A great response to the "Kamala's a cop" crowd

[StarfishSaver]

Public defender: I worked with Kamala Harris. She was the most progressive DA in California

There has been much talk about the time Sen. Kamala Harris spent as a prosecutor. As a public defender for 24 years, I examined, critiqued and battled Harris when she was the San Francisco district attorney. And more often than not, Harris and I were on opposite sides.


Having had this experience, I feel compelled to speak on Harris’ record while she was a district attorney. Simply put, Harris was the most progressive prosecutor in the state. This is not an anecdotal opinion. It is based on facts.

As San Francisco DA, Harris refused to seek the death penalty — even on a case where a very respected police officer was tragically killed. Marijuana sales cases were routinely reduced to misdemeanors. And marijuana possession cases were not even on the court’s docket. They were simply not charged. Unless there was a large grow case, or a unique circumstance, this was the reform-minded approach then-DA Harris’ office took. The accusations about marijuana prosecutions being harsh during her tenure are absurd. The reality was quite the opposite.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/voices/2020/08/10/kamala-harris-progressive-pioneer-san-francisco-da-column/3334668001/

[CTyankee]

1. Thank you, Starfish!

After reading the hit piece on Susan Rice in today's NYT, I am wondering what the hell is going on. Its timing was perfect.

I don't know what to think about all this.

Do you think, given the Rice piece, that Kamala is getting the VP slot?

[stopdiggin]

5. Not sure if the NYT is in a position to make the call

on the VP slot. And that would be assuming that the paper publishing an article (by an acknowledged conservative writer) was intended to derail a VP candidate. I didn't agree with much of the piece -- and neither did a lot of "comments" -- but it wasn't exactly a hate spewing Tom Cotton OpEd either. Republicans are going to be Republicans -- and newspapers occasionally print their opinions.

[obamanut2012]

2. k & r

[stopdiggin]

4. Thanks. Valuable (real world) insight.

As I've said before, you can't be a prosecutor -- without being willing to prosecute. And for those that live in a world where prosecution is not necessary ...

There's always the weather to talk about.

[ehrnst]

6. Written by a longtime public defender, no less. (nt)

[PunkinPi]

7. Niki Solis was on Rachel Maddow last night speaking about this.

Last edited Wed Aug 12, 2020, 01:42 PM - Edit history (2)

Clip doesn't seem to be available yet. Worth a watch if you can.

ETA, found the video of Niki on TRMS (two tweets)

Link to tweet

Niki Solis, a Public Defender who battled then DA Kamala Harris in San Fran says calling Harris anything other than progressive is “absurd.”

“I think the left has to understand that the narrative that was being spun wasn’t... true.”
#Maddow #BidenHarris #KHive

Appears there were sev progressive programs KH put into place that Solis’ office knew of and even celebrated.

Only thing I’ll add is... don’t hesitate to speak the truth about a good advocate again. Goes for us all.

We all miss out when the truth is left out of the fight.

[lagomorph777]

8. Thanks for the ammo!

I'll remember this!

[Lucinda]

9. TY!

[RhodeIslandOne]

10. There is a segment that will just call Ms. Solis "part of the machine".

So many young people are so fucking dismissive of everyone who provides another perspective.

In the end though, they will not affect the outcome.

[crickets]

11. Excellent opinion piece; lots of good info. K&R