This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/31/us/politics/biden-cochair-cedric-richmond.html

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Biden Campaign Names Cedric Richmond as National Co-Chairman Cedric Richmond, Biden’s New Co-Chairman, Sees a Path to the Nomination in the South
(about 7 hours later)
Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s presidential campaign is naming Representative Cedric Richmond to a major leadership role within the organization, a move that could bolster Mr. Biden’s standing with some congressional Democrats and African-American leaders in politically important states, even as the former vice president faces scrutiny over his record on criminal justice issues.Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s presidential campaign is naming Representative Cedric Richmond to a major leadership role within the organization, a move that could bolster Mr. Biden’s standing with some congressional Democrats and African-American leaders in politically important states, even as the former vice president faces scrutiny over his record on criminal justice issues.
Mr. Richmond, a Louisiana Democrat and former chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, will be the first national co-chairman of the Biden campaign. He has extensive political contacts in significant presidential primary states, including South Carolina, which is one of the first to vote and is crucial to the hopes of multiple 2020 contenders.Mr. Richmond, a Louisiana Democrat and former chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, will be the first national co-chairman of the Biden campaign. He has extensive political contacts in significant presidential primary states, including South Carolina, which is one of the first to vote and is crucial to the hopes of multiple 2020 contenders.
Even before joining the campaign, Mr. Richmond, in his fifth term in Congress, was a vocal supporter of Mr. Biden, despite his relationships with two C.B.C. members who are also running for president: Senators Kamala Harris and Cory Booker.Even before joining the campaign, Mr. Richmond, in his fifth term in Congress, was a vocal supporter of Mr. Biden, despite his relationships with two C.B.C. members who are also running for president: Senators Kamala Harris and Cory Booker.
In an interview with The Times this week, Mr. Richmond, 45, discussed the controversy over Mr. Biden’s support of the 1994 crime bill, why he thinks the Democratic Party talks too much about millionaires and how he chose among several friends running for president.In an interview with The Times this week, Mr. Richmond, 45, discussed the controversy over Mr. Biden’s support of the 1994 crime bill, why he thinks the Democratic Party talks too much about millionaires and how he chose among several friends running for president.
This interview has been edited and condensed.This interview has been edited and condensed.
Q. Tell us about what you’ll be doing.Q. Tell us about what you’ll be doing.
A. My biggest strength is offering political advice and using my political instincts to come up with strategy, and not just strategy in the African-American community. I think the real strength is in the South and other parts of the country.A. My biggest strength is offering political advice and using my political instincts to come up with strategy, and not just strategy in the African-American community. I think the real strength is in the South and other parts of the country.
How do you plan to help the vice president in South Carolina specifically?How do you plan to help the vice president in South Carolina specifically?
He’s put together a good South Carolina team, and I do have some experience down there, just from being so close to [the House majority whip James E.] Clyburn, and some other political people down there.He’s put together a good South Carolina team, and I do have some experience down there, just from being so close to [the House majority whip James E.] Clyburn, and some other political people down there.
I don’t think it’s going to be based upon my relationships in South Carolina or throughout the South, but when you’re an African-American congressperson from the Southern states, generally you’re the congressman for all Democrats in the state because you’re the only one.I don’t think it’s going to be based upon my relationships in South Carolina or throughout the South, but when you’re an African-American congressperson from the Southern states, generally you’re the congressman for all Democrats in the state because you’re the only one.
People in the South are understanding that we have to elect somebody who wants to invest in the people, which means job training, it means education, it means job creation.People in the South are understanding that we have to elect somebody who wants to invest in the people, which means job training, it means education, it means job creation.
A lot of Democrats talk about those issues. What’s unique to Mr. Biden?A lot of Democrats talk about those issues. What’s unique to Mr. Biden?
One, he has a track record. And two, I don’t think it’s something a lot of Democrats talk about. We talk about free college tuition, we may talk about free junior college. But the party as a whole has not zeroed in, I don’t think, on all of those kitchen table issues. We did a much better job in the midterms, which is why we won so many seats.One, he has a track record. And two, I don’t think it’s something a lot of Democrats talk about. We talk about free college tuition, we may talk about free junior college. But the party as a whole has not zeroed in, I don’t think, on all of those kitchen table issues. We did a much better job in the midterms, which is why we won so many seats.
