# Harris political appointments reaching out to Republicans/conservatives **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** kamala-harris\ **Created:** [July 29, 2024, 8:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-political-appointments-reaching-out-to-republicans-conservatives/1004940 "2024-07-29T08:42:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2024, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-political-appointments-reaching-out-to-republicans-conservatives/1004940/81 "2024-08-06T01:00:37Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > I expect a few of them would go to never-Trump Republicans if Harris wins. That’s a bad look. Like a reward for betraying one’s party. I don’t mind if some Trumper gets moved from a House seat to an embassy in Outer Whatsitstan for token bipartisan points, though. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2024, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-political-appointments-reaching-out-to-republicans-conservatives/1004940/82 "2024-08-06T04:05:56Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > That’s a bad look. Like a reward for betraying one’s party. I am against party loyalty. Then, since I have changed party registration twice in my lifetime, I would say that. For what it is worth: Obama had three Republican cabinet members: > **[Three Cabinet appointees from opposing party is unmatched](https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2009/feb/10/barack-obama/Three-Republicans-Cabinet-Most/)** > > UPDATE: This claim was accurate when President Obama said it. As you can see below in the original item, it is indeed un ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2024, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-political-appointments-reaching-out-to-republicans-conservatives/1004940/83 "2024-08-06T04:10:36Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > Politicians who change parties typically do so because they changed views, or the party changed views away from them. Cheney would say that the Republican party changed views away from her: from solid conservatism to identity cult. I don’t think she would be wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2024, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-political-appointments-reaching-out-to-republicans-conservatives/1004940/84 "2024-08-06T13:35:37Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Cheney would say that the Republican party changed views away from her: from solid conservatism to identity cult. > > I don’t think she would be wrong. True, which is one of the options I stated. But that just solidifies that she’s not likely to start supporting liberal positions. Her politics were abysmal _before_ the GOP became a cult of Trump. ---
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2024, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-political-appointments-reaching-out-to-republicans-conservatives/1004940/85 "2024-08-06T18:43:40Z")
Harriet Hageman beat Liz Cheney by 63,740 votes in the 2022 Republican primary in which 170,490 votes were cast. 193,902 votes were cast in the general election which is 23,412 more than the the Republican primary. If we give 100% of those votes to Liz she still loses by 40,328 votes which would be about 20 points. ---
**Author:** ![GailForce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/dfb087/32.png) [@GailForce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GailForce)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2024, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-political-appointments-reaching-out-to-republicans-conservatives/1004940/86 "2024-08-06T19:09:41Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > Joe Manchin shows that a majority in name doesn’t help if the votes aren’t there Not sure you understand how this stuff works. As little as I admire Manchin, having him in the Senate, even voting against Democratic bills 100% of the time (which he didn’t), meant that the Dems would be in the majority, and Schumer, not McConnell, got to determine which bills reached the floor and when. That’s a very big deal, and we’re looking at razor-thin majorities in both houses for some time to come. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2024, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-political-appointments-reaching-out-to-republicans-conservatives/1004940/87 "2024-08-08T09:29:43Z")
It also gave Manchin much too much power, but that’s beside the point. As for naming some Republicans-show me that there are enough non-MAGA Republicans to influence and I’ll agree to make one ambassador to…Iceland, I guess? ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2024, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-political-appointments-reaching-out-to-republicans-conservatives/1004940/88 "2024-08-08T21:11:38Z")
Biden appointed Jeff Flake (former Republican Senator from Arizona, replaced by Kyrsten Sinema) as Ambassador to Turkey, where he still serves. Cindy McCain served as Biden’s Ambassador to the UN Food program, but now works for the UN directly. ~Max ---
