{"id":187469,"date":"2021-03-02T19:30:26","date_gmt":"2021-03-03T00:30:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=187469"},"modified":"2021-03-02T19:30:32","modified_gmt":"2021-03-03T00:30:32","slug":"bidens-commerce-secretary-is-a-former-venture-capitalist-but-some-gopers-warn-shell-be-soft-on-china","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/bidens-commerce-secretary-is-a-former-venture-capitalist-but-some-gopers-warn-shell-be-soft-on-china\/","title":{"rendered":"Biden\u2019s Commerce Secretary Is A Former Venture Capitalist, But Some GOPers Warn She\u2019ll Be \u2018Soft On China\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">34<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fbidens-commerce-secretary-is-a-former-venture-capitalist-but-some-gopers-warn-shell-be-soft-on-china%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=187469&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Gina-Raimondo.jpg?w=1200&#038;h=800&#038;ixlib=react-9.0.3\" class=\"ff-og-image-inserted\" \/><\/div>\n<p>Gina Raimondo has won Senate confirmation to be President Joe Biden\u2019s commerce secretary by an 84 to 15 vote. She resigned from her most recent position as governor of Rhode Island on Tuesday evening.<\/p>\n<p>Democratic Lt. Gov. Daniel J. McKee was sworn in as governor shortly after Raimondo stepped down. He will serve the remaining 22 months of Raimondo\u2019s gubernatorial term.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Thank you, Rhode Island, for the trust you have placed in me these past ten years. It has been a privilege to serve as your treasurer and governor, and I know the future is bright. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Ll9YXTCgRk\">pic.twitter.com\/Ll9YXTCgRk<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Gina Raimondo (@GovRaimondo) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/GovRaimondo\/status\/1366888619517042690?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 2, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Raimondo, a 49-year-old Democrat, is a former Rhodes Scholar. She graduated from Harvard, went on to Yale to earn a law degree, then co-founded Point Judith Capital, a venture capital firm. Her political career began when a regional director at Emily\u2019s List <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bostonglobe.com\/2021\/02\/24\/metro\/pensions-pandemic-moments-that-defined-gina-raimondos-time-ri-politics\/\">recruited<\/a> Raimondo and other Democratic, pro-choice women to consider running for state and local offices throughout Rhode Island.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">84-15: Senate confirms Rhode Island Democratic Governor Gina Raimondo to be President Biden&#8217;s Commerce Secretary. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/xMccn0PUen\">pic.twitter.com\/xMccn0PUen<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Craig Caplan (@CraigCaplan) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/CraigCaplan\/status\/1366840162722938883?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 2, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>She was elected state treasurer in 2010, won the governorship four years later, and was re-elected to a second term in 2018.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRhode Island may be small, but our economy is mighty on the strength of our small businesses and innovative technologies,\u201d Raimondo tweeted after being nominated earlier this year. \u201cAs Secretary of Commerce, I will harness that same American ingenuity to create good-paying union jobs and build our economy back better than ever before.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Rhode Island may be small, but our economy is mighty on the strength of our small businesses and innovative technologies. As Secretary of Commerce, I will harness that same American ingenuity to create good-paying union jobs and build our economy back better than ever before.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Gina Raimondo (@GinaRaimondo) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/GinaRaimondo\/status\/1347352667648098309?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 8, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bostonglobe.com\/2021\/02\/24\/metro\/pensions-pandemic-moments-that-defined-gina-raimondos-time-ri-politics\/\">According<\/a> to the Boston Globe, \u201cRaimondo drew national attention for the 2011 state pension overhaul that she championed as state treasurer,\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bostonglobe.com\/2021\/01\/07\/metro\/governor-raimondo-set-be-tapped-join-biden-administration-commerce-secretary\/\">and<\/a>:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><em>As governor, she revamped Rhode Island\u2019s economic development office, and convinced lawmakers to approve multiple programs that allowed the state to offer millions of dollars in tax incentives to companies willing to relocate to Rhode Island. The office is now called Commerce Rhode Island.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Raimondo has acknowledged that she doesn\u2019t enjoy handing out tax breaks to businesses, but she has also said the results suggest the incentives work. For much of her first campaign for governor, the state\u2019s unemployment rate was above 8 percent. By the end of her first term, it was 3.7 percent. The jobless rate fell as low as 3.4 percent in February 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic sent it soaring as high as 18.1 percent.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Raimondo has always dazzled big donors from Wall Street and Silicon Valley for her unapologetic focus on the economy, but liberals in Rhode Island have said that approach has overshadowed working-class families.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Biden <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bostonglobe.com\/2020\/12\/30\/metro\/governor-gina-raimondo-commerce-secretary-honestly-who-knows\/\">reportedly<\/a> interviewed Raimondo to be his running mate and considered her for other Cabinet-level posts, including Secretary of Health and Human Services and head of the Transportation Department. