Staff Reports
The latest from the progressive frontlines comes straight from the New York Times’ editorial board, which has offered a rather curious opinion regarding Vice President Kamala Harris’s future on the 2024 Democratic ticket. Following President Joe Biden’s announcement that he won’t seek re-election, the Times has raised alarms about Harris’s viability as a candidate, suggesting a complete overhaul may be in order—a move that could send shivers down the spine of Democrats everywhere who fear losing the midterm election.
The editorial starts with what can only be described as a backhanded compliment to Biden. It panders to the notion that stepping down might somehow safeguard the nation from the horror of a Trump return, an idea that has become the lifeblood of many Democrat campaigns. But then it dives deep into the murky waters of Kamala Harris’s political fortunes, suggesting that while it would be reasonable for her to remain on the ticket, serious doubts have emerged about her capability to secure votes. In a party that eats its own, the urgency to evaluate Harris’s standing is palpable.
New York Times Board Wants Kamala Harris Out of the Race https://t.co/2k6Dlh1w3M
— Trump2024_no_matter_what (@TexasTrump2024) July 22, 2024
One must wonder what has happened to the once unassailable Harris, who was touted as the shining beacon of identity politics. The editorial posits that selecting a candidate without the input of party delegates is how they landed in this predicament—a classic case of “we didn’t actually vote for her, but we expected her to show up anyway.” It paints a picture of a Democratic Party on the brink of self-destruction, with party elites resisting any form of actual electoral scrutiny. Perhaps they forgot that the last election had a candidate forced upon them who was seen as a safe choice but has managed to alienate many in his own camp.
Meanwhile, the Congressional Black Caucus appears to have rallied behind Biden with a fervor rarely seen when it comes to party unity. Representative Frederica Wilson has been quite vocal, asserting that any calls for Biden to step aside are fundamentally misguided. She seems to have forgotten that voters may prefer a leader who doesn’t hide from the spotlight, or worse, let a hunch-backed, floppy-eared politician lead their campaign to disaster. However, her impassioned defense illustrates the increasingly defensive posture of Democrats worried about losing black voters—who were instrumental in Biden’s victory in 2020.
While the Times presses the panic button over Harris’s polling and electability, they don’t seem to grasp that voters, particularly black Americans, are paying close attention to what the Democrats are doing—namely, pandering to Latino migrants in big cities instead of tending to their own base. It’s a risky gamble, particularly when a previous president is leveling the playing field by actively courting black men who are growing weary of Democratic promises that never materialize. The irony is thick: the party that champions diversity is now scrambling to figure out how to unify a coalition that may be fracturing right beneath their feet.
Harris’s sinking poll numbers may spell trouble for the Democrats, but as she continues to slip further down the rabbit hole of political unpopularity, it seems the New York Times has now entered the realm of bipartisan scorn. In their desperate grasp for electability, they have inadvertently highlighted the Democrats’ internal struggles and perhaps paved the way for a comeback narrative that might just favor an unexpected opponent when the curtain rises on 2024.
