Democrats weaponize identity politics to shield vulnerable Biden nominees

Prominent Democrats in Washington are weaponizing identity politics to defend some of President Biden's most controversial Cabinet nominees from criticism.

Neera Tanden, Rep. Deb Haaland, D-N.M. and California Attorney General Xavier Becerra have all faced intense scrutiny for their policy positions and public statements, but some Democrats are suggesting that the nominees' critics are motivated by prejudice.

During Becerra's second confirmation hearing to become secretary of Health and Human Services on Wednesday, Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., suggested that Becerra was "being held to a much different standard than some of the nominees" confirmed by the Senate during President Donald Trump's administration.

"Becerra and I, throughout our careers, have too often been the only Latinos in the room," the California senator went on to say. "Sadly Xavier and I are not unfamiliar with being held to different standards."

Republicans have pointed to Becerra’s lack of experience in health care, as well as his left-wing stance on abortion, as cause for concern. Becerra's record on religious liberty issues and coronavirus restrictions also emerged as points of contention.

Neera Tanden — Biden's pick to run the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) — has seen bipartisan opposition to her nomination due in part to her history of tweeting inflammatory attacks towards senators from both parties. Tanden has since apologized for the tweets and deleted many of them.

Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.V. — an important swing vote in the 50-50 Senate — has said that he will vote against Tanden’s confirmation, arguing her tweets and public statements would have a "toxic and detrimental impact" on the relationship between OMB and Congress.