**Author:** ![GailForce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/dfb087/32.png) [@GailForce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GailForce)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2024, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-political-appointments-reaching-out-to-republicans-conservatives/1004940/89 "2024-08-09T15:26:26Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > It also gave Manchin much too much power, but that’s beside the point. What is “it”? Seems to me you’re complaining about the Dems having the thinnest majority possible, 50-50 Senate plus the VP to break ties. Does that give the most conservative Dem Senator a lot of power? Sure, but if the alternative is having only 49 Senators and a GOP majority, I’ll sign up for “it” every time. First things first–you need to hold the majority, then you can complain about Senators not falling into line. I’m pleased and surprised that Manchin didn’t jump ship mid-term and give the GOP the Senate in a fit of pique. In foreign affairs, there are often GOPers who agree with U.S. policy generally, and are knowledgable and competent administrators. A few ambassadorships are a small price to pay for a legitimate claim of non-partisanship. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2024, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-political-appointments-reaching-out-to-republicans-conservatives/1004940/90 "2024-08-09T18:27:02Z")
> [@GailForce](#): > > I’m pleased and surprised that Manchin didn’t jump ship mid-term and give the GOP the Senate in a fit of pique. Technically he did jump ship. He calls himself an independent, though caucuses with the Dems. That’s enough to hold the balance. ---
**Author:** ![GailForce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/dfb087/32.png) [@GailForce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GailForce)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2024, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-political-appointments-reaching-out-to-republicans-conservatives/1004940/91 "2024-08-10T15:02:34Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > He calls himself an independent He can call himself a Thanksgiving turkey, for all I care. All I want or expect from him is how he caucases. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2024, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-political-appointments-reaching-out-to-republicans-conservatives/1004940/92 "2024-08-11T04:30:51Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > > [@snowthx](#): > > > > In fact, I will lower the bar - I will take "campaigns _at all_ for Harris, in any state, before considering them for an appointment. When that happens, and Harris wins, we can discuss this more seriously. > > The Republican mayor of Mesa, AZ (pop. ~500k) declared for [Kamala](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/07/29/mesa-arizona-mayor-john-giles-endorses-harris/74596202007/) HOw about what he said last night at a rally for Harris: > “I am a lifelong Republican. I do not recognize my own party. The Republican Party has been taken over by extremists. I have something to say to those of us who are in the middle. You don’t owe a damn thing to that party. You don’t owe anything to a party that is out of touch and hellbent on taking us backward. You owe no displaced loyalty to a candidate who is morally and ethically bankrupt. In the spirit of the great Senator John McCain, please join me in putting country over party, stopping Donald Trump, protecting the rule of law, protecting our Constitution, and protecting democracy by voting for Kamala Harris.” > [x.com](https://x.com/KamalaHQ/status/1822095056733434104) ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2024, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-political-appointments-reaching-out-to-republicans-conservatives/1004940/93 "2024-08-11T13:39:06Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > The Republican mayor of Mesa, AZ (pop. ~500k) declared for [Kamala] So why doesn’t he change parties, like local politicians near me: > **[Mayor Matt Fetick - Kennett Area Democrats](https://kennettareademocrats.com/mayor-matt-fetick/)** > > Welcome to the Party Matt Fetick recalls canvassing for Ronald Reagan around Chester County with his mom in the 1980s. The Republican Party at that time promoted itself as the party of family values, fiscal conservatism and smaller government. Today,... P.S. However, I am just as OK with party disloyalty as with party changing. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2024, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-political-appointments-reaching-out-to-republicans-conservatives/1004940/94 "2024-08-11T14:21:04Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > HOw about what he said last night at a rally for Harris: AWESOME! That’s a hell of a speech. Some of the party leaders are finally getting it, _finally_ standing up for what’s right and against the craziness of Trumpiness. Yes, he’s only a mayor, that’s small scale, but that is grassroots. I hope to start seeing more. > [@PhillyGuy](#): > > So why doesn’t he change parties, like local politicians near me: That’s an excellent question. I went looking and checked his bio on the city of Mesa website. (John Giles) [https://www.mesaaz.gov/government/diversity-office/city-of-mesa-title-vi-notice-to-the-public/non-discrimination-ordinance#:~:text=There%20are%2014%20protected%20classes,marital%20status%2C%20or%20familial%20status](https://www.mesaaz.gov/government/diversity-office/city-of-mesa-title-vi-notice-to-the-public/non-discrimination-ordinance#:~:text=There%20are%2014%20protected%20classes,marital%20status%2C%20or%20familial%20status). Free