Kamala Harris Was Not a 'Progressive Prosecutor'By Lara Bazelon Ms. Bazelon is a law professor and

[Demsrule86]

the former director of the Loyola Law School Project for the Innocent in Los Angele

"Consider her record as San Francisco’s district attorney from 2004 to 2011. Ms. Harris was criticized in 2010 for withholding information about a policboratory technician who had been accused of “intentionally sabotaging” her work and stealing drugs from the lab. After a memo surfaced showing that Ms. Harris’s deputies knew about the technician’s wrongdoing and recent conviction, but failed to alert defense lawyers, a judge condemned Ms. Harris’s indifference to the systemic violation of the defendants’ constitutional rights...

...Ms. Harris contested the ruling by arguing that the judge, whose husband was a defense attorney and had spoken publicly about the importance of disclosing evidence, had a conflict of interest. Ms. Harris lost. More than 600 cases handled by the corrupt technician were dismissed...Ms. Harris also championed state legislation under which parents whose children were found to be habitually truant in elementary school could be prosecuted..." In 2014, she declined to take a position on Proposition 47, a ballot initiative approved by voters, that reduced certain low-level felonies to misdemeanors. She laughed that year when a reporter asked if she would support the legalization of marijuana for recreational use. Ms. Harris finally reversed course in 2018, long after public opinion had shifted on the topic.

In 2015, she opposed a bill requiring her office to investigate shootings involving officers. And she refused to support statewide standards regulating the use of body-worn cameras by police officers. For this, she incurred criticism from an array of left-leaning reformers, including Democratic state senators, the A.C.L.U. and San Francisco’s elected public defender. The activist Phelicia Jones, who had supported Ms. Harris for years, asked, “How many more people need to die before she steps in?” ...
The article has more about such issues as the death penalty... reducing penalties for non-violent offenders and wrongful incarceration and closes with a demand for Sen. Harris o break with her past...and apologize. I was quite surprised to read this and although not new is worth reading. I never saw it before.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/17/opinion/kamala-harris-criminal-justice.html

[highplainsdem]

1. Thanks! Eye-opening read. I hadn't seen it before, either.

[Demsrule86]

2. I was shocked.

[Demsrule86]

3. will be driving and will check back later...really interesting read.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

26. WOW!! Extremely eye opening!!

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[madville]

4. Tampered evidence, false statements, prosecutors willfully suppressing evidence

Those are the things Harris argued weren't sufficient enough to overturn 100s of cases in California. Thankfully she lost that argument and 100s had their wrongful convictions overturned.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

27. Yikes!!

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[still_one]

5. This has got to be a hit job

[pnwmom]

6. No, she wasn't. But she has been a very progressive Senator.

And her record as a prosecutor is unlikely to hurt her among centrists.

[at140]

76. The article leads me to believe, Kamala will adapt

to whatever is the winning strategy do jour!

[oasis]

7. The gloves are coming off.

[gldstwmn]

65. Because they see her now. And the more they see

the more threatened they are.

[bluewater]

8. Harris has been viewed as a moderate Democrat, actually

Last edited Sun Jun 30, 2019, 05:31 PM - Edit history (1)

Biden and Harris both appeal to the more "moderate" portion of the Democratic base.

It's probably why the Biden Campaign is freaking out now since she is gaining traction at their expense.

As a black woman moderate Democrat, she has great potential to gain the support of older black moderate Democratic voters who currently support Biden.

[Thekaspervote]

18. The latest morning consult shows Harris has already lost 5 of the 9 pts she gained. With

Biden regaining 1-2 pts.

As a biden supporter I am not freaking out, nor are the others I’m reading and seeing

Also, Biden’s support among AA voters post debate jumped 18%

[bluewater]

19. President Obama did not lead in ANY major poll untill Feb 1-3 2008

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nationwide_opinion_polling_for_the_2008_Democratic_Party_presidential_primaries

It's just too early to obsess over any poll or two.

Early on in 2007, the majority of black democratic voters supported Hilary Clinton over Barack Obama.
That changed drastically as the primary season progressed.

The Biden Campaign is worried that something similar could happen to their candidate in 2019.

That is a long-term trend to watch and will tell us more than any early poll or two right now.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

28. Little surprised by that... but not shocked. Maybe Kamala's strategy is backfiring...

The next few weeks of polling should be interesting.


Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[emmaverybo]

47. Interesting. Really like to know why the jump. NT

[Hassin Bin Sober]

9. This is disqualifying

[irisblue]

11. Vetting is going to be intense over tne next 17 months.

::need to pick up big bottle of tums::

[highplainsdem]

14. Yep.

[ehrnst]

24. Some are going to cry foul when their candidate is subject to the same. (nt)

[irisblue]

25. Yep.

::big jar of tums on the grocery list::

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

30. One would think so HBS... under the "Bernie Standard," this would NEVER fly!!

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[Demsrule86]

53. Haha...so is your strategy to disqualify all other candidate leaving Bernie to take the nomination?

[Hassin Bin Sober]

54. .

