Mornin’ Politocadoes!
The excitement for the candidacy of Kamala Harris has become a balm to soothe the anxieties for anyone on the left. She raised more than 200 million dollars in her first week, signed up 170,000 new volunteers, and has locked up the endorsements needed to earn Democratic nomination. She is an accomplished attorney, D.A., Senator, and Vice President. She is also the first Indian-American and Black-American woman to seek the highest office in the country. Capable, intelligent, charismatic, with a good command of the issues.
Yesterday, her rival, the Ex-President, the Crime President Donald Trump, spoke to the National Association of Black Journalists. The interview was chaotic and combative, with Trump huffing about not being told he’d have to weather these questions alone. WHen asked directly if he thought she was a DEI hire, Trump struggled to define what exactly DEI even is. FInally though, he unveiled a new line of attack: Kamala isn’t Black.
Or at least, she only recently “turned Black”.
The topic of being multiracial is extremely nuanced and perhaps best handled by people with that lived experience. Donald Trump is not that man. Kamala Harris grew up in a multiracial household, honoring her Indian heritage, yet still living in the world as a Black woman. Her father was from Jamaica, they lived in Champaign, IL and West Berkeley, CA and was bused as part of Berkeley’s “Comprehensive Desegregation Program” to Thousand Oaks, CA when she was in kindergarten. She went to an HBCU and pledged a traditionally Black sorority and served in the Senate as a member of the Congressional Black caucus. To say that she hasn’t authentically lived the Black experience or wasn’t part of that community until it was convenient for her is a bald faced lie.
Any Republicans uncomfortable with it will fall in line eventually. If it has any traction, if it feels like they got Harris on the backstep with it, they will fall in line. The same way they did before with Trump’s earlier birtherism. JD Vance is already coming out swinging (Sidebar: If he brings his wife who is of Indian heritage into this at all, I’m gonna be fuckin’ furious at the Couchfucker). Various House members and Senators have already replied “No comment”, which tells me that yeah, they know it’s abhorrent but they’re also too scared to really call him out on it. So that’s not helpful.
Harris responded not long after, who critique Trump’s defensiveness and his kneejerk divisiveness.
“The American people deserve a leader who tells the truth, a leader who does not respond with hostility and anger when confronted with the facts. We deserve a leader who understands that our differences do not divide us — they are an essential source of our strength.”
Strong words. Trump will likely keep with this line of attack, he always seems to have a better understanding of what his base wants to hear so whether this was calculated or not likely doesn’t matter. What the Harris campaign needs to do is keep reminding people how weird this is, how wrong these guys actually are. It is exactly the opposite of what we want this country to be.
Welcome to Thursday! Please be excellent to each other in the comments. The Mayor McSquirrel Rule remains in effect. Something to keep in mind! Police are using digital data to prosecute abortion seekers, and Facebook and Google are helping them! Even if they are not legally required to do so, the tech giants will aid them in this since it’s technically against the law. Please be careful when looking for abortion providers or helping someone who is looking for that assistance.
The Covid-19 pandemic continues even if the emergencies end, continue to vaccinate using the latest version of the FDA approved vaccines by Phizer and Moderna. Even if you are vaccinated, please continue to maintain social distancing measures, wear masks in public areas in accordance with CDC guidelines in regard to your own vaccination status.Also, according to recent polls approximately 50% of adults are not planning on getting their Covid-19 boosters. So please get them and older adults should also look to be vaccinated for RSV!