Former Obama National Security Adviser Susan Rice challenged those who have suggested she isn’t a qualified pick for vice president, saying Tuesday that her career has been dedicated to public service over personal political ambition.
“It’s not about one’s own profile,” Rice told CBS when asked about the role of a vice president, adding that while some have suggested she lacks the experience of running for political office, she is proud of a career dedicated to serving others.
“I don’t have a personal political ambition,” Rice said. “I have a longstanding commitment to public service. That’s been what’s defined my career.”
But Rice, who has recently faced attacks from conservative news hosts and is said to be a strong contender as running mate to Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, says she does have a broad list of credentials that would make her a suitable governing partner to Biden.
During her tenure as Obama’s national security adviser, Rice dealt with the Ebola epidemic, the Zika virus and the H1N1 pandemic.
Rice said that her background as national security adviser in particular would be “very important” in tackling the crises faced by a new administration, including the COVID-19 pandemic, economic recession, and repairing the United States’ position as a global leader, “which is suffering enormously.”
The former Obama administration official told CBS that the previous administration had handled the threat of disease “much more effectively than, unfortunately, we’ve seen as of late.”
She added that a new administration would have “an enormous amount of work to do” to come together, to tackle challenges more effectively “than what we have seen under Donald Trump’s leadership.”
Rice would not comment during the Tuesday interview about whether or not she had met with Biden for vice presidential vetting, but she did say she would bring nearly 20 years of experience at the senior most ranks of the executive branch to the table, adding that she had a track record of “getting things done for the American people,” and wrestling with crises and finding solutions.
Rice has served in two past administrations, including on the National Security Council during the Clinton administration, and as U.N. ambassador and eventually national security adviser under Obama.
Biden has said he will select a woman as his running mate. In addition to Rice, he is reportedly considering Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA), Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA), and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), among others. Rice said she would “whole-heartedly” support whoever Biden chooses and do everything she can to help him get elected in November.
“I will raise money, I will do the 21st century equivalent of licking envelopes, I’ll serve in whatever capacity that Vice President Biden thinks I can best serve,” Rice said. She added that she views the November presidential election as “the most important election in our lifetimes.”
Rice for VP. Or Secretary of State…
Rice for VP, Warren for Treasury, Harris for AG, Bass for Ambassador to Cuba.
I admire Rice as much as anyone. Also, I see two issues:
She’s never run a campaign.
She has an anti-choice, “Trump-loving Republican” son, whom the GOP would mercilessly exploit against her on a Biden ticket.
She’s smart, capable, and a natural for SoS, but there are plenty of smart and capable alternatives who are less “target rich”.
(And I get that Republicans will exploit anything about anybody – but we need to exercise the most due diligence possible to end this dystopian nightmare.)
I heard an interview with her on NPR this morning, it was impressive. She was asked about her lack of campaign experience, and said that while she hadn’t campaigned for herself, she has campaigned for others. Also made the point that this will be a very different campaign due to the pandemic, primarily online and not big rallies.
She also said something interesting about her kids (in their 20’s I think) – that her son is very conservative and her daughter is very progressive. She said she has discussions with her son, and while they disagree on things like abortion rights, they can agree on other things. Making a case for finding points of agreement with the other side.
Maybe not what us progressives want to hear, and not what will actually happen once Biden wins, because there will be zero cooperation from R’s. But it could be a good talking point in the general election.
All good points, but I see her history of working with Joe in the Obama administration as a huge “trust” factor. She would also have experience in dealing with our former overseas allies that Fat Nixon totally alienated. I also don’t see her running for POTUS on the day she becomes VP.
I really admire Harris, but her attacks on Biden in the debates may have left a scar.
No matter who Joe selects is fine by me.