Critic’s Notebook: At Democratic National Convention, a Polished and Presidential Kamala Harris Plays It Safe

by

Critic’s Notebook: At Democratic National Convention, a Polished and Presidential Kamala Harris Plays It Safe

As a proud daughter of immigrants and a lifelong Democrat, witnessing Vice President Kamala Harris’ acceptance speech at the 2024 Democratic National Convention was nothing short of breathtaking. Her poise, her eloquence, and her unwavering commitment to justice were on full display that night in Chicago.

As Vice President Kamala Harris prepared to address the 2024 Democratic National Convention, there was much speculation about how she would present herself as the party’s front-runner. These events serve as a platform for nominees to express their ideas for the future and try out for the position of president. Effectively, it is a display of confidence and a ceremonial pledge. Who did Harris, who galvanized the dormant Democratic base with her last-minute entry into the race, aim to portray herself as?

On Thursday evening in Chicago, Harris took her party’s nomination at the podium, embodying her role as chief prosecutor with great fervor. She donned a navy blue suit and blouse with a pleated bow tie, both by Chloé. A pin of the American flag adorned the left side of her lapel. Her hair, sleekly pressed, fell gracefully across her shoulders, exuding its characteristic ease as she made gestures, occasionally flashing another classic Harris touch: a dainty pair of pearl earrings.

The group skillfully conveyed the significance of this pivotal moment and the vice president’s mastery of the podium. As the child of Indian and Jamaican immigrants, she symbolized the future of America – a country, as frequently said, moving forward rather than returning to the past.

Paying close attention to the intricacies of her anecdotes, it becomes evident that Kamala Harris appears to have been groomed for this role over the course of her entire life. In her DNC speech, she started with a familiar account of her family history: Her mother, Shyamala Gopalan, immigrated to the Bay Area at the age of 19 with aspirations of finding a cure for breast cancer. There, she crossed paths with Harris’ father, Donald, who was an economist with Marxist leanings. The pair wed and brought up Harris and her sister Maya to be honest, bold, and fearless. These qualities proved invaluable when Harris was a teenager and discovered that her friend, Wanda, was being subjected to sexual abuse. As Harris often recounts, she took decisive action, urging Wanda to reside with the Harris family. “This is one of the reasons I chose a career as a prosecutor,” Harris stated in her speech. “I did so to safeguard people like Wanda because I firmly believe that everyone deserves safety, dignity, and justice.”

As Harris spoke, the crowd’s excitement swelled, leading them to erupt in cheers and applause. Her public performances have significantly improved since her initial presidential campaign in 2019. Nowadays, she appears more at ease on stage, a testament to the numerous audiences she has interacted with. Tonight, her gaze seldom lingered on the teleprompter for long; instead, she scanned the room with a focused intensity, seeming to attempt eye contact with each person present.

Her narrative style became more natural and reminiscent of previous and current executive candidates. Tonight, Harris demonstrated the flexibility and assertiveness that characterized her time as Attorney General and Senator. Essentially, she came across as someone who could be a president.

It’s eerie how the past, present and future can echo one another so loudly. Harris’ vision for America is one of continuity rather than dramatic change. Throughout the evening, an odd procession of speakers graced the stage — members of the Exonerated Five were followed by prosecutors; speeches by survivors of mass shootings came right before those by police sheriffs boasting of larger budgets and safer cities. One might wonder, with the din of “U-S-A” chants in the background, if this was indeed the Democratic National Convention and not a Republican one from a different, less right-wing-extremist era. 

As Vice President Harris, she is closely associated with the sitting administration. Unlike other candidates who might criticize or contradict Joe Biden’s actions and question his past record, Harris seems reluctant to cause controversy. Most of her proposed policies aim to maintain the current state of affairs – for instance, a bipartisan border control bill, which can be seen as an attempt to preserve America from potential new issues. It’s notable how often former President and Republican nominee Donald Trump was mentioned in Harris’ speech during the event. It appears that Trump has become a preoccupation for her.

During her discussion on Trump, Harris’s speech took on a fervor that was comparable only to her passionate discourse about America’s military strength. However, in the context of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza – a topic that has grown crucial for many voters in this election – Harris seemed somewhat lacking in the innovative ideas and forward-thinking perspectives that were emphasized throughout the event. Instead, she echoed the party stance on tirelessly pursuing a truce, while also promising continued military aid to Israel, albeit hinting at an ambiguous path toward Palestinian autonomy.

It was quite disheartening, especially since no Palestinians were given a chance to address the main stage during the entire four-day event. This is significant because Cook County has the largest population of Palestinian-Americans in the U.S. In light of this, Muslim Women for Harris chose to disband and retract their support for the candidate due to the DNC’s decision not to include a Palestinian speaker earlier on Thursday.

Harris and her running mate Tim Walz have structured their campaign as a sort of diverse opposition to President Trump, often referred to as a “rainbow coalition.” Tonight, Harris fulfilled this role with style, but her frequent mentions of Trump and attempts to appeal to his uncertain supporters raise the question: who in our progressing nation might be overlooked or left behind?

Read More

2024-08-23 10:24