Kamala Harris Should Drop Out
It’s easy to tell where I stand based on the title of this article. However, I do want to be clear about something: I am glad we live in a world where Kamala Harris can run for President of the United States. It’s insane to actually think about the fact that women have only been able to vote in this country for a little over a century, and that context should be presented before explaining why I think she is a terrible choice to lead the United States.
I do also hope that a black woman one day steps into the office, but I don’t think that the woman should be Harris. The 54-year-old senator is smart, calculated, and has been praised for her “courtroom presence”, given her past as a prosecutor. I think she is infinitely more capable than Trump, but I do believe that her campaign is essentially over. Her last-ditch attempts at relevancy involve an attack at Warren, which you can find at thirty seconds in the following clip:
Harris used to be a prosecutor, and that seems to be causing a lot of issues in her campaign. While many believed that Harris would be a formidable foe to Trump in an eventual debate; interest in her as a real candidate has leveled. Elizabeth Warren, on the other hand, continues to rise in the polls.
It didn’t take a genius to realize that Harris might eventually attempt to attack Warren. However, the jab certainly took many by surprise. Specifically, Kamala decided to put forth the idea that Trump’s Twitter account should be banned. Here is Jon Lovett, political podcaster (and former Obama speechwriter), commenting on the move:
There are many conservatives that turn to a “free speech” argument when it comes to Trump — and they often use this shield to defend him during his racist rants and when he praises dictators. However, if Trump’s Twitter was suspended; they might actually finally have a real argument.
I am not a fan of what Trump tweets, and I understand that he is erratic. I also believe the man might even be legitimately mentally unstable. I also recognize that his words have the power to actually lead to violence.
I do not, however, think that Trump’s Twitter should be suspended.
First and foremost, a reason why Trump’s Twitter shouldn’t be suspended will be apparent to anyone who, like me, wants him out of the office as soon as possible. “But Neil, you know that Trump is trash. His words can be dangerous: why shouldn’t we suspend his Twitter?”
The answer is simple: his tweets might literally be evidence that will help Trump face some actual consequences for his actions. One of the wildest aspects of Harris hoping that his account is suspended is that she — as a prosecutor — doesn’t seem to realize this.
Yes, Trump used the platform to get elected. However, many seem resigned to the fact that his tweets are mostly used for damage control than anything else. Do his tweets affect the financial markets? Sure. He’s the President Of The United States.
It doesn’t matter who we elected: their statements would potentially have repercussions. Trump is taken less and less seriously now, thanks to the fact that he can’t spell properly and screams about desperate witch-hunts. Only several days ago, Trump literally tweeted “Impeach the Pres”, which is a testament to his behavior being more erratic than ever as of recent.
This might indicate that Twitter doesn’t work for him the way it used to.
Trump is also now getting ratioed — another plus for anyone who wants Trump out, and recognizes that his tweets might be less effective than they were in 2015–2016. It is unclear how Twitter numbers might directly relate to about public perception and/or social sentiment, but it’s certainly worth noting.
Let’s say Kamala gets her wish. If you are a bit unclear on why she wants Trump’s account suspended, here’s an interview for some more context:
What does Harris think will happen, exactly? Does she believe that Zuckerberg will stop Trump from spewing his bullshit on that particular platform? Facebook has over 2 billion monthly active users.
While Trump is known for his tweets; I don’t exactly see how forcing him to switch social media platform would diminish his influence as the leader of the free world in any meaningful way. Facebook is already accused of having a liberal bias, and Zuckerberg apparently has no issue meeting with conservative pundits. What would make Zuckerberg stop Trump from posting on Facebook instead of tweeting?
By all means, feel free to correct me if I am wrong. It’s not like Trump doesn’t lie on camera. So instead of tweeting earlier in the morning — he will do it on national news outlets a couple of hours later? It doesn’t seem like the significant argument Harris should be putting forward if she wants to remain relevant in the race.
