Kamala vs Trump: A contest between democracy and dictatorship
Democracy dies in disarray
I took this picture of Kamala Harris in 2013, when she was California’s attorney general and I was her communications director and senior advisor. Harris was the last politician for whom I worked, and I only stayed for five months.
Then, in 2018, I unexpectedly returned to journalism. A month later, Kamala launched her 2020 presidential campaign. As editorial page editor of The Sacramento Bee, I cast doubt on the viability of her 2020 presidential campaign, based on my experience in her office. My columns questioned her ability to act decisively and communicate effectively.
Ultimately, she ended her 2020 campaign before the primaries, largely because of these exact issues. Before Biden picked her as his vice president, however, I also wrote a column weighing all the reasons why she might be a good addition to the historic Democratic ticket that eventually beat Donald Trump. I based my analysis on facts and political reality rather than just personal experience.
Over the past few weeks, as it has become clear that Biden would likely step aside, my sleep has been full of anxious dreams. Many of those urging Biden to end his campaign seem to believe Kamala would be a shoo-in to win. I’m not so sure. So far, the polls have shown other Democrats, including Kamala, in a tight race with Trump. In addition to developing a case of public panic over Biden’s debate performance, some Democrats have also developed a serious case of optimism bias. Desperate to imagine a happy end to the 2024 election, they believe a new nominee will unite Democrats and result a triumphant victory against Trump.
As I see it, this will probably be an agonizingly close race. To be clear, this would be the case regardless of whether the nominee is Kamala or someone else. Over the past four years, Trump has become an even more dangerous threat to the country. Unfortunately, his sharp authoritarian turn has only solidified his Republican support. Now, tech billionaires like Peter Thiel, Marc Andreessen and Elon Musk are lining up to fund his campaign. Trump's willingness to lie and break the law gives him tremendous advantages in a media landscape where the press tends to readily amplify disinformation and normalize Trump's outrageous threats.
But as the extremist Republican Party unites behind Trump, the Democratic Party remains fragmented. Many are already raising doubts about whether Harris can beat Trump. Some are agitating for an open nomination process at the Chicago convention. This seems like a smart idea to some. But others see the potential for further division and strife. Kamala’s supporters see it as an effort to bypass her.
At this point, the panic that has been sweeping the Democratic Party is the greatest gift to Trump’s campaign. The real question isn’t: Which nominee can win? The question is: Can Democrats get their act together and unite behind their common values, regardless of who is on the ticket? Can the nominee actively frame the debate in way that activates voters on the level of their moral values?
Democracy dies in disarray
Republicans are sticking by Trump despite his advanced age, his criminal convictions and his promises to turn the United States into a dictatorship on “day one.” Can Democrats find a way to stand together behind a candidate who promises to protect freedom and democracy, and strive to create a government that is of the people, by the people and for the people?
By nature, Democratic voters aren’t uniformly the kind to rally mindlessly behind a candidate. We ask questions, we honor skepticism and we clearly hold our candidates to a higher standard than the Republicans do. And that’s fine in a normal primary election with a wide choice of candidates from which to choose. But this isn’t a normal situation. This is an-all out emergency.
As a Kamala critic, I’ve struggled to articulate my somewhat complicated feelings on this subject. But it turns out that my feelings aren’t complicated at all in 2024. Yes, I have criticisms of Kamala Harris. But J.D. Vance – Trump’s vice-presidential pick – compared him to HITLER (!!!) and opioids, and labeled him “reprehensible.”
Democracy or dictatorship?
Yes, Kamala Harris has flaws. But Trump is a twice-impeached convicted felon and adjudicated rapist who promises to destroy our country. He lies every time he opens his mouth and often rambles off into bizarre rants about shark attacks and Hannibal Lecter. Clearly, 78-year-old Trump has some cognitive difficulties of his own. Any negative criticism of Kamala is even more true of criminal would-be dictator Trump.
The 2024 election is not some horse race or personality contest. The 2024 election is a choice between a democracy and a dictatorship. And if Kamala is the nominee, which appears likely, she will be the only candidate in the race who believes in empathy, freedom, democracy and the rule of law. Because those are the core values of the Democratic Party – even if the Democratic Party so often fails to articulate them.
Last year, the Biden-Harris campaign said it planned to make freedom the central issue of the 2024 election. Unfortunately, Biden’s age and competence became the main issue. Now Democrats have a chance to reframe the campaign around freedom, which is what is truly at stake now.
Politicians, like all people, are flawed. In 2024, perfection isn’t on the menu. The very survival of the USA is ... and we confront a very stark and simple choice.
“This is about saving our fucking democracy," VP Harris reportedly said on recent call with governors.
Indeed.
When I went to work for Harris in 2013, I did so for the same reason that so many have supported her. I saw her as the future of Democratic politics – a leader who encapsulated the hopes and dreams of so many Americans. As we face the most consequential election in American history, Kamala carries the heaviest burden imaginable.
The future of democracy
The future of American democracy – the fate of our entire nation – hangs in the balance. Can she deliver on the great destiny and the promise so many have seen in her? It depends on whether she can clearly frame the debate – and whether those of us who still believe in democracy can stop bickering and unite.
I’ll have more to say on this subject. And though I am generally pessimistic when it comes to assessing Democratic campaign strategy, I will be hoping, wishing and praying for her success.
As a journalist, political analyst and critic, I generally aim to be right. In 2024, I want nothing more than to see Kamala prove her critics wrong.
On Friday, I discussed these issues on the BBC’s The World Tonight show. Listen below. My segment starts at 14 minutes into the show.
