I Am Not Sold On Kamala Harris

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I remain unconvinced by Kamala Harris. The Democratic vice-presidential nominee took to the stage on Thursday night as the final act of a four-day convention—an appearance hyped with the pomp and spectacle of a rock concert or a Hollywood awards show. But the fanfare seemed desperate, an attempt to inflate the standing of someone who, as yet, hasn’t earned it.

What unsettles me is that Harris was fast-tracked into the finals without facing the rigors of the primaries, without winning over her fellow candidates and, crucially, the voters. Who decided that she was the preferred candidate? On what grounds? Was it merit, or merely optics? The Democratic Convention in Chicago seemed to prioritize the latter.

The issue with Harris is that everyone feels the need to convince us of her greatness—a stark contrast to Barack Obama in 2008. Obama, despite lacking extensive experience at the time, commanded a presence and vision that resonated. With Harris, that commanding presence is sorely lacking.

Harris stepped into an arena filled with warm applause, but while she delivered her lines competently enough, she did not project the gravitas of a future President of the United States.

Harris is doing what she can, but being a woman—indeed, a Black woman—does not suffice as a résumé to lead the free world. That uncomfortable reality never seemed to trouble Joe Biden, who, despite his age, brought with him decades of experience and a clear vision of leadership grounded in the political center.

Harris, on the other hand, failed to exhibit any discernible leadership qualities, not even when she reached the stage and struggled to command the room, unable to cut through the applause with any sense of authority.

Harris lacks conviction, as though she herself doubts she can ascend to the presidency. She recites the words, certainly, but one feels they’re the result of rote memorization, not inner belief.

Kamala Harris has a compelling story as the daughter of an immigrant woman who came to the United States with a dream. Her ambition took her to the upper echelons of American power, but her nomination would have carried far more weight if she had earned it through the primaries, rather than simply stepping in as a replacement for a man who not only earned his vote but was also serving his first term and was pushed out just three months before Election Day.

Her stump speech, crafted by Biden’s speechwriter, professed a commitment to being a President for all. However, her preemptive dismissal of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. reveals a troubling disregard for the inclusivity she claims to champion.  This inconsistency betrays her pledge to listen and engage with diverse perspectives, undermining her own promises before even taking office.

That’s the crux of the matter, isn’t it? In a fractured society, where divisions seem to grow daily, the question of whether political promises are genuine or merely strategic rhetoric becomes more pressing. The real challenge for Harris is to bridge societal gaps and demonstrate that her commitment to inclusivity extends beyond mere lip service.

I remain unconvinced by Kamala Harris. While she may not aggravate as some political candidates do, the perception that those around her are using her as a pawn for their own ambitions makes her candidacy a particularly difficult pill to swallow.

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