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2020\/12\/15\/us\/politics\/biden-democrats.html\">According<\/a> to the New York Times, labor unions displeased with Raimondo\u2019s record on pension reform helped block her from the HHS position.<\/p>\n<p>She takes over a Department of Commerce tasked with promoting job creation and economic growth, ensuring fair trade, negotiating bilateral trade agreements, runs the National Weather Service program, and manages ocean and coastal navigation.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSome of the brightest minds in the federal government \u2013 indeed some of the best scientists in America \u2013 are at the Commerce Department, and they deserve leadership that\u2019s supportive, transparent, and driven toward a common mission \u2013 building a stronger, more equitable, and more resilient American economy,\u201d Raimondo <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bostonglobe.com\/2021\/01\/26\/metro\/raimondo-met-with-friendly-audience-commence-secretary-nomination-hearing\/\">said<\/a> at her confirmation hearing.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">I\u2019m excited to help carry out the Build Back Better agenda.<\/p>\n<p>We have a vision for an inclusive recovery that lifts up those who have been left behind. For a national effort to get Americans back to work. And for rebuilding manufacturing and restoring jobs that have gone overseas. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/ysDCk44cyP\">pic.twitter.com\/ysDCk44cyP<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Gina Raimondo (@GinaRaimondo) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/GinaRaimondo\/status\/1347929598865117185?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 9, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>\u201cCOVID has shined a light on the inequities in our economy,\u201d she <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/politics\/watch-live-secretary-of-commerce-nominee-gina-raimondo-testifies-in-senate-confirmation-hearing\">added<\/a>. \u201cThe president has been very clear, we\u2019re going to build back better and more equitably, and I strongly support that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The department oversees more than 46,000 employees in various bureaus and agencies, including the U.S. Census Bureau.<\/p>\n<p>Raimondo said if confirmed, she would work to \u201ctake the politics out of the census\u201d after the Trump administration attempted to exclude unlawfully present immigrants from 2020 state population counts. The results, which have not yet been released, are used to reapportion congressional seats among the states.<\/p>\n<p>On Tuesday, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), a congressional watchdog agency, classified the 2020 census as a high-risk project. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.startribune.com\/watchdog-agency-says-2020-census-is-still-on-high-risk-list\/600029323\/\">According<\/a> to the Associated Press, \u201cthe GAO has classified the 2020 census as a high-risk area since 2017.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Raimondo has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/politics\/watch-live-secretary-of-commerce-nominee-gina-raimondo-testifies-in-senate-confirmation-hearing\">said<\/a>, \u201cthe climate crisis poses an existential threat to our economic security,\u201d adding, \u201cWe must meet this challenge by creating millions of good, union jobs that power a more sustainable economy.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, a Republican from Texas, had placed the Senate\u2019s vote on hold last month. He <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SenTedCruz\/status\/1357037333640581120\">accused<\/a> Raimondo of having \u201cethics issues\u201d and a \u201csoft stance on China.\u201d Cruz specifically called Raimondo out for \u201cher refusal to commit\u201d to keeping Chinese telecom giant Huawei Technologies on a U.S. trade blacklist known as the Entity List.<\/p>\n<p>Raimondo <a href=\"https:\/\/www.texarkanagazette.com\/news\/texas\/story\/2021\/feb\/07\/cruz-places-hold-biden-commerce-pick\/859219\/\">acknowledged<\/a> that \u201ctelecommunications equipment made by untrusted vendors is a threat to the security of the U.S. and our allies.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cChina\u2019s actions have been anti-competitive, hurtful to American workers and businesses, coercive, and as you point out, they\u2019re culpable for atrocious human rights abuses,\u201d Raimondo <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/politics\/watch-live-secretary-of-commerce-nominee-gina-raimondo-testifies-in-senate-confirmation-hearing\">said<\/a> while being questioned by Cruz earlier this year. \u201cSo whether it\u2019s the entities list, or tariffs, or countervailing duties, I intend to use all those tools to the fullest extent possible to level the playing field for the American worker.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Still, on Tuesday morning Sen. Cruz tweeted: \u201cHeading to the Senate floor to deliver remarks on Team Biden\u2019s troubling rush to embrace the Chinese Communist Party and his Commerce Secretary nominee Gina Raimondo.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Heading to the Senate floor to deliver remarks on Team Biden\u2019s troubling rush to embrace the Chinese Communist Party and his Commerce Secretary nominee Gina Raimondo.<\/p>\n<p>Watch live here \u2013> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/J4CWTfCyHd\">https:\/\/t.co\/J4CWTfCyHd<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Senator Ted Cruz (@SenTedCruz) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SenTedCruz\/status\/1366796609045090306?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 2, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">.<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SenTedCruz?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@SenTedCruz<\/a>: &#8220;[T]here has been a rush to embrace the worst elements of the Chinese Communist Party in the Biden administration, and that includes [Commerce Nominee] Governor Raimondo. That is why I placed a hold on her confirmation, and I will not be voting to confirm her\u2026&#8221; <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/YIm6j51vKr\">pic.twitter.com\/YIm6j51vKr<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SteveGuest\/status\/1366806451314978817?