In the dizzying realm of Democratic politics, Vice President Kamala Harris has recently had a resurgence of past statements that suggest a penchant for left-wing policies that conservatives would find wildly out of touch. Back in 2019, while campaigning for the presidency, Harris filled out a questionnaire from the American Civil Liberties Union, laying out positions on everything from an open-door immigration policy to taxpayer-funded gender transition surgeries—because who doesn’t think government funding should cover a little gender dissonance?
These positions evaded much mainstream media scrutiny until CNN dusted them off as part of an exposé. It’s almost as if the rest of the press decided to file these details away next to the last season of “Game of Thrones”—best left forgotten. However, they could be a thorn in Harris’s side as she tries to pivot from her earlier liberal stances to capture the centrist voters she sorely needs against a fierce opponent like former President Trump.
Kamala Harris in 2019 told ACLU she backs ICE cuts, taxpayer-funded gender transition surgerieshttps://t.co/jh1xiqyCIO pic.twitter.com/OaZtjtB8PE
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) September 11, 2024
Trump has taken the gloves off, labeling Harris a “radical.” This description hits home given her past calls for drastic cuts to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and her push for the decriminalization of all drug possession. One is left to wonder if she’s attempting to channel the spirit of Bernie Sanders while wading through the perilous waters of moderation, undoubtedly aiming to avoid the electoral iceberg that is the 2024 election.
Interestingly, while Harris was brainstorming how to fund surgeries for convicts who identify as transgender, Trump was busy proposing practical solutions like building border walls and robust deportation programs. It’s almost comical, the contrast: one candidate wants to reimagine America’s immigration system while the other aims to restore order. Trump’s more traditional approach appears to resonate with heartland voters—who prefer a secure border over the ACLU’s woke wish list.
As the election looms, Harris’s camp has taken steps to distance her from those prior commitments. They claim her views have transformed significantly alongside President Biden. Yet, amidst this disavowal, Harris insists that her “values have not changed.” This is reminiscent of a magician pulling a rabbit from a hat while simultaneously claiming it was never in there to begin with. The communications director for Harris insists she is now in favor of a bipartisan immigration overhaul, which Trump, according to them, “blew up” for political gain. It’s a high-stakes game of political ping-pong, but can Harris truly convince voters she’s not the liberal she once was?
Ultimately, the battle lines for the upcoming election are being drawn: will voters buy into Harris’s narrative of moderation, or will they see the smoke and mirrors for what they are—political theatrics from a candidate trying to mask her far-left tendencies?