Who is Karen Bass, will she beat popular choice Kamala Harris to be Joe Biden's VP if he wins 2020 elections?
With just 100 days to the US elections, Joe Biden seems to have built a dominant lead over President Donald Trump if we take a Washington Post-ABC News poll into account. As per that poll, Biden was far ahead of Trump with 55% to 40% among registered voters. Back in March, however, the two were locked in a tie. The shift is probably because of Trump's negligence is solving the surge in Covid-19 cases and his alleged hand in sending troops to tackle Portland protesters.
Recently, a Politico report alleged that former Senator Chris Dodd, a member of Biden’s vice presidential search committee, was not in favor of Senator Kamala Harris. The report said that when asked about her ambush on Biden in the first Democratic debate, Dodd was stunned by her response, "She laughed and said, 'that’s politics'. She had no remorse," Dodd told a longtime Biden supporter and donor, who told the outlet on condition of anonymity.
It didn't take much time for speculations about how Karen Bass could be the choice for Biden's vice-presidential pick instead of Harris. That soon led to much dismay and distress on social media. "For the record: If Joe Biden picks Karen Bass as his VP, I will be very disappointed he didn't pick Kamala Harris. But it's not MY pick to make. It's his. And I'm STILL voting for Joe. PERIOD," one tweet read and another said, "He needs a major player. I have to Google Karen Bass to find out who she is. That’s not gonna work."
What's more, there were many tweets asking who really was Karen Bass? "@JoeBiden we don’t know who Karen Bass is... but if you’re just window dressing a VP pick you’ll lose our vote. We need a strong-willed fighter who can tell you when you’re wrong and not dance around your antics," one said and another read, "Who is Karen Bass????" Another tweet said, "It seems like Karen bass might be the favorite for Sleepy Joes running mate. Now, who the hell is Karen Bass?" One even went on to joke: "Who is Karen Bass? Will they vote for a Karen? I thought Karens are canceled."
In contrast, the California senator Harris has a national following for the VP even before Biden started running for the presidential campaign. So who is Karen Bass and will she be Biden's vice president if he wins?
Born Karen Ruth Bass to postal letter carrier father DeWitt Talmadge Bass and homemaker mother Wilhelmina, she witnessed the civil rights movement on TV and that sparked a passion for community activism in her. When she was in middle school, she began volunteering for Bobby Kennedy's presidential campaign.
The politician is currently serving as the US Representative for California's 37th congressional district since 2013 and previously served as the US Representative for California's 33rd congressional district from 2011 to 2013. A member of the Democratic Party, she was elected chair of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) during the 116th Congress in 2018 and also serves as Chair of the United States House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations, and the United States House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security.
Back in 2010, she clinched the John F Kennedy Profile in Courage Award along with three other legislative leaders for her leadership during the worst recession California had faced since the Great Depression.
After the initial hullabaloo around who she was, many Twitter users came in her defense and were distraught that others didn't know about her background. "I can't believe we have to explain who Karen Bass is. Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, Rep. Bass has been at work making sure L.A. / CA are well represented in DC. If some don't know about her, it speaks to who those folks are, not who she is," one tweet read. Another said, "This Kamala Harris vs. Karen Bass story is ridiculous. Stop pinning women up against each other! And for those of you wondering who Karen Bass is... she's my district representative and she is amazing! She's also the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus. Do your research."
As the debate goes on, Twitter users have other candidates in mind. "I feel Susan Rice is most qualified for VP. She's a strong woman, a Rhodes Scholar. She has Foreign policy experience, served under Pres Obama, UN Ambassador & National Intelligence Advisor, worked in Clinton Adm too. She should be first Black woman VP. Hoping," one said and another wrote, "Barbara Lee and Liz Warren would be my top choices, but would be happy with Biden selecting Karen Bass as well. Biden needs a running mate who can energize a rapidly growing progressive wing that's not enthusiastic about him."
"I think Karen Bass would be a great pick. Very progressive, no real baggage. Both Susan Rice and Kamala will be easy for the gop to trash with lies. Not so easy w/ Bass," one said and another wrote, "He needs to pick someone who already has a base of energized voters, can schmooze the Dem party leaders, and can FUNDRAISE her cardigan off. That's Warren, though Harris could come close. Bass and some of the others mentioned seem nice." One concluded: "I wish Biden would hurry up & announce his VP choice so People can get mad, freak out and recover before November."