While the Democratic Party's indulgence in identity politics has proven successful in building a diverse organization, its strategy of catering to minority voters is a recipe for disaster.
In 2020, Joe Biden's pledge to appoint a Black woman as vice president, combined with support from Congressman James E. Clyburn to change elections in South Carolina, led Biden to move to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. paved the way.
His choice of the “history-making” telegenic Kamala D. Harris could be his downfall in 2024 — and he's had enough downfalls to worry voters. Mr. Harris' resume was impressive. The former California attorney general and current U.S. senator appears to have been created by central casting. Or was it artificial intelligence? She became the first black woman and the first woman of Asian descent to be nominated for vice president, a double-header.
But the evolution of her beliefs has diminished that appeal. As a 2020 presidential candidate, she followed the Democratic Party's playbook on issues, except when she raised her hand in support of eliminating private health insurance. She also cited Biden's longstanding stance against student busing, successfully implying that Biden is a racist and racist. She said she was one of the black girls on the bus when she scolded Biden during the famous debate.
Her touch was short-lived. Harris ended her campaign in December 2019, citing a lack of funding. Next thing we knew, she was moving to the Naval Observatory. She was a huge failure as Border Emperor, and although she held the position for a short time, she otherwise seemed to operate in secret.
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Whatever the reason, Harris' role seems to have been to keep his boss quiet so he wouldn't annoy his bosses with his sometimes insane ramblings and out-of-nowhere guffaws about things that were obvious to everyone else. But I enjoy thinking back to the time she met President Vladimir Putin and suddenly burst into laughter at a key moment in the nuclear weapons debate.
Kamala's conundrum boils down to this. She was chosen because she was black and female, which equated to job security for her. Biden cannot fire her now that she has become a burden on the Democratic ticket. He cannot break his promise to the base. Full stop. The seriousness of this situation cannot be overstated. Despite the relative success of the State of the Union address, there are concerns about Biden's declining performance and increasing physical frailty.
Any honest person knows that he or she is not in the best of shape. A recent New York Times poll found that 73% of registered voters think Biden is too old to be the nation's top executive. That includes 61 percent of those who voted for him in 2020.
At the beginning of Biden's term, I expected Harris to do well. She loved pizza and had a reputation as a tough prosecutor. She had a difficult personality and an arrogant personality, which made her lean toward centrism. There was a reason for her hope. Criticism from California progressives that she hasn't done enough on racial justice issues and takes the side of prosecutors too often may have helped her come under scrutiny as a vice presidential candidate. expensive.
Her performance as second in command was disappointing, to say the least. Americans took notice. Democrats unsurprisingly like her more than her Republicans, but a recent analysis by FiveThirtyEight found that her overall average approval rating was just 37.2%, making her as vice president is the lowest recorded.
There's no reason to think her rankings would skyrocket if she were suddenly elevated to the Oval Office. On the contrary, most signs point to disaster. This is why I respectfully suggest that Mr. Harris stay off the ticket.
This is not a partisan proposal. As I wrote, I said the same thing about Sarah Palin in 2008 when it became clear that she was “substandard.” She said no one would blame Palin for wanting to spend more time with her family, including her new baby. I ended this column with the words, “Please serve your country.”
Ms. Harris can explain her own reasons for moving on. Perhaps she and Biden could work out a deal that would allow him to become the next attorney general if he is re-elected. Biden could then nominate another person with executive experience who could reassure voters that the vice president-elect is ready to take the reins if needed. Democrats and Republicans alike will be relieved.
Madam Vice President, good luck for your country.