Yet, she’s sticking to it.
“Neil, that’s fine, but Kamala still has a point, right?”
Eh…not really.
One of the other problems with calling out Warren concerning Twitter is the fact that Elizabeth Warren DOES want to take decisive action against tech companies. Warren wants to break up Facebook — where has Harris ever mentioned anything about doing something like that?
Kamala Harris is focusing on Trump’s penchant for misinformation through 140 characters, but how helpful is that? Warren is the one actually talking about structural change and has Zuckerberg on the defensive — literally. Trump might be able to lead us into nuclear war single-handedly. Is his Twitter account really where we should focus at this point?
Politico describes Warren and Facebook as in a “war” — one which Warren seems to have zero problems escalating. This is yet another reason why Kamala (or her team) needs to pivot regarding strategy, messaging, or whatever political jargon you want to utilize.
Warren has Silicon Valley billionaires scared. Sanders is debating like he didn’t have a heart attack. It seems like these two are the progressive stars that are simply making Harris look a bit too forced, even if she has incredible moments in debates.
We might have different opinions about Twitter. Some people that believe that the platform is incredibly toxic. Others may have found their significant other on the platform thanks to similar interests or mutual friends. Some might believe that Trump should be able to block people, while others might argue that Twitter isn’t that important either way. Regardless, Trump is in office, and whether he can access Twitter or not won’t change that.
I don’t like that Harris laughs about smoking marijuana when she has prosecuted so many marijuana crimes. I do not particularly appreciate that she thought arresting parents for children being truant was the kind of idea that is intelligent to implement, either. Also, I am not too fond of the fact that her office fought payments to those who were wrongly convicted.
Harris is intelligent, successful, and straightforward. I can’t say that she always comes across genuine. She does come across as witty and determined, which is valuable. I am also not sure that Americans are ready to elect a prosecutor, but she is an excellent candidate.
I would never deny that.
However, I get the feeling that she is hoping to chase votes rather than stand firm on certain principles the way Sanders has for decades. Harris can probably mop the floor with Trump in a debate, but I’m not sure that she can gain the momentum to go further at this point.
Harris is a prosecutor — she is the candidate most equipped to speak about ALL the illegal things that he does. Instead, her attack on Warren comes across as somewhat desperate. If you’re a fan of The Wire — and you should be, because it’s one of the greatest TV shows of all time — you should know where I am going with this. Omar Little said it, and it’s since become a meme: “You come at the king, you best not miss.”
Is Warren “the queen”? I don’t know. I do know that she is currently treated as the frontrunner by many, including CNN.
Harris does have one moment that will undoubtedly be revisited in history. Leave it to a witty prosecutor to know how to clap back on Twitter at, not Trump, but one of his sons — but calling the current president “a joke” simultaneously, within the punchline. If we are honest, it might be one of the most ingenious political insults of recent memory:
It was the perfect set up for someone like Harris, which is probably why the tweet has garnered over 100,000 retweets. However, it takes more than social media savvy to beat Trump. Harris seems to debate like a prosecutor, but her new angle seems off. She’s active in debates, great when it comes to social media jabs, and her strength is almost palpable every time she speaks in public. However, unfortunately, it might be time for her to drop out.
Harris might surprise us all, but it isn’t looking that way. You might be thinking, “Neil, you are exaggerating: what makes you say this?” I would argue that this one fact would support my claim: over a month ago, polls showed Yang beating Harris — in her own state.
The dislike-to-like ratio on the following video, where she comments on Yang, says it all. You don’t have to delve too far into the comments to realize that voters don’t find Harris to be authentic.
Of course, Harris — it doesn’t have to be today. While I was writing this article, I found out that today is Kamala’s birthday! Here’s to wishing you many more, and happy 55th to you, ma’am! In an age where Trump is President, it’s refreshing to see a politician move with grace and elegance. Here’s Kamala getting regaled by supporters in a South Carolina barbershop in celebration of the California senator:
