The Harris campaign and revisionist history

[DrToast]

It's crazy that three weeks after Harris drops out of the race, we're still seeing posts about how "Harris NEVER could have gotten away with attacking someone like that."

But is that true? Well, we know she went after Biden pretty hard at the June 27th Debate. And as you can see from the chart below, her polling [checks notes] errr....doubled.

Oh.

[brush]

1. Not quite. They doubled in the short term but fell from push back...

Last edited Sat Dec 21, 2019, 10:25 PM - Edit history (1)

of Biden supporters and other Dems.

[Skya Rhen]

2. That's right - obviously voters loved her performance and so did the media. To them, she wasn't the

angry, black woman - instead, she was the "strongest candidate that could prosecute Trump". We all remember these praises that were blasted throughout all sectors of the media, non-stop for weeks, until the second debate when a 2% candidate challenged her and left her speechless. After this, her numbers began to fall - there was nothing racist about the attack that was directed toward her.

Now because her campaign failed, some people want to blame this on her being a "victim of racism". As a black woman, i find this offensive because this trivializes the real incidences of racism that people like me face every day.

[DrToast]

4. Exactly. She was a fighter!

That debate showed she was tough and could take on Trump. That was the overall consensus.

[Hav]

3. I'm sure there are many reasons

She was one who I thought could have been a major contender.

But the initial reaction to her attack/argument was good as the polls showed. The decline to her pre-debate numbers came over weeks and months. The line "That little girl was me" was a great, touching moment, I think even for Biden who was on the receiving end. What I believe was seen as negative in the aftermath was that it was all planned, merchandise ready to go included. I think that was a mistake. It just seemed cynical and rocked at the foundation of what made the line so great: Honesty and authenticity.

[judeling]

8. I think that was a large

part of it.

But her biggest problem is she didn't think about how she would run enough early. So when she got so much good early press she never positioned herself.

Buttigieg was able to be in the game long enough to adjust before the focus really came.

[The Mouth]

5. Her dropping out was a real shame.

She wasn't my first choice, but we are all the poorer because she is no longer running.

Make a HELL of a Secretary of State (yeah, yeah, OR VP, of course, but Sec of State needs to be a hardass- which she is - and the international experience would beat the hell out of VP for actual On The Job Training better fit and great prep for 24 or 28). Plus having a Woman of Color being our international face would rock. Sec of State is probably the most challenging job it the govt and she'd rock it.

[StarfishSaver]

6. Bookmarking

To reference the next time someone says "I really liked Kamala Harris but then she accused Biden of being a racist/played the race card/unfairly attacked Biden/etc. and I couldn't support her" or "Kamala Harris could have been a viable candidate, but then she accused Biden of being a racist/played the race card/unfairly attacked Biden/etc. and that was " It will come in handy

[Skya Rhen]

7. Also kindly note that, still, no one has referred to her as "angry"...

[StarfishSaver]

9. Here's a little refresher

You apparently forgot many of the discussions, even though you were actively involved in quite a few of them:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287197929

"She attacked him and it was completely manufactured. She raised her voice and lost her composure." https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287185270

"It was the way she said it - angrily at times , that didn't come over very well." https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287185270

"Kamala Harris goes there: The angry black presidential candidate"
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/jul/2/kamala-harris-goes-there-the-angry-black-president/

Kamala Harris isn't afraid to show anger. That's progress — but is it good politics?
https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/kamala-harris-isnt-afraid-to-show-anger-thats-progress-but-is-it-good-politics-090000788.html

[Skya Rhen]

11. I was actively involved in the discussions - I called her out on being calculating and appalling

because she was just that, during her rehearsed attack on Joe.

I never once referred to her as angry because anger comes from a place of authenticity not manufactured "pain".

[StarfishSaver]

12. Nice dodge, but ...

You claimed that "no one has referred to her as "angry"''

I brought you receipts.

End of discussion. Let it go.

[Skya Rhen]

13. Moving on to other candidates, like mine, who is still relevant. n/t

[JonLP24]

15. I can't believe people were against Kamala Harris housing program

Redlining is a serious problem in America which is why neighborhoods with concentrated poverty exist. People don't want to address redlining because it might lose the election? This shows me she recognized the problem & had a serious solution to address it. I hope she works on it as Senator under a Democratic President and that President signs that bill. (if she doesn't have an administration job)

Anyways thanks for posting the links.

[TwilightZone]

10. "Unfair" is in the eye of the beholder.

We all tend to see what we want to see. Harris supporters, of course, aren't going to see the exchange as either an attack or unfair. Biden supporters are going to feel the opposite way. The truth is probably somewhere in the middle.

There is little doubt that the exchange helped Harris in the short term, and it was intended (and designed, for that matter) to spark her campaign and gain some attention, which it clearly did.

There is less evidence that it had anything to do with her campaign ultimately being unable to sustain the momentum or gain traction months later prior to her decision to withdraw.

I see little to be gained by continuing to beat a dead horse. The exchange was just one of dozens or hundreds in the various debates and it has little to do with where the campaign currently stands.

[Kahuna7]

14. IMO, she fell victim to the urgings of her Twitter followers...

who in my opinion wanted her to be the candidate for "black people." I get it. She likes to dance. But boogying a the drop of a hat with supporters wasn't particularly what I would expect from a presidential candidate.

[StarfishSaver]

16. Seriously?

[Kahuna7]

17. Yes, I'm serious. A few months back I had it out on twitter with

her most ferocious followers. They informed me that since I'm a black woman, it was my duty to support Harris. They assailed VP Biden as a senile racist, and said I only support him because he's an old, white man. It got quite nasty and personal. They literally attempted to brow beat me by any means necessary to support Harris. I am followed by and follow many black Biden supporters who have reported the same abuse.

A couple of hours before the second debate, one of her most popular twitter followers tweeted out that Biden was somewhere cowering in fear in anticipation of another Harris beat down..... Then.... another poll dropped showing that she had lost half of that post first debate surge just before that debate and he quickly deleted his tweet. Just before I could reply...

[StarfishSaver]

19. What does any of that have to do with trying to be "black" by dancing "at the drop of a hat"?

Nothing. Except that it merits another "seriously?"

[Kahuna7]

20. You say she was trying to be black. What does that even mean???. I don't really

care what you think. So you can save it.

[MrsCoffee]

21. Well if it happened on twitter, i guess no one can dispute that.

Half the twittersphere are bots just trying to push your buttons.

[Kahuna7]

23. These weren't bots. These were people I had been following and engaging with

for over a year now. I think I'm smart enough to know who's a bot trying to push my buttons. Since you don't know me, it would be more prudent that you not assume and not imbue attributes to me, that might be better suited for you.

I could name one of them, who is so popular that he is actually followed by Harris. He's the one who had to quickly delete that gloating tweet when that pre debate poll came out.

[Skya Rhen]

18. I wasn't impressed, either.

[marble falls]

22. Seriously. That's your big thing about Harris?

[Kahuna7]

24. What difference does it make to you? I don't have to justify anything

to you or anyone else.

[MrsCoffee]

26. Imagine those of us who support her being flabbergasted by that criticism.

[Kahuna7]

27. We're all grownups here. I was bullied (and still am) for thinking for myself????

I gave my opinion. And I stand by it. You don't have to approve. I'll live.

[ismnotwasm]

28. Sweet Jesus

I am really speechless here.

It’s fine not to like Harris. I love her, but not everyone is going to.

I mean, mocking a Black women dancing at rallies isn’t the hill I’d want to die on. Neither is erasing her blackness or pretending that race and gender have nothing to do with anything

But you do you.

[Kahuna7]

29. I'm not going to die on a hill. You don't get to decide that.

Get over yourself. I don't believe that her race or gender was the cause of her demise. I've always maintained that. I don't buy that as an excuse for her demise. But you do you.

Swarming me with outrage and claims of being triggered won't change what I said, so why bother.

[ismnotwasm]

30. No, I don't suppose you will die on a hill.

Or even eat green eggs and ham

Like I said, you do you.

On edit, I see you have referred to being bullied several times. That is not my intent, and I am sorry if you feel that way right now.

[madville]

25. She had a poorly managed campaign

That’s the bottom line, the reports that campaign leadership couldn’t challenge her sister’s campaign strategy, mismanaging a large fundraising haul and running out of money prematurely, the poorly scripted debate attack on Biden, and then Tulsi taking her legs out.

[Skya Rhen]

31. Exactly - a few want to take the blame off her and instead blame it on racism. I know racism

when I see it and neither she or her supporters can blame racism as a cause for her failure.

[Dem4Life1102]

32. Her bump in the polls was more likely due to

increased name recognition because of increased media attention at the time. As her media coverage declined over time so did her poll numbers.

[jalan48]

33. I think she would have been one of the best at debating Trump one on one. We need

strong voices if we are going to stand up to the Fascists. I look forward to hearing what she has to say in the months ahead.

[treestar]

34. She was praised for being "tough" in the media

Both Rachel and Joy Reid predicted a great future for her because of it. A lot of posts here were the same. Some people didn't like it and said so. We all have to approve of her acts or we're being unfair to her? Seems an unreasonable standard.

[Awsi Dooger]

36. Rachel Maddow and Joy Reid are incompetent handicappers

No surprise whatsoever that they somehow interpreted Harris' tough questioning as an asset instead of an ominous sign and liability.

Klobuchar was the star of the Kavanuagh questioning. I emphasized it here at the time. Many balanced online articles emphasized the same thing. But when you are looking at it from a warped perspective that doesn't translate into how real world Americans will vote in the fall, then you can somehow conclude that Kamala Harris' type of approach was preferable.

[Awsi Dooger]

35. Her senate questioning has always demonstrated lack of dexterity

I emphasized that countless times. Harris always has a prepared line of inquiry/attack and is incapable of listening and adjusting. It showed up with Kavanuagh and countless other examples. That flaw was almost certainly going to translate to a campaign, where surprises spring from all directions and you can't merely rely on angry attack mode.

My nightmare scenario was Kamala Harris in a general election against Donald Trump. The missteps would have been frequent and devastating. For all his lies and atrocities, Trump knows the value of a few memorable words. He would have easily shaped and twisted Kamala Harris into a mean attack dog from liberal coastal California. She would have long been remembered as a flop nominee, this century's version of Dukakis.

I give Harris immense credit for sensing the inevitable and backing away. That was greater handicapping skill than she has ever demonstrated on the senate floor.

Kamala played true to form. Beto was the one who surprised me. I thought he would be a cool customer. By far our greatest opportunity against an incumbent would be a charismatic white male in his 40s or 50s. There was a virtual void in our field among that group. But I think Beto expected an immediate slot near the top. Once it didn't unfold that way he panicked and essentially imploded.