WASHINGTON — The odds of Rahm Emanuel landing a top spot in the Biden administration at this time are getting much tougher.
Rev. Al Sharpton last week told President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris the ex-Chicago mayor was unacceptable to the civil rights community.
CNN reported on Sunday former South Bend Mayor and Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg is the front-runner for transportation secretary — a job Emanuel was eyeing.
Another slot where Emanuel’s name was mentioned — U.S. trade representative — has been filled.
During a virtual meeting between Biden, Harris and seven civil rights leaders Tuesday, Sharpton objected to Emanuel landing any position with the incoming administration. The Intercept posted a video recording of that meeting on Friday.
Sharpton was blunt when he told Biden, “I think that it is totally ridiculous for anyone to think that we could put a Rahm Emanuel, who covered up Laquan McDonald’s killing … in any position without our raising, from the civil rights community, that this man did something that in our opinion was just absolutely” indefensible.
McDonald is the Black 17-year-old youth who died in 2014 after being shot 16 times by a Chicago police officer, with Emanuel sitting on the release of a video of the incident until after he was reelected in 2015.
Emanuel has been in the mix — but always way down on the list, with no priority — for a Biden Cabinet appointment, sources earlier told the Chicago Sun-Times.
Since Emanuel’s name has been floated, labor, progressive and civil rights activists have been warning Biden to not pick Emanuel. Biden would be taking incoming shots from his own allies if he tapped Emanuel for a post. Another hurdle for Emanuel is Biden’s pledge to appoint a diverse team; Biden is under enormous pressure to make good on his promises, and there may not be room for another white, straight, male.
If selected, Buttigieg would be Biden’s first LGBTQ nominee.
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