[Demsrule86]

83. Hahaha

I love scooby doo.....

[Peacetrain]

10. In 2015, she opposed a bill requiring her office to investigate shootings involving officers.

And she refused to support statewide standards regulating the use of body-worn cameras by police officers. For this, she incurred criticism from an array of left-leaning reformers, including Democratic state senators, the A.C.L.U. and San Francisco’s elected public defender. The activist Phelicia Jones, who had supported Ms. Harris for years, asked, “How many more people need to die before she steps in?” .

I am for once speechless..I had read some things.. and posted more than once everyone has a history that will come to light as they get higher in the polls.. but I have never seen this before..

[highplainsdem]

12. I'd read various comments various places saying her background as a DA was going to cause problems

for her once people looked at it closely, but I never followed up on those hints, wasn't interested enough to do any research on it.

This OP and the NY Times piece it links to were a shock.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

31. I've read that too, but, those reports never gained traction...

Maybe now they will, given Kamala's line of attack against Biden.


Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[Hassin Bin Sober]

33. This is disqualifying

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

13. Circular Firing Squad, Part II.

A little googling indicated that Lara Bazelon has something pretty close to a vendetta going against Harris; she's been all over the op-eds and the talk shows, including Joy Reid's, slamming her record as a prosecutor. But everybody's got an agenda; Ms. Bazelon's seems to be a very pro-defense perspective relative to criminal prosecutions - as well as sexual assault claims on college campuses. She supports Betsy DeVos' Title IX "reforms" of the Obama administration's college sexual assault investigation procedures. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/04/opinion/-title-ix-devos-democrat-feminist.html

[highplainsdem]

17. Bazelon has explained that her concern with Title IX is its disproportionate impact on black men as

targets of investigation: 4% of the student population, in one study, but 50% of the Title IX targets.

[RHMerriman]

15. You know, when you can be criticized, equally credibly, for misuse of the powers of the office

You know, when you can be criticized, equally credibly, for misuse of the powers of the office against both defendants and against victims, one might wonder if you really know what you're doing...

As an example, along with all the poor decisions regarding defendants outlined in the NYT op-ed, there's the decision regarding the defendant convicted of ambush murder of a police officer - with an assault rifle, nonetheless - that Bazelon references at the end of the piece.

The senator attacked a fellow Democrat over a spurious issue. She's going to be attacked in turn, no matter how "hurtful" she and her supporters may find it.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

34. And it doesn't help that Kamala is putting her prosecutorial experience front and center

as one of the main reasons she should be the Democratic nominee. In that case, it's completely fair to vet Kamala's work as a prosecutor to evaluate how effective or ineffective she was in that role.


Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[RHMerriman]

37. The senator is vulnerable to being criticized by liberals for misuse of her office's power

The senator is vulnerable to being criticized by liberals for misuse of her office's power regarding defendants and by moderates for poor decisions regarding the death penalty for convicted ambush murderers of cop killers.

Imagine what the GOP will do with her record.

She's in over her head, and flailing to try and survive.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

42. I disagree that Kamala is "in over her head" as you say... but, she did open that "can of worms"

by drawing attention to herself on justice issues and may regret doing that. In any case, it's a debate worth having... and let the best, most qualified candidate with the right temperament win!!


Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[RHMerriman]

45. Less than a week ago, she was at 5 percent with AA voters; Biden was at 45 percent

Less than a week ago, she was at 5 percent with AA voters; Biden was at 45 percent...

She wasn't just in over her head; she was underwater.

Explains the entire ridiculous "Biden is a racist" and "I was the underprivileged child of two Phds" (both of whom were working full-time when she went off to grade school, one of them being a tenured professor at Wisconsin).

The mean streets of Berkeley, indeed. Surprised she was able to survive it.

[Demsrule86]

63. That is a good point.

[Voltaire2]

16. Is this one of those positive posts

about your candidate I’ve read repeatedly here are what we should be posting?

[highplainsdem]

21. You mean "positive posts" like this post of yours?

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287157958


At least this OP from Demsrule86 provides some background on Harris that many here were unaware of.

[58Sunliner]

59. Thanks I needed a laugh.

[Spider Jerusalem]

20. L-O-Fucking-L at Biden supporters using this as a club to bash Harris with

Biden was one of the leading proponents of mandatory minimum sentencing, broadening the Federal death penalty to apply to a greater number of offences, and intensifying the war on drugs. If Harris wasn't particularly a progressive prosecutor (which I don't think she was either FWIW), it's partly because she was operating in an environment that Biden helped create.

