In the current political climate, the possibility of Vice President Kamala Harris stepping into the role of Democratic presidential nominee, should President Joe Biden decide against running for re-election, has sparked a flurry of debate.
Critics of Harris, however, are being accused of racism, a common defense mechanism employed by her supporters. The reality, however, is that Harris's race or ethnicity is irrelevant to the discussion. The crux of the matter is her competence and suitability for the role, which many argue is lacking, as reported by RedState.
Harris's appointment as Vice President has been questioned by many, with critics suggesting that her selection was primarily due to her being a woman of color, rather than her political acumen. This sentiment was echoed by Errin Haines, an editor for The 19th, a pro-women, pro-LGBT news site. Haines claimed that Harris was initially overlooked in media discussions about potential replacements for Biden, suggesting that white Democrats were dismissive of her chances.
"Harris was among Bidens staunchest and swiftest defenders after a poor performance at the first presidential debate of the 2024 cycle on June 27. Nervous mostly white Democrats began raising questions about Bidens age and capacity to continue as the partys nominee, and some called for him to step aside. But some of the early talk of a potential successor routinely skipped over the sitting Vice President," Haines wrote.
Haines, a former race reporter for the Associated Press, also highlighted other perceived slights against Harris in the discussion about her potential candidacy. She noted that as Harris has become part of the conversation, familiar criticisms about her leadership, readiness, and ability to connect with voters have resurfaced.
"In the last few days, as Harris has entered the conversation, familiar criticisms of her leadership, readiness and ability to effectively message to and connect with voters have resurfaced. She is frequently referred to simply as Kamala by the press and was called the first DEI president in a recent editorial and by a GOP congressman," Haines stated.
Haines further argued that if the President and Vice President were two white males, the discussion about potential successors would not be as intense. She defended Harris's qualifications, stating, "[Harris] has run, won and governed at every level, including sitting steps away from the Oval Office. She continues to show up every day, doing the job of the Vice President. She has checked all those boxes."
However, critics argue that Harris's ability to "check all those boxes" does not necessarily translate into effective leadership. They point to her often disjointed speeches and lack of clarity when speaking off the cuff as evidence of her unsuitability for the role.
Haines concluded her argument by stating that black women, who were instrumental in Biden's election, are comfortable voting for him again, despite his age and recent performance, because they believe he has a capable Vice President ready to lead if necessary.
"Black women know Biden is old. But, they say, he was old four years ago when they voted for him and they feel comfortable voting for him again because they believe he has a capable Vice President who is ready to lead if he cannot continue," Haines wrote.
This assertion, however, has been met with skepticism by those who question the objectivity of such a statement. Critics argue that the real issue at hand is not race or gender, but competence and suitability for the role of President. The focus, they suggest, should be on finding the best candidate to lead the country, regardless of their race or gender.
Login