On Monday the Democratic National Convention is coming to town, and that town is Chicago, with its beautiful lakefront, architecturally significant buildings and a myriad of entertainment venues for almost every taste, and interest. It is also, of course, the moment of recognition of Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democrats introduce her to the nation as the successor to President Joe Biden who stood down in his own candidacy at the end of July.
Her campaign has energized the Democrats changing the tenor of the November presidential campaign from one of anxiety to one of dynamic energy, and in the near 30 days with her transition and nomination as candidate there have been untold dollars pouring into her campaign, and has also brought not only renewal to the party, but also for the Republican candidate, former President Donald Trump, a real game change that has thrown him off guard, forcing him to take the lead, since it was built in an elaborate scheme to denigrate Biden; and, decry not only his policies, but also to cast him as old, and out of touch, not to mention corrupt, along with his son Hunter, and other family members.
Now that plan is in shambles.
Trump, now, is the one that looks old, and corrupt, with his 34 felony counts, his numerous schemes of tax evasion, his sexual impropriety, and of course, the thousands of lies that he has shared in social media, in his infamous debate with Biden, and incoherent press conferences, not to mention the false remarks he made about Harris’ racial identity at the recent Chicago meeting of the National Association of Black Journalists.
The once popular media slogan, “his to lose” has lost its luster as Harris steps up to the plate armed with a reformed agenda, built from the Biden administration, but adapted to her own, and her party’s re-identification, is not one not so easily dismissed by the GOP, and its companion megaphone at Fox news have tried to do.
The meteoric rise of Harris, in such a short space, has not allowed her to spell out specific policies, or a broad platform, as her predecessors have done, with the exception of economics, but both the short timeline as well as the momentous energy that she has harnessed has also worked in her favor, avoiding the pitfalls of revealing too much, and allowing the energy and extent to build her up, is both deliberate and well calculated.
One major issue that she will face, along with increased demonstrations, expected to be large, perhaps spilling outside of the physical confines that Chicago city attorneys have carved out, is the war in Gaza, and the increased anger generated from the long standing alliance between the United States and its chief ally, Israel.
It will be a hard direction to shift with the death of nearly 40,000 Palestinians, the bombings by Israeli warplanes and the thousands of people, especially women and children whose suffering is seen nearly daily on network television stations, as well as news websites. And, the recent bombing of a school by Israel has generated outrage from many in the US, from Palestinian Americans, fellow Muslims, and their allies, as the death toll mounts.
“Just hours after the Biden administration Friday announced approval of $3.5 billion in military funds for Israel and shipments for new weaponry, an Israeli bombing of a school-turned-shelter in Gaza has killed 100 people or more, including scores of civilian men, women, and children in what was described as a "bloody massacre" that struck during morning prayers, leaving body parts scattered "in pieces" and healthcare workers overwhelmed with the dead and wounded,” reported commondreams.org
Our email inbox has been flooded with press releases showing their contempt for Biden, as well as Harris, and perhaps no other issue can define what needs to be a turning point in her favor.
One press statement from Revcom Corps Chicago accompanying its calendar of protests and demonstrations said: “As Bob Avakian has pointed out This is not a time to be siding with one group of oppressors or another. This is a rare time—a very rare opening—a chance that may come only once in a lifetime—a chance to take advantage of the deep divisions among the ruling oppressors and go after their whole system, with the aim of bringing the whole thing down, and putting something much better in its place.”
Harris also has to face economic proposals to what, even if she wins, could face opposition in an unchanged House and a very slim majority in the Senate, unless those races, mostly in swing states, are successful to give her an edge in Congress, because a president may propose, but Congress disposes.
One plan released in North Carolina on Friday during a campaign stop outlined a major effort to help the middle class but received some criticism from The Washington Post, but was defended by Rep. Hakeem Jeffries.
The Hill reported that, “Harris outlined a series of economic policy proposals and “she called for a federal ban on corporate price-gouging. CNN’s Jake Tapper asked Jeffries on “State of the Union” whether he backed her plan to ban price-gouging.”
“Kamala Harris has articulated a very important plan to make sure that we are lowering costs for everyday Americans, that we are ending price gouging throughout the country, and that, of course, we are growing the middle class and making sure that everyday Americans can get ahead. So, we, as House Democrats, look forward to working with Kamala Harris to drive costs down,” Jeffries said on CNN
“The Washington Post editorial board hit Harris over her newly announced economic agenda on Friday, characterizing the plan as “populist gimmicks.”
“Vice President Kamala Harris’s speech Friday was an opportunity to get specific with voters about how a Harris presidency would manage an economy that many feel is not working well for them,” the board wrote in an editorial Friday. “Unfortunately, instead of delivering a substantial plan, she squandered the moment on populist gimmicks.”
Jeffries’ careful response centered on the pandemic, the Jan 6 riots as inherited by the Biden administration, and defended the vice president on what was a clear indication of work to do.
It’s also quite clear that not releasing a comprehensive platform was wise by the Harris campaign. But, this partial glimpse does give a sense of her priorities, and centering them on the middle class is a wise move considering the struggle that many have, even with wages that have exceeded inflation; and, in particular “proposing $25,000 in down payment help for certain first time homeowners and tax incentives for builders iof starter homes, as the Associated Press reported on Friday will garner more attention.
Not surprising is the reaction from the Trumpers, who were rife with criticism, and “Trump campaign spokesman Brian Hughes calling her plan representative of “the most socialist and authoritarian model,” added the AP.
Rounding out the list of major issues is immigration, and migration, especially for those asylum seekers, the majority form Venezuela, who have been abused since 2021 by Southern governors, notably Greg Abbott of Texas.
With no legislative action by Congress since the 1980s and Trump ordering Republican lawmakers not to work on a recent bipartisan immigration deal, the fate of many has hung in the balance, and the border crisis, albeit with slower border crossings, has become a cause celebre for the GOP and Harris has received condemnation for being the “Border Czar” even though she never held that title and was tasked only by Biden with identifying root causes.
Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona, previously considered as her running mate, told CBS “Face the Nation” that he has every confidence in a Harris presidency to reform the system.
A recent proposal by the Biden administration titled “Parole In Place” has launched through the Department of Homeland Security, offers legal status to undocumented people married to Americans without the necessity of returning to their home countries, and possibly, under older terms, denied re entry.
It eventually can lead to citizenship if all conditions are met, but a Harris win can only use this as part of a multi pronged attempt to give balance to hundreds of thousands of those seeking asylum from violence plagued, and corrupt countries, and seeking refuge in the United States.
This, and other proposals, legislation and executive action will be some heavy lifting for Harris, if she wins, but also along with economics, could prove, if successful, to be a major legislative win for her administration.
Harris’ appearance will be bolstered by some heavy hitters this week, among them Biden on opening night in a farewell tribute to his long legislative leadership, as well as former President Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, and former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton; and security is tight with more than 500 police from various neighboring states as well as the Illinois National Guard.
Memories have bypassed the successful and peaceful 1996 Chicago DNC that nominated Bill Clinton, and most residents, and media, have focused on the infamous events of the 1968 convention, but as Chicago Police Chief Larry Snelling has said, “The Chicago Police Department does a great job of working through events like this will be no different.”
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