Patterson: It’s time for Commerce Secretary Raimondo to resign
Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo recently told CNBC’s Joe Kernan that Vice President Harris’s policy views are “crystal clear.”
Harris is not “crystal clear” on anything. Raimondo should resign.
President Biden selected Raimondo, a former governor of Rhode Island, to be secretary of Commerce. According to the Department’s website, Raimondo’s “vital mission” is to “make America more competitive by spurring good-paying jobs, empowering entrepreneurs to innovate and grow, and advancing our economic and national security.”
To accomplish this “vital mission,” according to the Commerce website, Raimondo has “championed President Biden’s Investing in America agenda by making historic investments in internet access, manufacturing, economic development, workforce training, supply chain resiliency, and climate readiness through the implementation of the American Rescue Plan, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the CHIPS and Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act.”
Based on her interview with Kernan, Raimondo has another “vital mission”: Flacking for presidential candidate Kamala Harris. Raimondo, a Harvard graduate, flacks like a flack should flack. Raimondo flacks so well that she should be selling crypto investments with the Brooklyn Bridge attached.
Seriously, Raimondo needs to focus on the “vital mission” of the economy and “empowering entrepreneurs to innovate and grow” rather than searching for substance in the mindless “word salads” of Harris.
China’s rapid production of “green tech” for the electronic vehicle industry has, according to the Biden administration, distorted global markets. Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen went to China to discuss this problem with Chinese officials. She discussed it. She returned to the United States. China kept distorting global markets. Raimondo failed to help during her trip to China.
In August 2023, Raimondo went to China, according to the New York Times, “to promote trade, and restrict it.” Press reports said she left Beijing with “few deliverables.”
The main “deliverable” from Raimondo’s trip seems to have been a “decision” to continue to communicate with Beijing. This “deliverable” may have already been delivered to Washington by China before Raimondo delivered herself to Beijing. In Washington, it is important to decide to continue talking without accomplishing anything.
The problem with U.S.-China relations is not a lack of communication. Relations are tense due to a lack of effective communication.
Of course, communication between two superpowers is important. The communication abilities of Biden and Harris are social media laugh riots. Convoluted words by superpower leaders should earn the world’s respect, not the unintended “deliverables” of laughter and ridicule.
Before she declared Harris “crystal clear” about her policy views, Raimondo’s credibility as secretary of Commerce was shaky. Stating that Harris’s policy views are “crystal clear” means that Raimondo’s credibility is shot. When the secretary is a flack and a global laughingstock, it is time for her to resign.
Rep. Nancy Pelosi, an experienced flack, revoked Biden’s earned candidacy for reelection as president. Pelosi then promoted Harris as the Democratic nominee for Flack of the U.S.A.
The Pelosi-Harris-Raimondo flack fest is, sadly, not unusual for Washington. After Matt Drudge reported that President Bill Clinton had a sexual affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky, Clinton encouraged his entire Cabinet, which included future New York governor Andrew Cuomo, to deny the accusations.
Clinton’s secretary of State, Madeline Albright, fiercely defended Clinton. She said she did not believe the sexual accusations against him. A few days later, Clinton admitted he had “sexual relations” with Lewinsky.
Many journalists questioned Albright’s ability to continue to serve as secretary of State.
Raimondo is walking in the shoes of highly skilled flacks of the past, like Cuomo and Albright.
If Raimondo believes Harris is “crystal clear” about her policy views, the secretary is either a “gullible fool” or she thinks Americans are gullible fools. Either way, Raimondo should resign.
James Patterson is a writer in Washington. (He is NOT the well-known author of best-selling popular fiction.)/InsideSources
Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris waves while boarding Air Force Two in San Francisco on Saturday. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)