Kamala Harris, deal breaker

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California state Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris refuses to let five big banks get off easy in the mortgage mess.

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Since then, Harris has come under pressure from the Obama administration to get with the program and agree to a settlement. (Having declined to go after the bankers themselves, administration officials now want some agreement, however inadequate, that they can tout to voters.) But Harris has also come under pressure from a broad coalition of community organizations, unions and liberal groups — the realpolitik adjunct of Occupy Wall Street — not to settle unless the banks come up with much more than they're offering, or, if that offer isn't increased, unless the banks are denied the sweeping waiver for crimes they may have committed.

To date, Harris remains steadfast in her resolve not to let the banks skate. Some politics is in play here, not surprisingly. To settle would mean putting at risk the support of the liberal constituencies whose interests she championed as San Francisco's district attorney. They backed her in her run for attorney general, and she'll need their support if she runs for governor or U.S. senator later this decade. Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, a potential primary opponent if she does run for higher office, has been vocal in his support for the community groups. Newsom has no role in the bank negotiations, but by prominently opposing a settlement, he's managed to pressure the one public official with the greatest capacity to make, break or reshape a deal.

In this case, Harris' smart politics is also good policy for California. Positioned at the very center of the fight between Wall Street and the 99%, Harris has come down on the side of the 99%. That speaks well not just of her but of the emerging movement, whose voices she's heard, to restore some equity to America's politics and economy.

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-meyerson-kamala-20111121,0,5673022.story