Chicago
The Democratic National Convention this week has been all razzle and dazzle. Endless platitudes about freedom, values, love, America, patriotism, hope, unity — “turning the page on Trump” and “turning hate into hope.”
Just don’t go thinking too hard about whether Kamala Harris could be a good president.
Away from the hype, though, people are wondering: what might America’s first woman commander-in-chief do in office? Some dared to believe Harris might tell us in her acceptance speech — the most significant moment of her political career.
And, to a certain extent, tonight she did. Harris may be an empty vessel — but her remarks tonight were surprisingly good.
She spoke confidently, her delivery was fluent and sounded more authoritative than usual. She laughed once or twice, but didn’t do her famously annoying cackle.
It began with biography. After a tribute to the “inspiring” character of Joe Biden, and praise for her vice presidential nominee Tim Walz, the woman who has been vice president for almost four years re-re-re-introduced herself to the nation.
“America, the path that led me here in recent weeks was no doubt unexpected,” she said, which was at least honest. “But I’m no stranger to unlikely journeys.”
She spoke about her mother, Shyamala Harris, who “crossed the world alone, traveling from India to California with an unshakable dream to be the scientist who would cure breast cancer.” She also lauded her father, and talked frankly about her parents divorce.
She also spoke about Wanda, her best friend in school, who was sexually abused by her stepfather. “This is one of the reasons I became a prosecutor, because I believe everyone has a right to safety, to dignity and to justice.” And she told, us, she’s only ever had “one client — the people.” Donald Trump, she added, only has “one client — himself.”
There were several anti-Trump sections. “Donald Trump is an unserious man,” said Harris. “But the consequences of putting Donald Trump back in the White House are extremely serious.”
She invited her audience to “consider the power [Trump] will have — especially after the United States Supreme Court just ruled he would be immune from criminal prosecution.”
Harris then pivoted from Trump to people who might vote for her because they despise Trump. “I know there are people of various political views watching tonight,” she said. And I want you to know: I promise to be a president for all Americans.”
She talked repeatedly about charting about “a new way forward” from the bitterness and division of the past. She said she would create “an opportunity economy” that would build “lots of houses.” She promised a “middle-class tax cut” that will benefit millions of Americans.
She promised to sign a law to protect abortion. She insisted that she would “protect the border” — an audacious promise given her disastrous record as “border czar” in the first year of the Biden presidency.
In an attempt to the take on criticism that she is a foreign policy lightweight, she promised she would project America’s military might — “the most lethal… in the world” — and stand up to Vladimir Putin.
On Gaza, Harris tried to speak to the party’s pro-Israel and pro-Palestine factions. She said she and Joe Biden were “working round the clock” for a ceasefire. She defended Israel’s right to defend itself, while promising she supported the right to Palestinian self-determination. The crowd applauded both positions.
Then it was back to platitudes. “Everywhere I go, I see a nation that is ready to move forward,” she said. “None of us has to fail for all of us to succeed.” She hailed “the privilege and pride of being an America” and concluded by saying ‘let’s write the next chapter of the greatest story ever told.”
It was in many ways the most substantial speech of the whole convention. But that’s not saying much.