For anyone who chooses a career in politics, there is a decision to be made about whether they can face the public scrutiny that comes with it. Kamala Harris already made that decision when she stood for office in 2021, firstly to be President of the USA and then successfully as Vice President.
At the time she was already viewed as a complex role model. She faced criticism from some areas of society. For others, she was seen as an inspiration: a woman of colour stepping into one of the highest political roles in the world. But few role models are perfect. During her career as a prosecutor there were decisions she made that people question, and now she is running for President both her past and current abilities are subject to even more scrutiny. Does this matter or should the whole world just be thankful that she is there to challenge Donald Trump?
Kamala Harris and scrutiny
The criticisms she faces are mostly about her past.
- The Prosecutor – although she prosecuted people, and pushed for people to get help with finding jobs, she did also fight to keep people in prison which is where she faces criticism. There were some wrongful convictions which she did not fight to overturn.
- The Vice President – there are those who say she has been ineffective as Vice President. Her approval ratings slumped. There were some policy errors and poorly judged comments, such as about Guatemala when she had not visited the border, and there were some criticisms about her management of staff.
- Biden V2 – obviously Republicans are keen to gain some traction against her, and they either claim she’s going to be just ‘more of the same’ or that hers will be a more radical version of Joe Biden’s presidency.
Other criticisms fall into the category of personal attacks on her by those keen to exploit any divergence from the ‘norm’ such as:
- ‘Childless cat mother‘ – JD Vance has been widely criticised by many women and gained support from many Republicans for saying that she is not a woman as she is not a mother. This shocking commentary from Trump’s candidate for Vice President is not that surprising considering the spokesperson. They forget that she is a step-mother and widely praised by her step-children’s mother and step-daughter. She calls herself Momala.
- Mixed race – Donald Trump seems to be confused about the fact that people can have mixed heritage. Her mother was Indian, her father Jamaican. It seems odd that JD Vance can’t help him out with this, when his own children are mixed race and his wife is also of Indian heritage.
- DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) President – she also faces criticism for those very things that make her different, and her detractors argue that she is only going to get votes as a token hire for representation. This weak argument is one Republicans are increasingly using as Harris becomes more of a threat to their own political ambitions.
I see posts on social media where people say things like: ‘I don’t know what it is about her, I just don’t like her.’ As a woman of colour myself, I recognise that one all too well. The intangible criticism from people who cannot quite say what they really think – that is that they have a problem with women of colour and think that only people like them should be leading the country. Harris is seen as too different, and that is too much for many people.
Kamala Harris the role model
Her announcement to stand as President against Donald Trump brought cheers and celebrations from many people around the world. She represents different heritages, which is the life experience for a growing number of people. She could be not only the first woman to be President, but the first woman of colour, too. When she won the Vice Presidency she said, “I hope every little girl watching tonight sees that this is a country of possibilities.”
She is smart, funny and knows how to debate. She is knowledgeable, with a career history that helps her understand issues the country faces. No wonder Trump is ramping up his personal attacks on her. She is gaining support from young people, from women and from those who have never voted before. She dresses in smart Californian suits with high heels. Compare that to an ageing Donald Trump attacking her for saying she is black.
Since Kamala announced she was standing, she has seen record levels of fundraising. A group of black women hit a million dollar target within three hours and they were very motivated in getting people to register to vote. Kamala Harris could be the candidate to persuade many young voters, black voters, Asian voters and liberals to register, vote and do everything they can to get her elected.
There has been widespread reaction in this country, too. Harris’s comments about abortion, women’s rights and gun violence show us that she could represent something very different and shift world politics.
The risks Kamala Harris will face
Entering the race late has made this a challenge. She must reach wide across states to persuade people to vote for her. The Republicans and their message of ‘Make America Great Again’ are popular across the USA with many voters.
There was a shooting at a recent Donald Trump rally. We can only imagine how much Kamala Harris has had to step up her security. She will face risks wherever she goes. One of those risks is the misogyny that seems endemic in politics. During her 2016 presidential campaign, Hillary Clinton experienced a deluge of misogyny, particularly online. Subsequent research revealed that online misogyny towards female politicians has become a “widespread and troubling phenomenon”.
And for me, well there is what feels like a personal connection. My grandmother’s name was Kamala. And I too have a complicated name which people struggle to pronounce. In 2016, Kamala Harris made a video to show people how to pronounce her name.
And this is where many people will see a connection with her, with her pressure to campaign as someone who is different to many voters. As someone who is seen to represent minorities and those who have not been able to get this close to power before.
Kamala Harris will face scrutiny throughout this campaign and beyond. She also brings hope of a different future to many people around the world.
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