Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) suggested that President Joe Biden’s comptroller currency nominee, Dr. Saule Omarova, was a communist.
Dr. Omarova, who was born in the Soviet Union, said she was part of school youth programs mandated by the government (at that time) for students.
Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) presses Biden’s pick for currency comptroller Saule Omarova about “you used to be a member of a group called The Young Communists.”
— The Recount (@therecount) November 18, 2021
Omarova explains, because she was born in the Soviet Union, she was part of school youth programs mandated for students. pic.twitter.com/mYSkOounx3
After his red baiting failed, Sen. Kennedy said: “I don’t know whether to call you professor or comrade.”
Omarova replied: “I’m not a communist. I do not subscribe to that ideology. I could not choose where I was born.”
Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA): “I don’t know whether to call you professor or comrade.”
— The Recount (@therecount) November 18, 2021
Someone off-camera: “Oh my goodness.”
Dr. Saule Omarova, Biden’s comptroller currency pick: “I’m not a communist. I do not subscribe to that ideology. I could not choose where I was born.” pic.twitter.com/CEiCWNwx2N
(Sources: The Recount/Twitter, NPR)