We get caught up in, “The millionaires have to do more so that we can improve everybody else’s quality of life.” Well, that’s true, but we’re not talking to that regular mom that is struggling to make sure that her kid can go to a good school, live in a safe neighborhood.We get caught up in, “The millionaires have to do more so that we can improve everybody else’s quality of life.” Well, that’s true, but we’re not talking to that regular mom that is struggling to make sure that her kid can go to a good school, live in a safe neighborhood.
A number of your C.B.C. colleagues have said they are torn between supporting Vice President Biden, or supporting Senators Kamala Harris or Cory Booker. How did you think through that decision?A number of your C.B.C. colleagues have said they are torn between supporting Vice President Biden, or supporting Senators Kamala Harris or Cory Booker. How did you think through that decision?
They are both friends of mine and I respect them both and I think that they are really effective senators, and I think they’re both people of high moral standards. So my endorsement of Joe Biden is by no means a reflection of who they are and how effective or good they are.They are both friends of mine and I respect them both and I think that they are really effective senators, and I think they’re both people of high moral standards. So my endorsement of Joe Biden is by no means a reflection of who they are and how effective or good they are.
I’ve been recruiting the vice president to run almost immediately since [Hillary] Clinton lost.I’ve been recruiting the vice president to run almost immediately since [Hillary] Clinton lost.
One, because I thought his body of work was that of a person I’d want to see as president. Two, because I thought he was the best person to take on President Trump and beat him. And then three, from Day 1, restore our credibility around the world, and start to unify a very divided — a very, very divided — country.One, because I thought his body of work was that of a person I’d want to see as president. Two, because I thought he was the best person to take on President Trump and beat him. And then three, from Day 1, restore our credibility around the world, and start to unify a very divided — a very, very divided — country.
Do you expect the vice president to offer more specifics on issues like climate?Do you expect the vice president to offer more specifics on issues like climate?
Absolutely. It’s amazing to me to watch everyone now say that they are, quote-unquote “progressive” and “this is the litmus test for progressives,” but everything they’re talking about the vice president, they are issues he’s already been on.Absolutely. It’s amazing to me to watch everyone now say that they are, quote-unquote “progressive” and “this is the litmus test for progressives,” but everything they’re talking about the vice president, they are issues he’s already been on.
It was ’86 he introduced a climate change bill. He led our efforts in the Paris accord. So he has a body of work on that issue before it became popular.It was ’86 he introduced a climate change bill. He led our efforts in the Paris accord. So he has a body of work on that issue before it became popular.
Any sense of when that climate plan is coming?Any sense of when that climate plan is coming?
I think it’s in the next couple of weeks.I think it’s in the next couple of weeks.
Vice President Biden has been criticized for saying the 1994 crime bill, which he supported, did not generate mass incarceration, though experts have said it did contribute. Does he need to clarify?Vice President Biden has been criticized for saying the 1994 crime bill, which he supported, did not generate mass incarceration, though experts have said it did contribute. Does he need to clarify?
He should give a long interview or policy statement on the crime bill.He should give a long interview or policy statement on the crime bill.
It’s a matter that’s far too nuanced for somebody to just say, “Hey, was it a good bill, was it a bad bill?”It’s a matter that’s far too nuanced for somebody to just say, “Hey, was it a good bill, was it a bad bill?”
When people remember the climate, the times and all of those things, it puts it into a different perspective. My young activists — I love them to death, but the fact that they’re young activists means that they did not grow up on the streets I grew up in.When people remember the climate, the times and all of those things, it puts it into a different perspective. My young activists — I love them to death, but the fact that they’re young activists means that they did not grow up on the streets I grew up in.
Part of the question would be, if we did nothing, one, how would history have judged us as Congress, and what would the communities look like? And so, do I think the implementation of the bill was perfect? Far from it. In fact, the implementation did the legislation a real disservice. And so I think that’s why it’s important for people to have a more meaningful conversation about it, as opposed to the talking points.Part of the question would be, if we did nothing, one, how would history have judged us as Congress, and what would the communities look like? And so, do I think the implementation of the bill was perfect? Far from it. In fact, the implementation did the legislation a real disservice. And so I think that’s why it’s important for people to have a more meaningful conversation about it, as opposed to the talking points.