Breaking: Neera Tanden nomination for Cabinet post withdrawn in major defeat for Biden admin



President Joe Biden withdrew the nomination of Neera Tanden to his Cabinet after several Democratic senators said they could not support her over toxic tweets against Republicans and progressives.

The major defeat for the Biden administration was first reported by the Washington Post.

A statement from Tanden, the head of the Center for American Progress, asked the president to withdraw her nomination on Tuesday.

"I am writing to you to withdraw my nomination for Director of the Office of Management and Budget," she said in the statement. "Unfortunately, it now seems clear that there is no path forward to gain confirmation, and I do not want continued consideration of my nomination to be a distraction from your other priorities."

The White House released a statement from Biden accepting the withdrawal.

"I have accepted Neera Tanden's request to withdraw her name from nomination for Director of the Office of Management and Budget. I have the utmost respect for her record of accomplishment, her experience and her counsel, and I look forward to having her serve in a role in my Administration," Biden said in his statement.

"She will bring valuable perspective and insight to our work," he added.

The nomination had resulted in a vicious feud on social media between progressives and establishment Democrats. Many on the far left noted with acidic sarcasm that the Biden administration fought much harder for Tanden's nomination than they did for the inclusion of a $15 minimum wage hike in the latest coronavirus relief bill.

On the other end, Biden supporters unleashed a wave of racist and sexist missives against a Washington Post reporter for what they saw as an attempt to further tank the Tanden nomination with a moderate Republican senator.

Critics of Tanden cited her past "toxic" tweets against Republicans and some on the left, including Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).

Here's more about Tanden's 'toxic' tweets:

Jen Psaki asked to respond to Neera Tanden's insulting tweets towards Cruz, McConnell, Collinswww.youtube.com

Biden supporters are melting down over Joe Manchin tanking Neera Tanden's nomination over her 'toxic' tweets



Supporters of President Joe Biden took to social media to express their outrage after Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) said that he would vote against the nomination of Neera Tanden to the head of the Office of Management and Budget.

Manchin said that Tanden's toxic tweeting against Republicans and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) convinced him that she was not the right person for the job.

"I believe her overtly partisan statements will have a toxic and detrimental impact on the important working relationship between members of Congress and the next director of the Office of Management and Budget," he explained. "For this reason, I cannot support her nomination."

Some on the left were outraged at Manchin for the vote that will likely tank the nomination in the Senate, and many accused him of racism and sexism.

"I think #manchin has issues with strong, smart, independent, say what they want to women of color. Last month @VP didn't pay him the proper homage. This month @neeratanden's tweets are too much. Seeing a pattern?" said journalist Sophia Nelson.

I think #manchin has issues with strong, smart, independent, say what they want to women of color. Last month @VP d… https://t.co/2Q9255gR7f
— Sophia A. Nelson (@Sophia A. Nelson)1613777825.0

"Manchin's constituents are unaware of Neera's tweets or that she exists. He'ss making her famous in WV so they will know he is putting a woman of color in her place, after another women of color -- our Vice President -- stepped out of what he thinks is 'her place'in WV recently," said Cheri Jacobus, a NeverTrump activist.

"He is using sexism and racism as a weapon," she added in a second tweet.

"Let's call a spade a spade: The senator has decided to hold an immensely qualified woman of color to an unfair double standard," said another critic.

"This is straight-up misogyny. Is @Sen_JoeManchin aware that this is the 21st century?" said author Greg Olear.

Tanden has also taken harsh criticism from her own side, especially from far-left progressives who see her as too aligned with the centrist Democratic establishment. Many happily endorsed the decision by Manchin to undo her nomination.

Republicans control 50 of the votes in the Senate so one vote from a Democrat will almost certainly doom Tanden's nomination, unless Democrats are able to pick up at least one vote from a Republican.

Tanden had previously apologized for her past remarks during her confirmation hearings before the Senate Homeland Security Committee, and promised to work in a "bipartisan and nonpartisan manner."

Here's more about the Manchin denial:

Sen. Joe Manchin opposes OMB nominee Neera Tandenwww.youtube.com

Joe Manchin will oppose Biden's OMB nominee Neera Tanden, dimming her chances



President Joe Biden's controversial nominee to lead the Office of Management and Budget faces a significant stumbling block to confirmation by the U.S. Senate after a moderate Democrat declared he would not vote for her.

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) on Friday declared that he would not support Neera Tanden's confirmation to lead OMB, citing disparaging comments Tanden made on social media about his colleagues in the Senate as a reason for concern she would be a divisive partisan figure.

"I have carefully reviewed Neera Tanden's public statements and tweets that were personally directed towards my colleagues on both sides of the aisle from Senator Sanders to Senator McConnell and others. I believe her overtly partisan statements will have a toxic and detrimental impact on the important working relationship between members of Congress and the next director of the Office of Management and Budget," Manchin said in a statement.

"For this reason, I cannot support her nomination," he continued. "As I have said before, we must take meaningful steps to end the political division and dysfunction that pervades our politics. At a time of grave crisis, it is more important than ever that we chart a new bipartisan course that helps address the many serious challenges facing our nation."

New: Joe Manchin to vote against Neera Tanden to lead OMB. https://t.co/euAAu8DakA
— Lauren Fox (@Lauren Fox)1613768814.0

Tanden is the president of the progressive think tank, the Center for American Progress. As OMB nominee, President Biden selected her to fill one of the most powerful positions in the White House, responsible for producing the president's budget and overseeing agency programs, policies, and procedures to determine if they comply with the president's policies and priorities.

Manchin's opposition to Tanden leaves her confirmation to OMB in serious doubt. It is highly unlikely any Republican will vote to confirm her because of comments she's made on social media attacking various Republican members of the Senate.

Her prior comments became a point of contention during her confirmation hearing when Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) confronted her about them.

""You wrote that [Sen.] Susan Collins (R-Maine) is 'the worst,' that [Sen.] Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) is a 'fraud,' that 'vampires have more heart' than [Sen.] Ted Cruz (R-Texas). You called [Senate Minority] Leader [Mitch] McConnell (R-Ky.) 'Moscow Mitch,' and 'Voldemort,' and on and on," Portman reminded her.

Tanden was also grilled by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who accused her of making "vicious attacks" against progressives.

"Your attacks were not just made against Republicans. There were vicious attacks made against progressives. People who I have worked with, me personally," Sanders said.

Even so, Sanders is expected to vote to confirm Tanden. But Manchin's opposition leaves her confirmation in doubt.