WaPo: Kamala Harris's lack of 'remorse' should make her an even stronger candidate for VP

[mcar]

Kamala Harris’s lack of ‘remorse’ should make her an even stronger candidate for VP
Opinion by
Karen Tumulty
Columnist
July 27, 2020 at 1:41 p.m. EDT

A new report in Politico claims that Sen. Kamala D. Harris (D-Calif.), widely regarded as the front-runner to become Democratic nominee-to-be Joe Biden’s running mate, is coming up against questions of “trust” and whether she could be a “loyal No. 2.”

Former senator Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), who is helping to lead Biden’s search committee, was reportedly perturbed at Harris’s response when he brought up the fact that, during the first Democratic primary debate, Harris had taken a tough shot at Biden’s past opposition to forced school busing. ...

This reported anxiety about Harris, however, suggests a different standard for women as running mates. They are apparently supposed to be window-dressing — demure and apologetic.

I don’t claim to have any special knowledge of where things stand with the vice-presidential selection process. But if Biden were to tap Harris, he would hardly be the first to turn to a rival who had scuffed him up in a primary.

Biden himself stands as an example. Barack Obama picked the then-Delaware senator in 2008, despite the fact that Biden had warned that his colleague from Illinois — who was still in his first term — would be a “naive” commander in chief....

“In order to look tough, he’s undermined his ability to be tough, were he president," Biden said of Obama. “Because if you’re going to go into Pakistan — which is already our policy by the way, if there’s actionable intelligence — you need actionable intelligence from moderates within Pakistan working with you. Now if you’re already going to say I’m going to disregard whatever the country thinks and going to invade, the likelihood you’re getting the cooperation you need evaporates. It’s a well-intended notion he has, but it’s a very naive way of figuring out how you’re going to conduct foreign policy.”

You know who else was running that year? Dodd. He said of Obama: “Over the past several days, Sen. Obama’s assertions about foreign and military affairs have been, frankly, confusing and confused. He has made threats he should not make and made unwise categorical statements about military options."...

Compare that with the current situation: an administration of yes-men and yes-women who are banished and branded as disloyal if they breathe the slightest whisper of dissent.

If anything, Harris’s lack of “remorse” should recommend her for the job. She is an able debater, and a tough inquisitor in Senate hearings. Harris also has the perspective that comes from growing up as a nonwhite woman in this country.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/07/27/kamala-harris-question-trust/#click=https://t.co/VcmdhP7rX8

[RandySF]

1. They would never write that about a man.

[mcar]

3. I see what you did

[RandySF]

9. That was autocorrect

[frazzled]

2. I thought this was going to be about

her not showing remorse for actions taken during her stint as Attorney General in California. It could be a plus for potential law-and-order voters, but a real minus for Black voters.

[qazplm135]

4. The VP is going to be a frontrunner

for 24 or 28.

Harris would be formidable in that role.

Pretty sure that's a large chunk of why some folks are actively campaigning against her. They'd prefer another candidate or a more wide open competition.

[mcar]

6. Got it in one

I see some on Twitter who are pushing another candidate for VP, with the express purpose of her and the cabinet 25th amendment-ing Biden soon after inauguration.

Note that the other candidate is not saying this, nor would she, IMO. But with supporters like these...

[PunkinPi]

10. I've seen the same thing on Twitter about the 25th amendment nonsense.

It is unreal, but not surprising.

[Cha]

20. I haven't been much on twitter lately.. we

have been preparing for Hurricane Douglas which we just Dodged.. thank Goodness!

That's obscene talking like that about the "25th Amendment".. who the fuck do they think they are?

[mcar]

22. Glad to hear you dodged Douglas, Cha

[Cha]

24. Mahalo, mcar!!

[Andy823]

5. Thanks for this post car

Harris would make a fine VP, no matter what some here may say. She has what it takes to do the job, and to take over if something happened to Joe.

I really get tired of the attacks here on DU toward here. I don't mind when people say they support someone else, and then explain why, but I hate it when she, or any other women Joe might pick, get trashed by some poster who seems to have a grudge with them.

I will support "ANY" women Joe picks, period. I do wish he would make his choice soon so we don't have to see these post that for the most part just seem to be trying do divide people here on DU.

Thanks again for the post.

[mcar]

8. Thanks Andy

I agree. I have no problem with people supporting another candidate and saying why. I like many of them, though Harris is my first choice.

The attacks on her record as a prosecutor are particularly galling, especially since they use either far-right or far-left smears and lies.

We should be better than this. I will support any woman Joe picks and will happily make calls, send texts, and work the polls on election day for him.

[in2herbs]

12. I read that Biden's VP will be announced during the convention. nt

[smirkymonkey]

15. +1000

[budkin]

7. So psyched for Kamala!

Please choose her Joe!

[PunkinPi]

11. K&R, thanks for posting, mcar! nt

[stopbush]

13. I'm a Kamala fan, but the only reason to run her for VP this year

is to set her up for a POTUS run in the future. Her skills and talents would be put to better use as USAG.

[MrsCoffee]

14. K&R

[BusyBeingBest]

16. It was a dumb thing to do.

Doing dumb things never helps your case.

[mcar]

17. No, it was politics

Over the years during primary debates, male candidates have attacked each other, including Biden on Obama and, checking notes, oh yeah, Chris Dodd, who ran for president in 2008 and also attacked Obama.

Funny how it wasn't called dumb then.

[Awsi Dooger]

25. That's politics is acknowledging misogyny toward 2024 and 2028

I have no doubt Kamala Harris would make a fine vice presidential nominee. But I want no part of her atop the ticket. I have emphasized that since her Kavanaugh questioning. A male politician can get away with that type of personality. A female cannot.

I've seen that while hosting debate watching parties among apolitical types. Dina Titus ran circles around Jim Gibbons in Nevada governor debates but the people in my living room nitpicked Titus on everything. Titus and Hillary and Harris are all the same basic style. They know a ton and can win any exchange point to point but it won't translate to votes where those votes are legitimately up for grabs.

If we deny the misogyny then we're in major jeopardy of throwing away 2024. I wouldn't care about Harris if Biden were 57. But at 77 I can't ignore 2024. A female politician seeking highest level needs a more naturally likable personality. That's why I prefer Rice, then Bass.

[GulfCoast66]

18. I think that attacked helped Biden. A lot.

It showed he could still take a punch and come out strong.

I’ve been a Biden supporter since well before he declared. And was hoping for a Harris VP since that same time.

Her attacks never phased my opinion. Word is their family are close and him picking her is another indication he is the anti-trump. He does not hold a grudge and understands politics is a hard core activity.

[Andy823]

19. K&R nt

[DFW]

21. Fortunately, Biden is also talking to Obama

Obama used quite the opposite criteria to pick Biden, and did rather well with it.

[mcar]

23. Good point