'I'm not a communist': Potential Biden running mate Rep. Bass reassures Cuban American voters

[brooklynite]

Source: NBC News

Rep. Karen Bass, the five-term California congresswoman and potential Joe Biden running mate, urged Cuban American voters Monday to “not believe the lies” of Republicans.

“I’m not a socialist. I’m not a communist. I’ve belonged to one party my entire life and that’s the Democratic Party and I’m a Christian,” Bass told NBC News.

As Bass has emerged as a potential vice presidential pick, Republicans have seized on Bass’ history of visits to Cuba. It's an overture to the significant segment of Cuban American and other Latino voters in the swing state of Florida who have backed Republican candidates over their hardline stances against the communist country. Recent polls show President Donald Trump is lagging there.

“I don’t believe that it’s right to paint the Latino population with one brush, even the Cuban population,” Bass said. “The Latino population is often painted as only being interested in immigration, and the black population is painted as only interested in race. I don’t think any of those are true,” Bass said.


Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/i-m-not-communist-potential-biden-running-mate-rep-bass-n1235667

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Sorry but, when you have to say "I am not..." followed by anything, you've already lost the argument.

[MiniMe]

1. Unless Biden picks Palin as a running mate, I will support his choice

And I can't imagine Joe picking Sarah as a running mate.

[onetexan]

2. Sorry Ms. Bass, you've already lost me

[Zambero]

3. Reminds me of what that "witchy woman" from Delaware once said

Not a strongly worded statement IMO.

[StevieM]

5. Paid for by the coven to elect Christine O'Donnell. (eom)

[Captain Zero]

4. Can Florida's Cuban voters assure us they aren't Nazis?

Just asking.

[nycbos]

6. I wasn't big on Bass before her Cuba snafu.

Compared to Harris, Rice, or Demmings she seems like a lightweight.

[still_one]

15. Arguing that she seems like a "lightweight" is at least not using republican distorted talking point

as an argument.

Both Harris and Rice were asked if they were Democratic Socialists, and came out and said they were NOT Democratic Socialists. They did NOT accept the republican talking point, and the media propagation of it.

When Obama was falsely accused of being Muslim and not a citizen, according to some implications in this thread, that was disqualifying him. It didn't matter if it was false. Of course President Obama did come out and say he wasn't a Muslim, he was a Christian, and produced his birth certificate.

The republicans are already pushing that Susan Rice is responsible for the ambassador's killing in Benghazi

You know darn well that Ukrainian lies from the republicans are going to be thrown at Biden, regardless of the fact that there is plenty of evidence that their accusations are baseless

My point being isn't that we should or should not consider Rep. Bass as a VP nominee, but that we shouldn't let the republicans, and the press, define who are candidates are

[The Mouth]

18. They didn't get to pick our candidate, let's not let them pick our VP

Never trust Republicans telling us what we should do.

[still_one]

20. Exactly

[ehrnst]

42. +1000. They hate Pelosi, after all, and would love for her to be replaced with someone less shrewd

intelligent and experienced.

[oasis]

7. We need to get Florida early so the election can be called 11/3.

Biden will pass on Bass.

[bringthePaine]

8. not the battle to choose - she must withdraw, simple as that - she can't unring the bell

[patphil]

9. It's like Richard Nixon saying, "I am not a crook".

I really don't think it's a good idea to pick a VP that has to insist she isn't a communist.

[still_one]

14. With that logic, I guess President Obama should not have said he wasn't a Muslim, but a Christian.

and produced he full birth certificate when he was accused of not being a citizen

I guess Kamala Harris and Elizabeth Warren said they were NOT Democratic socialists during the primaries disqualifies them also in some folk's minds

[patphil]

27. I understand what you are saying, and I fully agree.

I don't have a problem with Karen Bass, but I only represent one vote in the coming election.

As unfair as it is, her background will be used against a Biden/Bass ticket.
Cuba, Castro, and Communism are still words that cause knee jerk reactions in many voters.
Her connection with the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) and the Venceremos Brigades is going to be played up in a most unfavorable light.
The fact that it happened 45 years ago when Bass was a young, idealistic woman isn't going to count for much in the shit storm of controversy the Republicans will stir up.

I am being pragmatic here.
I believe having Karen Bass as VP will cost the ticket several million votes across the country.
Right now Florida is leaning toward Biden. I'd hate to see that state slip away.

The truth is that Karen Bass would be a good Vice-President.
Unfortunately, politics are more about emotion and perception than truth.
With the future of the Republic at stake, I would rather have a VP candidate without such an obvious attack point for the Republicans to work with.

[still_one]

29. In my view Rep. Bass is not going to be Biden's VP selection. This is either a bored media, or

republican distraction.

I just don't think we should fall into these kind of divisive baiting traps

[Ferrets are Cool]

10. Please just say you are NOT in the running for VP. PLEASE!!!

We do NOT need this shit.

