Staff Reports
Former Vice President Kamala Harris seems to have pulled a classic politician’s maneuver by flipping her stance on an issue she was so fervently against just a few years ago. In the glory days of 2019, she passionately advocated for a ban on fracking, making it seem like it was the solution to all environmental woes. Fast forward to now, and it appears that the allure of political expediency and keeping her job in the Biden Administration has led her to a dramatic change of heart. The latest revelation? Harris now supports fracking—an about-face that could make even the most seasoned politicians dizzy.
Once upon a time, Harris proclaimed her position with zeal, emphasizing the dangers of fracking on community health and safety. She spent her days in California preaching the virtues of banning it as if banning fracking would solve every problem from climate change to traffic jams. Her passionate proclamations on CNN suggested she would make banning it a Day One priority. However, somewhere between then and now, it seems that the Biden Administration’s energy policies—and perhaps a stern talking-to from the powers that be—led her to conclude that, in fact, fracking might not be the villain she once made it out to be.
This flip-flop is particularly interesting given the context of current world events and economic woes. Fracking isn’t just a hot-button issue; it’s a pivotal part of America’s energy strategy. With states like Pennsylvania clinging to its status as a gas-producing powerhouse, Harris’s change of heart isn’t just a personal evolution; it’s a strategic calculation aimed at not turning voters away. After all, telling the folks in the Keystone State to abandon the industry that keeps their lights on—literally—could have nasty electoral consequences.
In the wake of this change, former President Donald Trump was quick to slam Harris, labeling her the “ultra-liberal driving force behind every single Biden catastrophe.” In classic Trump fashion, he exaggerated the implications of her decision, suggesting that a Harris presidency would lead to price hikes that would have Americans longing for the “good ol’ days” under his administration. The idea that seizing control of energy production could lead to soaring prices is a sentiment most conservatives would wholeheartedly support; no American wants to pay a fortune just to heat their homes.
Just another politician seeking votes. I'm with @ChaseForLiberty who, unlike Harris, Trump, and RFK Jr., has shown no inclination to play these switcheroo games in a scramble to curry favor.
Kamala Harris Changes Course on Fracking https://t.co/vS2n6ueuTQ
— David T. Beito (@davidtbeito) July 29, 2024
The Harris camp has been scrambling to defend against this political backlash, claiming achievements in climate legislation and a roaring domestic energy production capacity under their leadership. Yet, this all feels like a poorly written script after her enthusiastic endorsement of the Green New Deal, which included plans for a fracking ban. It’s amusing to watch politicians try to dance around their previous positions. It begs the question: Is she genuinely conflicted, or simply trying to appease various factions of her party while keeping an eye on those precious midterm elections? Either way, the only thing that’s clear is that Harris’s shift leaves many conservative Americans rolling their eyes at yet another example of political inconsistency.