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 2, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Sen. Cruz reiterated those thoughts on the floor, speaking of \u201ca rush to embrace the worst elements of the Chinese Communist Party in the Biden administration,\u201d adding, \u201cthat includes (Commerce Nominee) Governor Raimondo.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Republican Senator Rick Scott of Florida also opposed Raimondo\u2019s nomination, <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SenRickScott\/status\/1366841565604417538\">tweeting<\/a> that the Department of Commerce \u201cshouldn\u2019t be led by someone who supports doing more business w\/Communist China, which steals U.S. technology &#038; jobs &#038; wants to destroy our economy.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">I voted no on <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/GovRaimondo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@GovRaimondo<\/a> for Secretary of <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/CommerceGov?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@CommerceGov<\/a> today. Commerce is responsible for protecting U.S. jobs &#038; innovation. It shouldn&#8217;t be led by someone who supports doing more business w\/ Communist China, which steals U.S. technology &#038; jobs &#038; wants to destroy our economy.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SenRickScott\/status\/1366841565604417538?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 2, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Fifteen Republican Senators opposed Raimondo\u2019s confirmation, including Josh Hawley of Missouri, Tom Cotton of Arkansas, and John Barrasso of Wyoming. 34 Republicans joined all of the Democrats and voted yes.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Here&#8217;s a list of the GOP senators who voted against <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/GovRaimondo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@GovRaimondo<\/a>&#8216;s nomination for U.S. commerce secretary. Sen. Blackburn didn&#8217;t vote.<\/p>\n<p>Another 34 voted with the 50 Democrats in favor.<\/p>\n<p>Full details \u2013> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/oDZ5SK6XBz\">https:\/\/t.co\/oDZ5SK6XBz<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/MCo5SSdsIp\">pic.twitter.com\/MCo5SSdsIp<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Eli Sherman (@Eli_Sherman) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Eli_Sherman\/status\/1366862437069295619?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 2, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>U.S. Senator Jack Reed, a Democrat from Rhode Island, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bostonglobe.com\/2021\/01\/26\/metro\/raimondo-met-with-friendly-audience-commence-secretary-nomination-hearing\/\">reportedly<\/a> used to babysit Raimondo, as their families also vacationed together.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI congratulate Secretary Raimondo,\u201d Reed <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/IanDon\/status\/1366840775502417928\/photo\/1\">said<\/a> in a statement on Tuesday. \u201cShe will lead with integrity and play a critical role overseeing a wide array of key initiatives essential to our nation\u2019s future, from helping U.S. manufacturers compete to investing in economic development to managing our ocean resources. She\u2019ll build successful partnerships, bring people together, and help spur smart, sustainable economic growth.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">There&#8217;s a big focus on the race-gender diversity of Biden&#8217;s cabinet, basically no coverage of class. Many went to private or prep\/boarding schools: Vilsack (Shady Side), Raimondo (LaSalle Academy), Blinken (Dalton), Buttigieg (St. Joseph&#8217;s), Walsh (Newman), Tai (Sidwell)<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Lee Fang (@lhfang) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/lhfang\/status\/1364284626114519041?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 23, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Both Reed and Raimondo attended the prestigious LaSalle Academy, a private Catholic college prep school in Providence.<\/p>\n<p>Raimondo <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wpri.com\/news\/politics-government\/raimondo-signs-federal-ethics-agreement-details-her-finances\/\">announced<\/a> her resignation from the highest governing body of Yale University, her alma mater, in January.<\/p>\n<p><em>The Daily Wire is one of America\u2019s fastest-growing conservative media companies and counter-cultural outlets for news, opinion, and entertainment. Get inside access to The Daily Wire by becoming a<\/em> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/subscribe\"><em>member<\/em><\/a><em>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Gina Raimondo has won Senate confirmation to be President Joe Biden\u2019s commerce secretary by an 84 to 15 vote. She resigned from her most recent position as governor of Rhode &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2274618,"comment_status":"close","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Gina-Raimondo.jpg?w=1200&h=800&ixlib=react-9.0.3","fifu_image_alt":"Biden\u2019s Commerce Secretary Is A Former Venture Capitalist, But Some GOPers Warn She\u2019ll Be \u2018Soft On China\u2019","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-187469","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Gina-Raimondo.jpg?w=1200&h=800&ixlib=react-9.0.3","fifu_image_alt":"Biden\u2019s Commerce Secretary Is A Former Venture Capitalist, But Some GOPers Warn She\u2019ll Be \u2018Soft On China\u2019","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/187469","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=187469"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/187469\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2274618"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=187469"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=187469"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=187469"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}