[bluewater]

23. IKR. Biden and Harris are both moderate Democrats

It's like the Biden supporters are looking into a mirror and complaining about what they see.

[treestar]

36. Now you are making it about the supporters and not the candidates

2016.

2016.

2016.

Just stop. Defend what she did rather than attack the supporters for bringing it up. It was said Biden has to be able to deal with it. It's already known that he has but the other candidates have not and need to prove that they can.

[AlexSFCA]

81. I wouldn't classify Kamala as moderate dem

she is not some socialist nutjob but she is far more left than a moderate dem would be. In CA, she has always been considered progressive on par with Newsom who is one of the most progressive democrats in the country for over a decade and certainly the most progressive governor of any state (perhaps ever). You want an example of moderate CA dem - Feinstein.

[Demsrule86]

85. I dont agree. I am not sure what she really believes

[treestar]

39. So now you are making it totally negative

Who is worse on crime? An argument that other candidates are worse on the issue. Just make them all look bad. That'll help.

[Spider Jerusalem]

57. Biden and Harris are both pretty terrible on this issue, honestly

they aren't the only candidates in the race, though, and Iowa and New Hampshire are still six months out.

[Thekaspervote]

50. Meh!

[Butterflylady]

22. Prosecutors, usually use

That office as a step up to bigger and better positions. Most of the time though it's usually a judgeship.

[Grasswire2]

29. Some talking heads on MSNBC the other day mentioned that some younger POC are fearful..

....of Kamala because of her background as a prosecutor.

I wasn't exactly sure of what they meant, but this could be a reason.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

38. Makes sense now.

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[Grasswire2]

40. I remember now that Joy Reid was one of those in that conversation. nt

[Demsrule86]

62. That is what I was thinking...I wondered why she wasn't more popular in Black communities.

Some of those policies like arresting parents who's kids miss school, over charging POC have caused lasting harm ...

[watoos]

32. Can anyone guess why I chose Tulsi

as my candidate? I did so because at the onset Tulsi and Bernie were being attacked by Democrats at will. I chose Tulsi to defend her against Democrats eating our own. I guess now that the gloves are off and Democrats are free to attack Democrats, I will change my pick for my nominee.

[treestar]

35. I would normally defend all this as likely decisions made for which

we don't have all the facts, and no one's perfect, and being a prosecutor necessarily involves having to oppose the defendants - but now it's like well, if you want to go negative, take your turn in the barrel.

Introducing that negativity was not a good move, Senator. Now it's going to keep on and not only Biden will get some of it. And all of the candidates will be dirtied up enough to depress voter turnout.

[Grasswire2]

41. Sigh.

I said weeks ago that I would not support a candidate whose path was to tear down others.

[treestar]

43. Agreed. If they have to do that, they are telling me

they are inferior to that candidate in their own minds.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

44. I hear ya... in the end, Kamala's attack strategy against Joe may backfire.

Guess we'll soon see.


Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[emmaverybo]

46. Her record as DA and AG speaks to political expedience as a guiding principal in decision-making.

Not unusual to act, or fail to act, out of political concern for one’s office and one’s future. I am hoping, however, that we might see her take the fight against systemic racism as it still operates TODAY to the racists in power, and call for a unified effort, as Biden did, for Americans to “struggle for the soul of” the nation.

[oasis]

48. This is liable to cause much concern in the Kamala camp. We'll see.

[Kaleva]

61. Doubt it. It's a 7 month old article and it's been discussed before here in this forum.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1287&pid=144586

[betsuni]

67. JPR has a "List of Damning Articles on Harris." All those posted here and much, much more.

Greatest hits like accusing her of being a neoliberal, darling of Wall St., in the pocket of wealthy donors, not progressive, wants inmates used as cheap labor, is two-faced, did crimes, is mean to black people, loves mass incarceration, etc., and more!

For no extra charge, the site is touting a conspiracy theory that Harris got the answers to the debate ahead of time (because how did the photo of her as a little girl surface so quickly, HOW).

[Kaleva]

68. Thanks. I'll have to check that out

[betsuni]

70. You're welcome.

I'm going back over to look for the hit lists on Biden and Warren.

[Kaleva]

71. I just tried to find it.

Could you send me a link via PM? It's been a long day babysitting and I have to get to bed. LOL!

