I lost some long-time friends in 2016 because I called them out on what I saw as gross distortions of the choices in that election. I regret losing the friends, but I don't regret speaking out.
Lemme push back a bit on some of the comments Ive seen from Trump supporters on the 2024 election. (I'm guessing I don't have any friends left who will unfriend me for *these* comments.)
1. Kamala Harris is a smart woman. She has an undergraduate degree from one of the best universities in the U.S. and a law degree from a top-rated law school. She worked as a prosecutor for most of her life, getting elected both in San Francisco and in California. She was a senator for four years and has served as vice-president for four years. She's highly qualified to be president.
2. The idea that she's personally responsible for everything that's wrong with America today is just crazy. The Vice President has about as much authority as a "warm bucket of spit," especially when the Congress is split between two parties. Kamala did what she could, as a loyal second to Biden, and she doesn't disown his record, but she is her own person with her own ideas, who deserves a chance to lead the country. (Serving as Vice President has been a great addition to her life-long learning, by the way.)
3. The idea that she's "incompetent" is about as clueless/brainless as one can get in 2024 America. Someone who is saying that clearly gets their news from Fox/Newsmax/OAN, and has really no basis for that opinion but...um... their American right to a foolish, untethered opinion. These people need to get out more.
4. Kamala is progressive; she believes in opportunity for ALL (immigrants, women, the disabled, LGBTQ+, Palestinians). You could call her a "liberal," but you have to remember that she believes in the rule of law and the greatness of the American story. She's no "communist" or even "socialist." (These labels are tired and should be REtired forever from political discourse.) If you want to call her something, call her a "Democrat."
5. Trump has shown us what he'll do with a second term. Should we hold him responsible for the pandemic, economic collapse, and crime wave of his years as President? Should we hold him accountable for the crimes he's been charged with and even convicted of? Should we expect him to stop name-calling and red-baiting and dog-whistling and start seriously discussing the actual job before us? Or does he get a pass for all these things because he forefronts white grievance and Christian Nationalism (not to mention the effort to turn back a woman's right to choose)?
6. Despite the MAGA claim that Kamala will destroy America if she's elected, we have to look back on the actual history of the U.S. and the actual effects of presidential actions and beliefs (even from liberal presidents) on that history. The president's powers are quite limited (Thank Goodness!), but who we choose does represent our aspirations for the future and who we choose can help shape the evolution of those aspirations.
7. There's NO doubt in my mind that Trump will win 44-47% of the popular vote in 2024. This is baked in. (The fact that America is so divided today is a lamentable thing, but that's a topic for another day.) If he's extremely lucky, he'll win the Electoral College. This election will be decided by the "UNdecideds." It's now a 74 day sprint to convince the undecideds to go with hope, optimism, and joy rather than fear, blather, and "American Carnage."
May the best candidate win. 🙏
