LEMON DROP | Did Democrats Fail Kamala Harris?
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What role does the DNC chair play and why did hosts spotlight the candidates?
Recently, MSNBC's Jonathan Capehart, Jen Psaki, Simone Sanders Townsend, they moderated a forum with the candidates running to be the new chair of the DNC. You may be asking, well, what exactly does a DNC chair do? Well, the chair is... is the Democratic National Committee's top executive. The job is part cheerleader, it's part fundraiser, it's part recruiter, and it's part spokesperson. It is a very visible role when a party no longer occupies the White House, since the president is obviously the de facto leader of his or her own party. So the DNC chair will effectively become the top Democrat in the country, even if they don't actually serve in the government. OK, it's an extremely important role.
And I thought that Jonathan and Jen and Simone, they did a fantastic, fantastic job asking the candidates about their platforms as well as their visions for Democrats future, because that future is far from clear right now. Departing DNC chair Jamie Harrison is the only leader in decades from either party to enter the position with their team having the House, the Senate and the presidency and then leave. with it having lost all three. Now, there is so much more that we could talk about with this forum, from our friend Marianne Williamson really showing up and bringing the heat to Bernie Sanders, former campaign manager Fayez Shaikh, saying that Democrats need to stop making so many commitments to so many identity groups.
That was interesting. It was honestly a fascinating conversation. But there was one moment that I really want to hone in on, and I want you to pay attention. Here it is.
How many of you believe that racism and misogyny played a role in Vice President Harris's defeat?
Okay. Every single candidate raised their hand. Everyone. Every single one of them. They all endorsed the notion that racism and sexism played a significant role in Kamala Harris's loss. Now, This may surprise you, this may even shock you, but If I were on that stage, if I were running to be the DNC chair, I don't think, I may not have raised my hand. Let me tell you why, okay? So clearly, Harris had to deal with racism and sexism, obviously. Donald Trump and J.D. Vance said things about her that they would never say about a white male Democrat or just a white male in general ever, okay? Trump repeatedly called her lazy. He called her stupid. He called her low IQ, okay? All, of course, anti-black stereotypes.
He also repeatedly cast doubt on whether she even was black, suggesting that she was faking her biracial identity. Remember when she became black and all that stuff? And who can forget the times that he asserted that she had slept her way to up California's political ladder. Yes, Kamala Harris faced a great deal of bigotry. We get it. But to say that's the biggest reason why she lost as a party leader... It's a reason, but I don't think that sends the right message here. Allow me to read you. This is a tweet from a friend of the show, Sarah Longwell, okay? Sarah writes, quote, if Democrats continue to blame sexism and racism for Kamala Harris's defeat when it was truly the old white guy's fault, Joe Biden, they'll talk their party into never nominating a woman or a black person again.
Probably no gays too. And considering that some of the party's most dynamic leaders are women, Black people? Pete Buttigieg? That would be a real shame now, wouldn't it? I'm sorry. I think that is absolutely correct. I do. I think it is spot on analysis. If you're a party leader, the easiest excuse for November is that America simply isn't ready for a black woman in a position of power. It lets everyone off the hook. You don't have to answer questions about, let's say, ad spending or campaign strategy or whether Harris should have gone on Joe Rogan. You don't have to answer those questions. You just say America is bigoted and then you just wash your hands clean of the situation. OK, but then think about the implications of that.
Think about what Sarah said here. If Democrats walk away from this moment thinking that Harris failed simply because of discrimination.
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