community college for qualified high school grads. Climate Action Plan to reach carbon neutrality. Champion for electric vehicles. A nondiscrimination ordinance that includes in protected class sex, sexual orientation, gender, and _gender identity_. And he’s done all that as a Republican? I suppose one answer is that he wouldn’t have been elected in Arizona as a Democrat, because of label fear. I know Mark Kelly was elected Senator… in 2020. Giles has been mayor since 2014. He seems like a man who values the previous stated goals of the GOP, and probably has a lot of personal identity invested in being Republican. It may be an attitude of "The party was taken over by crazies, but we can still save it! " rather than “it’s time to get out.” Maybe he can inspire more Republicans to follow him by not “abandoning” the party. “I’m still one of you, I’m the same man with the same principles as I have been, but the crazies have got to go.” ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2024, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-political-appointments-reaching-out-to-republicans-conservatives/1004940/95 "2024-08-11T14:30:41Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > Genuine question-did anyone who helped Nixon ever admit their wrongdoing and ask for forgiveness? The GOP. Is so deeply involved with Trump it would be embarrassing to shed their skin. John Dean has offered his regrets often. He was one of the youngest involved in the Watergate scandal and seems to be sincere in taking responsibility for his actions, not just because he got caught and served time. The idea of reaching across the aisle to appoint Republicans to administration positions has usually, maybe always failed. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2024, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-political-appointments-reaching-out-to-republicans-conservatives/1004940/96 "2024-08-11T17:43:02Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > The idea of reaching across the aisle to appoint Republicans to administration positions has usually, maybe always failed. Barack Obama appointed a record three other-party cabinet members and won re-election. Of course there were lots of factors. But because of that, I am missing how we would know it failed. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2024, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-political-appointments-reaching-out-to-republicans-conservatives/1004940/97 "2024-08-12T14:03:11Z")
Success would result from Republican appointees adding credibility, acceptance, and bipartisanship from the Republican party. That didn’t happen. More than likely those Republicans were providing inside information back to their party if not directly acting against the interests of the administration. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2024, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-political-appointments-reaching-out-to-republicans-conservatives/1004940/98 "2024-08-12T14:19:17Z")
Do undecided voters care if the candidate reaches out to the other party to fill offices? Do Republicans or Democrats? Or is it more a matter of “it seems like a good idea on the face of it”? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2024, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-political-appointments-reaching-out-to-republicans-conservatives/1004940/99 "2024-08-12T17:28:34Z")
I have seen polling results showing growing interest in bipartisan cooperation in the legislature. Haven’t seen anything like that for appointed positions. The point is usually made initially when a member of the other party is appointed, not so much later at election time. A large number of appointed officials maintain their position when administrations change, That usually is only mentioned when some candidate claims there’s a bureaucratic conspiracy against them in the government. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2024, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-political-appointments-reaching-out-to-republicans-conservatives/1004940/100 "2024-08-12T21:16:28Z")
As a Canadian, I don’t have direct knowledge of the American rise of partisanship or breakdown of many attempts for cross-party compromise that were once common. When I see figures like one in six people have family members they don’t talk to due to political views, it seems excessive. Harris knows better than I do the best way to do this. My perception is Obama in his first term thought being inclusive was the best way, and in the face of obstructionism decided to pass legislation by other ways and means in his second term. Biden saw all that close up and Harris benefits from being mentored, as it were by Biden. Is it possible? Is it wise? I just don’t know. Certainly some Republicans stood up for democracy. Does this require recognition? How is this best done, if it is prudent? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-political-appointments-reaching-out-to-republicans-conservatives/1004940.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-political-appointments-reaching-out-to-republicans-conservatives/1004940.md?page=6)