anti-Zionist are in fact, antisemites. Josh Shapiro has supported Israel, as have all the others that Harris is considering,” said Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.), noting Kelly’s “strong record of voting pro-Israel.”

      • XNX@slrpnk.net
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        1 month ago

        Shapiro tried joining the idf and compared the pro Palestinian protests to the KKK. Theyre not the same

        • fukhueson@lemmy.world
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          1 month ago

          When he was 20… And yes, not all pro Palestinian protesters are the same as one another either, so I agree with him on a case by case basis. Tim Walz hasn’t divested from Israel and supports their right to defend themselves. But that doesn’t earn him a nickname.

          https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/josh-shapiro-israel-policy-positions-b2591439.html

          Shapiro has since made a point of repudiating the views he expressed in that article, which was first surfaced by the Philadelphia Inquirer late last week. He told reporters that he no longer feels that way and stressed his young age at the time he authored the opinion piece.

          “I was 20,” he said. “I have said for years, years before October 7, that I favor a two-state solution — Israelis and Palestinians living peacefully side-by-side, being able to determine their own futures and their own destiny.”

          …

          Despite his now-repudiated youthful views on the conflict, Shapiro’s positions on Israel and Gaza are in line with the mainstream of the Democratic Party and match those of most American Jews.

          I have no beef with any of the candidates and I support Walz now that he’s on the ticket. But the “genocide Josh” shit is uncalled for and is antisemitic, considering how unevenly that cudgel is employed. I agree with what the axios and nyt articles put forth, and the politicians calling out the nonsense.

          https://www.newsweek.com/dont-fall-misinformation-campaign-josh-shapiro-progressive-choice-vp-opinion-1933039

          So, is he a monstrous right-winger on Israel?

          Not at all. His position on Israel is correct, though his optics are terrible. Like all sane people, Shapiro supports a two-state solution and a free, independent Palestine. As for his support for Israel, consider his remarks about its leader: “I personally believe Benjamin Netanyahu is one of the worst leaders of all time,” Shapiro said in January, months before Chuck Schumer came out against Netanyahu. I couldn’t agree more—and Shapiro was ahead of the curve in pointing this out. That was also about the same time Bernie Sanders was still calling for a “humanitarian pause” in Gaza instead of a ceasefire. It took three more months for Sen. Sanders to call Netanyahu an “awful, awful leader.” When did Shapiro first call Netanyahu a “terrible leader”? Back in November of last year, well before almost any other major politician.

          It’s true that Gov. Shapiro has been a reactionary about campus protests against Israel. He came out strongly against them, saying we wouldn’t tolerate “people dressed up in KKK outfits.” Then he instituted a dumb executive order calling for state employees who protest in a “scandalous or disgraceful” way to be fired. No doubt anything that criticizes Israel would have qualified, though we never got to find out; by that time, all the protests against Israel had been disbanded and the students arrested.

          But the pro list is much longer than this one con. Governor Shapiro also busted the pedophiles inside the Catholic Church. Do you know how much courage it takes to take on the Catholic Church when you’re a Jewish politician? I respect that strength and moral clarity. Over 300 predator priests were outed. Countless children were saved.

          Yes, he has frustrating positions, like his recent push to lower corporate taxes in his state and his advocacy for school vouchers. Yes, he’s nowhere near ideal. But which Democrat is? Do you think Kamala Harris is going to change our position on Israel? Please don’t tell me you’re that naïve. And even if you think that, then great, you don’t have to worry about Shapiro’s position! He’s not in charge, she is.

  • Enkrod@feddit.org
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    1 month ago

    This is great, he is politically slightly left leaning (for a democrat), but can absolutely score points with conservative, rural Americans as that’s where he comes from and how he talks. He has a clean bill and is just overall a very charming person with great interview game. He’s the one who first loudly expressed how “weird” the GOP and Trump are.

    With him Minnesota Democrats were able to codify abortion rights into law, increase transgender rights protections, pass a marijuana legalization bill and install new gun safety laws.

    “As governor, he’s embraced the idea that it’s really important to invest in people and infrastructure to grow the economy,” Blodgett said. “And to do it in a way that really helps people in the middle and down below. To me, it’s just a huge focus on economic issues that are kitchen table issues that people care about.”

    • Phen@lemmy.eco.br
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      1 month ago

      Genuine question: can he really get votes from conservatives if his state did all of those things that conservatives are constantly demonizing?

      • JaymesRS@literature.cafeEnglish
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        1 month ago

        There’s a certain mindset in the upper Midwest in general (mostly in Boomer, Gen X, and less but still present in elder Millennials) where a large portion of our “independents“ are people for whom their centrism isn’t ideological politically, but is more opposed to a single party having all of the control or more open to outsiders like Jesse Ventura. I have seen many of these individuals (I live in MN) and talked to them and their opinions are fairly left leaning, but because there is a fear that they may not even recognize, they will vote cross party on a ticket because they see that is some sort of balance.

        I think Walz can still appeal to those individuals.

    • Enkrod@feddit.org
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      1 month ago

      Mainly he’s incredibly likeable… this election is going to be the likeable ticket vs the asshole ticket.

  • worldwidewave@lemmy.world
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    1 month ago

    He’s certainly not controversial enough to dampen any of the Coconut-pilled people’s energy. I think this was a good pick, especially in contrast to Vance

  • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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    1 month ago

    Seems like a pretty safe and reliable pick. Especially since there’s pretty much no chance Minnesota will elect a Republican governor.

    I’m still disappointed it wasn’t a woman though.

    • cygnus@lemmy.ca
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      1 month ago

      I don’t think Americans are ready for a 2-woman ticket. Picking a likable white guy was a smart move.

        • cygnus@lemmy.ca
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          1 month ago

          Yeah, but this isn’t the time for moonshots. I think it’s sensible to go with whatever has the best odds of defeating Trump.

        • takeda@lemmy.world
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          1 month ago

          Sure, but one step at a time… If she wins Kamala will be the first female president.

        • criitz@reddthat.com
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          1 month ago

          A black male President with a white male VP is a much smaller hurdle than a black/indian woman Pres with another woman VP. Remember black men got the right to vote before women did.

          • dogslayeggs@lemmy.world
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            1 month ago

            I said it when Hilary was nominated to run against Trump: America is more sexist than they are racist. They will accept a black man to run a business/country/church before a white woman. The only reason Kamala has a chance is because she is running against the fucking craziest shitstain they could find.