Ed Rendell: Elizabeth Warren Not Qualified To Be Vice-President
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Former Governor of Pennsylvania Ed Rendell shot down any speculation that Elizabeth Warren or Bernie Sanders could be Hillary Clinton's choice for Vice-President as she prepares to take on Donald Trump in the Fall.
Rendell, during an interview with Rich Zeoli on Talk Radio 1210 WPHT, said he didn't think Warren, a first-term Senator from Massachusetts, has acquired enough government experience yet to be qualified.
"I think she will not pick somebody that she feels in her heart isn't ready to be President or Commander-in-Chief. I think Elizabeth Warren is a wonderful, bright, passionate person, but with no experience in foreign affairs and not in any way, shape or form ready to be Commander-in-Chief. So, I don't know who Secretary Clinton is going to pick, but it will be someone that if something happened to her in the first week in office, that person could step in and be President."
He later clarified that many politicians, not just Warren, don't meet the criteria he expects Clinton to use in making the pick for a running mate.
"Elizabeth's Warren's problem would be the same problem I'd have. Let's assume someone said consider Governor Rendell for Vice-President. I have no experience militarily, no experience in foreign affairs, and would be a difficult choice because if anything happened in week one, and I became President, I would be lost. I would try to listen to good people and make my decision, but I would be lost. So, I think Elizabeth Warren, four years from now, would be a great choice to be on a ticket, maybe even be a presidential candidate herself...I didn't mean to single out her. That's an impediment for a lot of people who just haven't had any military or foreign affairs experience."
Rendell also explained why he doesn't think Bernie Sanders, Secretary Clinton's primary opponent, would even be interested in filling the slot on her ticket.
"I don't think Bernie would want to be Vice-President. It's not a job for somebody who feels as passionately about issues as he does. I think what Bernie's future should be is I think he should, at the appropriate time, endorse Secretary Clinton and then use his ability to raise money to keep supporting progressive candidates. He can be a dominant factor in the Democratic party for years to come because of his ability to raise money and support progressive candidates. That's what he should want to do. Vice-President is not a job for somebody who feels so passionately about the issues."
