Why I See Myself in Neera Tanden

“Budgets are not abstractions. They are a reflection of our values. They touch our lives in profound ways. And sometimes they make all the difference.” This is a quote from Neera Tanden, Joe Biden’s nominee for budget director. If confirmed, she will be the first woman of color to hold the position. Tanden was raised by a single mother on food stamps. Her parents emigrated from India, making her the first in her family to be born in the United States. Although my family has been fortunate enough to be relatively financially stable, being the daughter of Indian immigrants is something that Tanden and I have in common. She is ambitious, driven, and has worked for major Democratic politicians, including Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. While Tanden has been criticized by progressives for being too centrist, and I personally do consider myself to be further left than she is, Tanden has also become something of a target for the right. When a strong woman of color steps into the picture, her every move is scrutinized. Many Republican lawmakers oppose Tanden’s nomination, not for her policies or political views, but for her tweets. (To me, that sounds pretty hilarious coming from people who backed our Twitter-crazed president.) Tanden has tweeted against prominent Republicans such as Mitch McConnell and Susan Collins. However, her tweets were critical of decisions made by these politicians, not personal attacks. Her supporters argue that the same people who consider Tanden to be divisive or partisan due to her Twitter also give President Trump a free pass on the divisive nature of his rhetoric on the very same platform. Whichever side of the aisle you’re on, you have to admit that’s a pretty good point. Like other progressives, I do feel that Tanden’s track record is a bit too centrist. However, it is worth noting that she has overcome so many odds in her life that no one should have to overcome. I know that representation alone is not enough: we need people in power who will actually do what they say they will for the betterment of society. I see parts of myself in her, because she is the daughter of immigrants of Indian descent, and she is a woman of color fighting for things that she is more than qualified for in a predominantly white society. Mean tweets or not, I’m rooting for her.

image source:

https://time.com/5916774/neera-tanden-joe-biden/