The political landscape is shaking like the San Andreas fault as Democrats grapple with the fallout from President Biden’s nightmare debate performance. With growing uncertainty surrounding Biden’s place at the top of the 2024 ticket, many eyes are turning to Vice President Kamala Harris.
However, Harris’s record as a prosecutor and her previous presidential campaign raise significant concerns. The Democrats are in a tight spot, and Harris’s history might not be the silver bullet they’re hoping for.
Trivia Question: Which constitutional amendment abolished slavery in the United States? Answer at the end of the article.
Harris’s Troubled Past as a Prosecutor
Harris’s 2020 presidential campaign faced intense scrutiny for her record as a prosecutor and as California’s attorney general. Her actions and decisions during that time have left a lasting stain on her political career.
From Fox News:
“During her 2020 presidential campaign, which launched in January 2019, Harris faced intense criticism and scrutiny for her record as a prosecutor and as attorney general of California.Lara Bazelon, a University of San Francisco associate law professor, suggested at the time that efforts to paint Harris as a ‘progressive prosecutor’ didn’t match her actions as district attorney of San Francisco and then California’s attorney general. ‘Most troubling, Ms. Harris fought tooth and nail to uphold wrongful convictions that had been secured through official misconduct that included evidence tampering, false testimony and the suppression of crucial information by prosecutors,’ she added.”
This criticism isn’t just academic nitpicking. Harris’s tenure saw numerous questionable practices, including upholding wrongful convictions and using cheap prison labor. These actions, once brought to light, painted a picture of a prosecutor more interested in maintaining her “tough on crime” image than in ensuring justice.
A Damaging Debate Performance
Harris’s past came back to haunt her during the Democratic primary debates. Then-presidential candidate and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii, delivered a scathing critique of Harris’s record, further damaging her campaign.
Gabbard added, ‘She blocked evidence that would have freed an innocent man from death row until the courts forced her to do so. She kept people in prison beyond their sentences to use them as cheap labor for the state of California. And she fought to keep the cash bail system in place that impacts poor people in the worst kind of way.'”
These are not minor criticisms. Blocking evidence that could free an innocent man? Using prisoners as cheap labor? Fighting to keep a system that disproportionately affects the poor? It’s no wonder Harris’s campaign imploded before the primaries even began.
Policy Positions That Raise Eyebrows
Beyond her prosecutorial record, Harris’s policy positions during her presidential run also drew significant criticism. Her stances on healthcare, fracking, and the Green New Deal were controversial and often seemed out of touch with mainstream America.
Harris raised eyebrows during her 2020 campaign when it came to her health care plan, which she told CNN’s Anderson Cooper would result in the removal of Americans from their private plans offered by employers.
Among the many other positions she took during her campaign, which ended in December 2019, Harris signaled her support for a ban on fracking and plastic straws. She also insisted she would ‘get rid of the filibuster to pass a Green New Deal’ and that there would be a ‘carbon fee’ if she were elected president.
These positions might resonate with the far-left base, but they alienate a significant portion of the electorate. Americans don’t want to lose their private healthcare plans, and banning plastic straws isn’t exactly a winning issue in middle America.
Here’s a quick video summary of some of Kamala’s worst political positions in her own words:
Strategic Moves and Potential Running Mates
In light of her problematic history and policy positions, Harris’s allies are already strategizing about how to boost her appeal. One idea being floated is the selection of a white man as her vice-presidential candidate, a move aimed at reassuring moderate voters.
From The Telegraph:
“Allies of Kamala Harris are discussing the selection of a white man as her vice-president as support for her taking over as the party’s presidential candidate grows.
‘She would also want to boost her chances in the crucial states of Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin. I would expect her to pick a white moderate who would be reassuring to those voters, much as Barack Obama did by picking Biden all those years ago.'”
This strategy highlights the recognition of her weaknesses and the need to balance the ticket to appeal to a broader audience. But will it work?
On the other hand, it may backfire as an example of reverse racism and just another example of their efforts at DEI. Apparently, Democrats can’t just pick people based on their qualifications rather than their skin color or minority status (or even majority status!).
And don’t forget, if Kamala does get chosen to succeed Biden, she has to answer for her actions as Vice President. She was tapped as Border Czar to fix the border problem, but instead the number of illegal crossings skyrocketed as she visited South America to address “root causes.”
She has many more failures on her VP resume, but worst of all may be her active defense of Biden’s mental state when it was obvious to many that he was having trouble. Reminds me of how she stayed with Willie Brown in California as long as it politically benefitted her, then moved on to bigger and better things.
Kamala Harris faces a challenging road ahead. Her record as a prosecutor, her controversial policy positions, and her previous failed presidential campaign all serve as significant hurdles. The Democrats are in a difficult position, and Harris might not be the solution they need.
Key Takeaways:
- Kamala Harris’s record as a prosecutor raises serious concerns.
- Harris’s policy positions during her 2020 campaign were controversial.
- Allies are considering strategic moves, like selecting a white male running mate, to boost her appeal.
Trivia Answer: The 13th Amendment abolished slavery in the United States.
Source: Fox News, The Telegraph
