Kamala Harris: The Vice Presidential Nominee; But Why?
Joe Biden has chosen Kamala Harris as his Vice President Nominee, what now? The choice is a precarious one, that surprises nobody. Harris…
Joe Biden has chosen Kamala Harris as his Vice President Nominee, what now? The choice is a precarious one, that surprises nobody. Harris has a lot of issues and baggage to unpack. So let’s look at some of those issues, and what Biden could be thinking choosing her as a running mate.
How she got into Politics
Former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown has claimed credit for much of her success. Harris and Brown dated when she was 29 and he was 60. At the time Brown was married but estranged from his wife. Brown was also plagued with corruption allegations. He has spoke about appointing her to two State commissions when he was the Assembly Speaker; around the time he was dating. I’m sure as a feminist she wouldn’t have use her relationship with him as leverage to get those positions. In 2003 Harris was elected as the District Attorney of San Francisco, to which Brown claims to have helped with. I’m sure she would have had no issue prosecuting the person that knows so much dirt about he though. After that she was elected as the Attorney General of California
Her Career as DA and AG
As a D.A. Kamala Harris was known to be tough on crime. She was the top Police Officer. She used undercover cops to arrest people seeking the service of prostitutes. This might be typical in most places. It was revealed though the stings mostly targeted Latinos. She was known as a cop favorite.
After she was elected as the AG she was as bad if not worse. Tulsi Gabbard said it best in the rant that ended Harris’ Presidential run. ‘You locked up people for simple Marijuana possession, then laughed when asked if you ever tried it. You blocked evidence that would have released a man from death row. kept at it until forced by a judge to release it. You kept people in prison after their sentences for the labor’. On top of this she fought to hard to uphold wrongful convictions. Most had only been won because of false testimonies and evidence that was tampered with. She has over 600 cases dismissed. She was a corrupt cop. She apposed a bill that forced her office to investigate officer involved shootings. With all these issues, one has to wonder how the Biden-Harris ticket is going to appeal to the current anti-police movement. Are the rioters, and Black Lives matter going to vote for her, or stay home?
Liberal policies
Kamala Harris has only been a Senator since 2017. So she doesn’t have a lot of experience in DC. Many of her views are obviously progressive. She fluctuated a lot on health care. At first wanting Medicare for all, then released a plan that sounded like Obamacare 2.0. She is 100% pro-abortion. She filed papers to allow the use of race as a determining factor in admission to college, and is pro affirmative action. She was very tough on drugs as a prosecutor, but has since come out in favors of legalization of Marijuana. She is also has one of the worst ratings on gun rights. With all her issues, I don’t see her resonating with left wing activists.
Presidential campaign
Harris’ Presidential campaign was not very long. However she was in the short list that made the debates. However her campaign ran quickly off the rails after they let Tulsi speak. On top of that, she attacked Biden saying. she believed the women who accused him of sexual assault. (Allegations that have not been dismissed) She also called out him for saying he can work with segregationist. I think the worst of it came after she dropped out. She used the old Hillary line that American was racist and sexist, and that’s why she lost. Not realizing this was a primary. Essentially she said Democratic voters were racist and sexist.
Why pick her?
So why did Biden pick her. There were candidates that would have helped inspire Democratic voters. So why someone like Kamala Harris? That remains to be seen. Was it the deep states pick? It was obvious that the pick, no matter who he picked, it would be pandering. He said it would be a woman of color. With that pigeonholed himself to only a few candidates.
Though it would have been a risk, he could have abandon that and went with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, or Sen. Elizabeth Warren. With Gov. Whitmer, she is the most hated governor in the country right now. Her campaign promise to fix the roads, I can tell you she hasn’t. They are worse than ever. It wouldn’t be wise to put a woman who is facing the threat of a recall, in a swing state, as his pick. Sen. Warren has a multitude of issues. The fact she marked Native American when applying to College. She is also an easy target for Trump. Plus she’s just not relatable.
In order to keep his promise, Biden really had four women to choose from on his short list. Failed Governor candidate Stacy Abrams, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, or former Obama Ambassador to the UN and National Security Advisor Susan Rice. Each one has their own issues.
Obviously Stacy Abrams failed in Georgia, and has no experience on a nation level. She was a State House Minority leader. She rose to a national figure, because she claimed voters were sexist and racist with Hillary.
Susan Rice might have been a decent pick. He already knows how they get along, as they worked together in the Obama administration. No one would want to here Benghazi back in the news. She was the one who went on every news show and told blatant lies. She said that it was a protest, turned attack, based on a Video. Meanwhile the Admin knew it was not. They don’t want a “Lock her up” chant this election cycle.
Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms probably would have been the best pick. Living in Atlanta, I was impressed with her the first few weeks of the George Floyd riots. That is until Richard Brooks was shot. She was inspiring, speaking about coming together and not tearing down your home. Her and Gov. Kemp worked well together to keep order, as much as possible. After the shooting that changed. she pushed for prosecution of the police officers involved. This caused the force to not show up the next night. Liberal voters would appreciate that she issued a mask mandate for the city. She is being sued by Gov. Kemp for violating his executive order, but that will play better with liberals. The biggest issue with Lance Bottoms is that she has only been a mayor. She has never had to govern with a congress, nor ever worked on a congress. That lack of experience would not be good as the second in command of the country. Especially in an election that many believe you are voting for the Vice President.
Conclusion
If the Democrats wanted to win the election Tulsi Gabbard would have been chosen. She’s not an insider, so it would never happen. Biden needs as much help has he can get. His choice in Harris is precarious, but probably the only one he could make. He made a promise to pander for the black female vote. Especially after multiple racist remarks, he could not go back on that. Also she had a relationship with his son Beau. Harris was not the best choice, but it is a logical one. Only time will tell if her history inspires the anti-cop crowd to vote for her. Especially when Biden wrote many laws to lock people up, and she enforced them. Trump is the only one to make the first step to true criminal justice reform.