[tinrobot]

11. Is she also not a witch?

[still_one]

16. Whether Rep. Bass is the best choice or not isn't the point. Why does it seem that a good number

of Democrats always always seem to be dictated by republican talking points that are propagated by the media?

President Obama didn't stand for that when falsely accused of not being a citizen, whose religious denomination was a Muslim.

John Kerry, unfortunately, allowed the republicans and the media to push the swift puke narrative, and didn't refute it strongly, and we paid the consequences.

The republicans making a joke of "Gore inventing the internet", and the media propagating that narrative, instead of pointing out that it was Gore who introduced legislation which made the internet accessible to the public

I can go on and on, but this is right out of the Joseph McCarthy playbook that the republicans have been following for sometime now. Rove's mentor, the racist Lee Atwater taught them how it was done

They failed miserably when President Obama called them out on it, and that is how you fight it

[tinrobot]

28. It took me two seconds to come up with that. She's making herself an easy target.

I understand your point, but when she says stuff like that, it is disqualifying.

Karen is great in Congress, but we can do better for VP.

[still_one]

30. This is just a divisive distraction to get Democrats fighting among themselves in my view. I do not

believe that Rep. Bass will be Biden's VP selection, but saying that this is disqualifying, what do you think they are going to say about President Obama opening a dialog with Cuba when Biden was VP

No matter who the VP choice is, the republicans will throw lies and distortions out, and we have to go on the offensive

[tinrobot]

33. Obama won't lead with "I'm not a communist"

[ehrnst]

41. Obama refrained from speaking at mosques during his campaign because of the

rumors of "secret muslim," so yes, that was an attempt to distance and deny that falsehood.

He also made sure to have his photo taken drinking beer and eating pork products.

[ehrnst]

37. +1000. (nt)

[ehrnst]

24. Yep. (nt)

[Miguelito Loveless]

12. Don't care about Castro

VERY concerned about endorsement of $cientology.

[The Mouth]

19. Some of consider it no goofier than any other sky-fairy paradigm

All religions are equally stupid.

[Miguelito Loveless]

35. I will certainly agree with you there

but there is a difference. $cientology was a created as a scam from the outset, and succeeded wildly. It was basically a bar bet between writers that Hubbard could create a religion and enjoy all of the perks thereof.

[The Mouth]

39. How is that a difference, though? :-)

A newer scam, the origins being actually documented, makes it no more - or less- imbecilic, evil, manipulative, and/or useless than any other invisible sky-fairy bullshit that has older and more obscure origins or more idiots adhering to it. All of it is evil, the fact one person is suckered into something created in the last few generations but someone else can claim generations of idiots and/or psychopaths preceded them doesn't make an argument pro or con, in my humble opinion. Nothing dumber or more disqualifying than speaking at a mosque or a cathedral.

[Miguelito Loveless]

43. Would she be getting a pass if she were a Republican?

or would there be several dozen posts under this explaining in detail that no one who speaks praise of $cientilogy she he trusted?

Would it be ok if she praised Liberty U. And the Falwells? What about Pat Robertson? Benny Hinn? Jim Baker? Ken Copeland? The weird lady obsessed with demon semen?

[The Mouth]

46. Democrats fall in love. Republicans fall in line

They are simply better than we are (probably due to inherent authoritarianism) at sucking it up and getting out to vote.

I think a lot of Republicans loath Trump, they just deal with it because he hates the same people they hate. He wants to hurt the same people they want to hurt.

If a Republican were sufficiently authoritarian and far enough right on abortion, guns, and race, but a Scientologist, Jew, or Hindu, I'd bet my last dollar that Liberty University and Pat Robertson would be behind them all the way. Look at all the Evangelicals pimping for Trump

[Miguelito Loveless]

47. But my question

is would folks still back a Dem candidate endorsing those people and institutions? Sadly, the answer is yes, under the claim of being a “big tent” party. We have pretty much always gotten knifed for our efforts. I remember being told to shut up over my objection to Joe Lieberman, and man did he sell us out.

[The Mouth]

48. Two words:

Supreme Court.

[Miguelito Loveless]

49. You assume I will not vote for the ticket because of Bass

which is not true. I simply state that she is a bad choice for the reasons stated.

[The Mouth]

50. I don't care for either, very much

I am not a huge Biden fan , I was unabashedly for Bernie in the primaries both times. There's a lot I don't care for with Joe. But it all comes down to SCOTUS, everything else is details, anything else can be fixed.

[ehrnst]

25. Um no. She did not "endorse Scientology." She praised their specific public work and stated creed.

She also praised founder L. Ron Hubbard for the Church’s “creed” saying “that all people of whatever race, color or creed, are created with equal rights.” Scientology’s president, David Miscavige, whose own troubling history has been the source of much reporting, was also on stage.

If you’re cynical like me, then you know this is nothing more than a conservative media outlet’s attempt to discredit a potential VP selection. But it’s also not doctored footage or anything. So… fair game.

