The Right-wing is Failing to Target Kamala Harris Effectively

 

By David Starr

 

The two tendencies of the Republicrat Party (which imposes the rule of capital) have had a kind of “slugfest” with each other. Republicans blame Democrats and Democrats blame Republicans for the problems that U.S. society has as it wallows into chaos, tension, division and anger.

 

The Republican side, however, is flailing, and failing, to utilize effective attacks to use against presumptive presidential nominee Kamala Harris. One attempt is criticizing Harris on border policy. This may have results, but Harris may find an effective counterpoint to this. 

 

Trump has attacked Harris of being a failed “border czar,” quoting him in a Reuters report. Republicans have used this repeatedly, one reason being that they don’t have anything else on Harris that would discredit her. 

 

This, line of attack, however, has been refuted. Reuters quotes democratic, Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy, who is on the Foreign Relations Committee: “She was given a very hard, difficult, convoluted portfolio.” Being more direct, Alan Bersin, former border czar under Presidents Barak Obama and Bill Clinton, said, “This was not the job assigned to VP Harris,” adding that the portfolio of border czar was never given to Her. 

 

Harris was assigned to a position by Joe Biden which would use diplomacy in reducing poverty, violence and corruption in Central America. The problem is that U.S. foreign policy has done virtually the opposite in “helping” the countries of Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. The Democrats have basically utilized “diplomatic” imperialism while the Republicans have been out-and-out imperialists more often than not.

 

Harris did make two trips to the border in June 2021 and January 2022. She went to the migrant processing center and spoke with individuals there. Harris, however, did not tour the border wall.

 

In defending herself, Harris said, “The reality of it is that we have to deal with the causes, and we have to deal with the effects.” True, the root causes have to be challenged: what’s fueling the poverty, violence and corruption has something to do with the current world order, which has increased gross inequality. Neoliberalism and austerity have been imposed on the world, especially in the Global South. These have produced the threats to economic interests and social programs that the many have relied on worldwide.

 

Kamala Harris is not well-known as of yet in her campaign to become president, her current positions on the issues have to be fleshed out. But that hasn’t stopped the Republicans from making false, misleading and strange accusations against Harris. That’s par for the course. 

 

Since Harris has been pretty much within the establishment, a cautious approach is needed relating to how she stands on the issues…and where she will stand. There will definitely be attempts to influence and pressure her coming from the corporate Democrats, Republicans and AIPAC, the latter of which involves Israel’s attempted genocide against Palestinians, since Harris, in a speech, spoke up for them.

 

Harris has tried to show herself as a “progressive prosecutor” and “top cop.” She was a prosecutor before she was a senator and now as a presumptive presidential democrat nominee. According to NPR, “Harris has navigated tricky political terrain…and it’s so tough to pin down Harris ideologically.” Harris, though, has made the democratic base excited, being tough and experienced in her careers.

 

Harris will of course need these attributes in her verbal battle with the right-wing. One accusation by the right is that she is a “DEI hire.” The right foolishly demonizes Diversity, Equality and Inclusiveness, as though it was some kind of Hitlerite program. DEI brings out intelligence and awareness in the classroom, creating a well-rounded education in public schools. It does bring out inconvenient truths that the right doesn’t want to hear (and don’t want you to hear).

 

The right has clumsily used red scare tactics, bringing up the time-worn cliches that Harris is a Marxist, a communist, and even accusing her of being a “communiazi.” For the latter, the right should be told that communism and Nazism are mortal enemies.   

 

Speaking of weird, Trump claimed that Harris is trying to make herself black, but of course she is part black and part Indian; and her parents were immigrants. 

 

Another whacky remark coming from the right has Trump’s potential Vice President JD Vance, who was quoted by NPR, calling Harris a “childless cat lady.” Harris has two step children but Vance ignores that. He also claimed that she’s “miserable.” So, Vance has thought that to be in office, one has to have children. Perhaps for Vance, single people are expendable.

 

Republican Deana Bass Williams, former press secretary for Ben Carson’s 2016 presidential campaign, expresses a degree of sanity when she says that Republicans should focus on doing “a much better job” and doesn’t “think that it is appropriate to use [insults], and I also don’t think it’s effective.” Bass Williams said to emphasize policy. But MAGA Republicans especially can’t do that. It’s not in their nature.

 

In Politico, an interesting demographic was mentioned that’s supporting Harris and it comes from the “White Dudes for Harris” group. This includes actor Jeff Bridges who says, “I’m white. I’m a dude and I’m for Harris.” The group was inspired by two other groups, “Women for Harris” and “Black Women for Harris.” Since Biden stepped aside, there’s been a wave of support for the presumptive nominee.

 

And Harris has been targeted with some Trump insults. He called her “Laffin’ Kamala Harris,” “crazy,” “nuts” and “dumb as a rock.” Trump should look into a mirror and say those things. It would be more accurate.

 

That’s all the right has. Insults. Accusations. With no content or meaning. The following are two examples of Republican craziness. First, from the Meiselas Touch. And second, s Humanist Report.

 

The Democrats have responded back against the Republican’s cheap shots. For example, Newsweekquoted Tim Walz, governor from Minnesota, who, as of this writing, is a possible choice for Harris’s VP: “These are weird people on the other side. They want to take books away. They want to be in your exam room. That’s what it comes down to. And, don’t, you know, get sugarcoating this. These are weird ideas.” 

 

The word “weird” has been the catchphrase used by Democrats, and it’s had an effect. Republicans have had a fit over the use of the word.

 

While there are ideological similarities between the Democrats and Republicans, these two tendencies of one party continue to launch attacks against each other in this presidential year, where the stakes are high. 

 

Kamala Harris will probably win the election. Although it will probably be a roller-coaster ride getting there. But right now, Harris is surging. And the Republicans continue to flail and fail with their weirdness.