[betsuni]

75. Done.

For anyone else who wants to take a peek, go to the 2020 Election main forum and click on President. It's from two days ago

[betsuni]

92. LOL

[MrsCoffee]

93. Enjoy your stay.

[marybourg]

56. The job of a prosecutor is not by its nature, progressive.

Progressive lawyers in my era became defense attorneys. That changed due to high crime rates, 911, and the constant drumbeat of law and order-mongering by the right wing, which in turn caused a culture of disrespect and defunding towards the work of defense attorneys. In another era, Ms. Harris might have been a defense attorney, but like most of us, she’s a product of her time.

[58Sunliner]

60. To a degree, she was a product of Willie Brown and his machine where she got her patronage

and her promotion.

[gldstwmn]

66. Patronage? Hoo boy. Good luck with that one.

[58Sunliner]

69. Willie Brown appointed her to 2 jobs, bought her a BMW, supported her for DA.

I won't add the details of their personal relationship which was well documented. I'd call that patronage. I don't need luck. It's the truth.
Patronage- the support given by a patron.

synonyms:sponsorship, backing, funding, financing, philanthropy, promotion, furtherance, help.

[IluvPitties]

72. I had not heard of this before...

but, if true, deserves scrutiny.

[58Sunliner]

79. It wasn't a secret. Just look up Kamala and Willie Brown.

[58Sunliner]

58. Hadn't read this yet, thanks. Scary.

[gldstwmn]

64. Prosecutors by and large are not progressive.

But thanks for your 2 cents Lara.

[IluvPitties]

73. Should we overlook her record as prosecutor then?

[gldstwmn]

74. If you can't be objective about what being a prosecutor really means and

what the job entails then maybe you should. I am clear on all of that.

[Demsrule86]

86. I had this idea that she sought to serve justice...naive I know.

But the idea she fought to keep people who may have been wrongfully convicted because of a corrupt lab technician in jail was pretty disturbing. I looked into this after reading about the Catholic church thing.

[betsuni]

87. LOL

Jackpineradicals.com has a nice convenient list of all the fake news propaganda meant to defeat Democrats: "List of Damning Articles on Harris." Who believes that stuff?

[gldstwmn]

96. Thanks for this. I'll check it out so I don't have

to bother with this nonsense anymore.

[betsuni]

95. LOL

[Loki Liesmith]

77. Good

[LW1977]

78. I vote blue no matter who.

Too much is at stake.

[AlexSFCA]

80. I adore both Biden and Harris

most dem polls show that harris is second favorite for those rooting for biden. They are both flawed, no one is perfect, both have major vulnerabilities. Bottomline, both have proven to be hugely successful. Harris was elected AG and then senator, we voted for her both time fully aware of who she is. There’s been thousands of ads about her record in the state, the accomplishments vastly outshined her vulnerabilities. Newsflash - voters LOVE tough prosecutors as AG. Harris was seen widey successful as SF DA so that she ran completely unopposed in 2007. Her major criticism was refusal to apply death penalty to any case. But, overall, she was very effective prosecutor who significantly increased prosecution rate and one of the toughest ones in the state. This is why there are some left wing defendant friendly fellas who view her negatively but most residents appreciate her tough on crime stance and calculated, ruthless prosecutorial style leaving no room for defense. Her prosecutorial record will easily win moderates and independent voters who prefer tough on crime approach. I would love to see her prosecute trump. With that said, I think that she would be the perfect choice for AG if she doesn't win the nomination. I can’t think of a more qualified and fearless person for that role to clean up all the mess.

[Raine]

82. THANK YOU for posting this

voters should know this.

[Demsrule86]

84. I apreciate that. I had never read or heard any of this...

I was surprised...I had planned to support Biden only in the primary...if he didnt get the nomination than, i didnt care and would support the nominee in the general...vote, work etc. But now i would support Warren or Castro in the primary if Biden was out...I don't like Sen. Harris's actions as a prosecutor...not giving info to defendents lawyers,the police investigation thing...I know she was a prosecutor but maybe we don't need a prosecutor as our nominee. Again if she wins , I would of course vote for her in a general...but i still think Biden will be our nominee.

[Raine]

88. Harris is just about the last

on my list, I certainly hope she's not the nominee.

[Go Vols]

97. +1

[wyldwolf]

89. I'll say this: She's everything "progressives" have complained about for years

At the moment, she's being used by "progressives" as a tool to blunt Biden's ascendance.

Full disclosure: Harris is my second choice.

[femmedem]

90. A filmed interview with George Gage, a 77 year-old blind man, could be devastating.

https://www.themarshallproject.org/2016/08/29/the-accuser-s-mom-called-her-a-pathological-liar-nobody-told-the-defense

https://wronglyconvictedgroup.wordpress.com/2016/08/09/george-gage/

There does appear to be solid evidence against Kevin Cooper and Johnny Baca, however, which isn't mentioned in this article.