The best case scenario here is that Bass was asked to speak at the opening of a religious venue in her community — one whose members include some rich and powerful people who may well become donors — and she knew next to nothing about Scientology. So she praised them for their public statements and alleged mission, fully ignorant of the deep, dark, disturbing, and dangerous nature of the cult.

It’s not like she would’ve been alone. There were other politicians on stage that day and the New Yorker‘s Lawrence Wright didn’t expose the Church until 2011, nearly a year after this event. That’s not to say the disturbing aspects of Scientology were a secret or anything, but someone who wasn’t paying attention might not have been familiar with the more frightening stories.

Based on her remarks, which are superficial at best, that seems to be the case here. She just didn’t know what she was getting into. She gave positive remarks at a ribbon-cutting ceremony. She offered lip service to a group she knew very little about. That’s not weird. (I’ve seen politicians give remarks at a Jain Temple; it’s always obvious their knowledge of the religion consists of whatever’s in the first couple of sentences on Wikipedia and nothing more.

https://friendlyatheist.patheos.com/2020/08/01/rep-karen-bass-praised-the-church-of-scientology-in-2010-its-not-a-big-deal/

[Miguelito Loveless]

34. There is NOTHING praiseworthy

about L. Ron Hubbard, con man and sexual predator.

If she didn't bother to vette the guy before praising him, then sorry, not qualified for the job.

[ehrnst]

36. Praised him for the creed....

Difference between praising him for the life he led.

Ribbon cuttings rarely merit vetting. But if one needs a reason to demonize her, I guess it works as well as anything.

As I recall, praise for Castro and the Soviet Union was not considered a dealbreaker when it came from a caucasian man running for President.

[The Mouth]

40. No worse than any other scam artist who founded a religion

Like some psycho who was ready to sacrifice their kid because of the voices they heard, or any of the people who developed religions following that nutcase. All pedos and/or violent sociopaths hoping for the end of the world.

No nuttier than any other belief, no more evil than any other founder of a creed.

[ehrnst]

38. You "don't care" about Castro's human rights record? Seriously?

During Castro’s rule, thousands of Cubans were incarcerated in abysmal prisons, thousands more were harassed and intimidated, and entire generations were denied basic political freedoms. Cuba made improvements in health and education, though many of these gains were undermined by extended periods of economic hardship and by repressive policies.

https://www.hrw.org/news/2016/11/26/cuba-fidel-castros-record-repression

That's interesting. And rather inconsistent, considering your statements on why you think anything but ranting is unacceptable at a ribbon cutting involving them.

[still_one]

13. Using the OPs logic, "I am not..." means you've lost the argument, does not address the point

what do you do when you are falsely accused of something you are not?

President Obama has been accused of not being an American Citizen, a Muslim, and other falsehoods. He did not let those false accusation stand. He said he was a Christian. A similar thing happened when he was accused of not being a citizen. President Barack Obama released the long-form version of his birth certificate.

If someone accuses you something that isn't true, you have to address.

Kerry did NOT adequately confront the swift boat liars, and paid the consequences of that

Elizabeth Warren and Kamala Harris were both accused of being socialists, and they made it very clear they were NOT:

https://thehill.com/homenews/sunday-talk-shows/433381-warren-says-its-just-wrong-to-call-her-a-socialist

https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/430554-kamala-harris-i-am-not-a-democratic-socialist

Many of these false accusations are propagated by the media, and it is imperative that they be called out if they are lies. Doing say will leave the impression they are valid

[brooklynite]

17. The problem was that Bass WAS NOT falsely accused...

She was accused of speaking favorably of Castro. Which she did.

[still_one]

22. She walked that back, not unlike Obama walking back Wright, and had to explain Ayers

She isn’t going to be the VP selection anyway

It will be Nina Turner

[ehrnst]

23. So did Bernie. But that wasn't a dealbreaker for being a POTUS candidate.

And Bass clarified her words, whereas Sanders never uttered a single regret or clarficiation about his statements.

[betsuni]

26. His whole political philosophy is based on his reaction to JFK and Nixon debate

statements about the Cuban Revolution, and it hasn't changed:

"Usually I'm sufficiently unemotional not to be sick. I actually got up from the room and almost left to puke because, for the first time in my adult life, what I was seeing is the Democrats and Republicans, both of them, clearly there wasn't really a whole lot of difference between the two."

[ehrnst]

32. He very much defines himself by what he is "not"(nt)

[Codeine]

44. Bernie's statements were deal-breakers for a lot of people. nt

[ehrnst]

45. Yes, apparently but not enough to eliminate him from being a Democratic POTUS candidate. (nt)

[ehrnst]

21. You mean like when Bernie said, "I am not a Democrat" and FDR said "I am not a socialist?"

[still_one]

31. LOL. Excellent point

[scipan]

51. I am interested in who they are *not* attacking.

That's who they want as VP candidate. They will save their real attacks for after the nom.