By Rick Hayes ——Bio and Archives--August 21, 2024
American Politics, News | CFP Comments | Subscribe | Email Us
Is Kamala Harris Black? The question is a classic "Red Herring," meaning it purposefully distracts voters from vital information that should be the focus when making an informed decision that will impact one's life for at least the next four years.
Regardless of Harris's race, what should only matter to every American voter wanting a better tomorrow is how she will serve the financial, health, and safety interests of everyone now and in the future.
This week the country is being treated to the DNC in Chicago. The question that was asked to many in attendance was what was the main accomplishment that caused them to support Kamala. And the answer by many was that she was nominated.
The answer is sad on many levels, not only because it was the only thing her supporters could think of for a person in office for almost four years but also because being nominated is not an accomplishment, especially when there was no primary and the actual nominee was kicked out.
So, let's look closely at Harris's decisions to see if she is best suited to navigate the country through the current and anticipated turbulent economic and uncertain international waters.
As stated in a July 31, 2024 issue of Roll Call, "As vice president, she (Harris) cast a critical vote to break a tie in the Senate and allow the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan (ARP) to move forward toward a final vote. Had it not been for her vote, the bill might never have gotten to Biden's desk for his signature.”
Many economists view ARP as the central reason inflation soared, raising the cost of nearly everything Americans purchase. Roll Call's article states, "One month after the ARP was signed into law, inflation increased to 4.2 percent. The sudden increase came after the U.S. economy had had inflation under 3 percent for 111 consecutive months.”
The Biden/Harris economic plan gave the country an increase in the cost of groceries by 20%, credit card debt increase by 44%, and gas prices increase by 47%.
It's not only that Harris's economic vision has cost Americans their savings and destroyed the chances of young Americans owning their own homes; it's that she runs away from the runaway inflation she caused.
Harris saw how Biden's incompetence and weakness were exposed by going public in the debate against Trump, forcing him out of the race. Hence, Harris embarked on a Presidential campaign strategy that would sidestep debates and avoid press conferences, preventing the American people from hearing her explanation for the current economic crisis or her plans to solve it.
As awkward as it is to see a Presidential candidate so fearful of her poor record that she would avoid any exchange of policy information with the American people, it is more telling about the sorry condition of the U.S. Fourth Estate to see a press that doesn't demand access to a hiding candidate.
Although, as with Biden in 2020, this strategy is turning out to be a winning one for Harris, it is a losing game for America with disastrous consequences for Americans.
You can only fix what you acknowledge is broken. Harris has publicly stated on numerous occasions that the southern border was secure even though illegal border crossings were hitting record highs under her watch.
According to Harris, she accepts no responsibility for the immigration disaster since she rejected holding the position of Border Czar. Her denial is despite several mainstream news organizations acknowledging that President Biden named her "Border Czar" on March 24, 2021.
Data from the U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) and Office of Field Operations (OFO) compiled by Newsweek show that the average number of encounters while Harris was Border Czar reached roughly 189,000 per month, compared to an average of just under 51,000 per month during the Trump presidency.
Harris has yet to explain how she allowed over 8 million illegal immigrants into the country, a staggering number up 233% from the 3 million allowed in the Trump years. Her other firmly held beliefs, including that closing the border would violate Federal law, that ICE needs to be eliminated, and that free healthcare must be provided for all illegals, compounds Harris's open border policy and puts tremendous economic pressure on the American taxpayer.
Other notable policy positions strongly held by Harris but not justified that put Americans in harm's way include defunding the police and supporting sanctuary cities.
As of the publication of this article, Harris has yet to hold a full press conference since essentially becoming the Democrat nominee after President Biden endorsed her on July 21.
It remains to be seen whether the press will respect themselves enough and insist on scheduled press conferences and whether independents demand that Harris defend her record and explain her policies.
View Comments
Rick Hayes lives in the epicenter of liberal land where reality and truth will never encounter a welcome mat.
An award-winning writer and photographer, with over twenty years of professional experience in both fields, Hayes started his journalism adventure after a successful, eye-opening career as a Banker in Wall Street. Although he spent his early work life surrounded by custom made shirts, expensive ties and the shiniest of shoes, Hayes was an accomplished singer, cutting a few records with a local band and appearing on one of the first cable shows.
Working for a weekly New York paper, in one of the most politically corrupt areas in the State, he began investing his time trying to understand the nature of corruption.