This post originated from a comment I made, late in the day, to rflctammt’s post from last Thursday, What is the Daily Kos #KHive? Why it matters for all of us, Kamala2020. I’ve been a member of the Kamala2020 group since the group was formed in April.
As I said in my comment, I’ve been trying for a while to figure out how to say what I’m going to say here. Trying to tease the thought into specific, coherent terms. Whether I succeed or fail, it’s time for me to speak.
On Twitter, this is my pinned tweet, note the date:
A hint of humor, grinning with grit teeth, perhaps, because like so many others, I was in genuine pain and shock from the results of the 2016 Presidential election.
I supported Hillary Clinton wholeheartedly and had a great deal of hope and determination that we were going to elect a smart, extremely qualified woman as the first female President, a person who would protect President Barrack Obama’s legacy and build on it. I knew her political opponents on the other side of the aisle would obstruct but I also felt she was the best equipped to engage in that worthy battle.
Then what happened, happened.
As all the chest beating and teeth gnashing ensued, one fact was clear.
Whatever interference with the due course of the campaign was suspected, and would be revealed, one group of Democrats had held the line.
Women of color voted overwhelmingly for her [Hillary Clinton] in 2016, including 69 percent of Latino women and 94 percent of black women in the general election
www.thelily.com/...
African American women have been recognized for a while as the hard-working center of the Democratic Party base, but for all that recognition, it’s a demographic often taken for granted.
For that reason among others, my reaction to our loss was one of anger (like most) but also of determination, to push forward.
Hence my tweet.
Before very much longer I knew that I wouldn’t need to write in Shonda’s name. I knew the name would be Senator Kamala Harris.
Twitter user IllinoisNewDemocratRicoP once known here on DK as reesetheone had drawn my attention to her from as far back as the end of 2016 as someone to watch. Someone who was already on the Democratic bench for the next Presidential race.
So I paid attention.
There was a hashtag that showed up back then, which I heartily endorsed and still do:
#VoteWithBlackWomen
As pointed out in this article at The Lily, www.thelily.com/…
According to exit polls, more than 90 percent of black women voted for Clinton. It continues the trend that few demographic groups are as faithful to the Democratic Party as African American women.
But after the 2016 election, the party began focusing their attention on courting white working class voters.
I don’t think everyone in the party did, but way too many certainly wasted a lot of time talking about it IMHO.
But the lesson was clear to me, in any case. Don’t ignore the base.
Was it too early to elect a woman? Black women didn’t think so.
When I (and @66 million other voters) cast our ballots for Hillary Clinton, we weren’t voting for a vagina. We were making our choice to elect the most qualified candidate ever to run. The fact that this person was a woman was used against her, and us, mercilessly, all the while we were being gaslit that it wasn’t so.
The 2018 mid-term elections showed that women candidates and diversity were not liabilities, they were winners.
So now I come to the intersection between #votewithblackwomen and #voteFORblackwomen.
Did I select Kamala Harris in the aftermath of that heartbreaking upset just because she has a vagina? Or because she has one and is also a Black American? Either? Both?
No. I kept my eyes on her because she is smart, qualified, courageous, and because even back then, she made it plain that she was going to take it on.
In November of 2018. SFGate online newpaper site posted, Unmistakable signs Kamala Harris is almost certainly running for president in 2020.
But let me be clear. If #BlackLivesMatter, if women matter and if those who have fought and worked their way through the oppressive structure of white supremacy that is our culture, and have risen to the top a gunslinger, as well as a compassionate warrior, if that matters, then Kamala Harris is the candidate I want to pay attention to.
When that candidacy is then is backed up with a campaign powered by policy, determination and even joy, how could I not make that choice?
Individuals who vote for Democrats frequently pay lip service to allyship, but we should not stop there. We need to push forward.
Elect a smart, strong Black woman who is up to the work.
We’ve got a lot of time to get to that moment when Democrats select their Presidential contender, and I can barely conceive the crapload of craziness that will continue to roil through our country, our lives and the primary in the meantime. But my eyes are on the prize.
Thanks for your time.
Tweets to follow, apologies if any have appeared before.
Some of that joy… (hey, cooking ain’t trivial to some of us! ;))
Paying attention…
Words from the wise…
Representation for all, means all…
Walk, campaign, and chew gum at the same time…
You know there’s a KamalaPlusKids twitter account, right? :)
Kamala2020 info and links are below!
Newpioneer has rounded up some highlights of her sponsored legislation here.
snowman3 has rounded up some more legislative highlights here.
Gay CA Democrat lists 21 bills or proposals here.
Want to know more about her positions and plans? Her policy page is Our America.
Or go straight to an issue: quality, affordable health care for all, economic justice, raising teacher pay, combating the climate crisis, criminal justice reform, action on gun violence, a fair and just immigration system, LGBTQ+ equality, government for the people, debt-free college and student debt, gender equality, American leadership at home and abroad, and fighting for racial justice.
More plans: The Reproductive Rights Act, Equal Pay, Roadmap to Citizenship for Dreamers, Combating the Racial Homeownership Gap, Reducing the Opportunity Gap, Fair Prescription Drug Prices, Kamala’s 3AM Agenda, Combating Violent Hate, A Climate Plan For the People, Transform the Criminal Justice System and Re-Envision Public Safety, Children’s Agenda, LGBTQ+ Equality and Dignity for All, Rural Agenda, Honoring Tribal Sovereignty and Lifting Native American Communities.
Please remember to visit our community group page Kamala2020 and give us a follow! That way all our group efforts will appear in your stream; this makes it easy for everyone to keep up with our latest posts. As always, any who would like to join our group please leave us a comment and we’ll get your invitation right out to you!
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Upcoming schedule:
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Saturday—November2nd—
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Thursday—November 7th--
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Group Guidelines
The Kamala2020 community group has been created to positively support Senator Kamala Harris, and not to engage in negativity towards other Democrats running in the 2020 primaries.
All should be made to feel welcomed here. What’s not welcomed here is petty bickering over any of our preferred candidates, or personal attacks on fellow Democrats. We’re not responsible for the actions of others who may offend, insult or attempt to sow discord and disunity — that’s on them.
What we are responsible for are our own words and actions — that’s 100% on us.
I’d like to ask all group members, as well as those dropping by who support or are interested in Kamala’s bid for the nomination, that we not respond to negativity from other campaign’s supporters with even more negativity. Let’s do better than our best and respond with respect, humor or try to hold our peace. Recipes and cat pics work, too 😃
Doing no harm costs us nothing... pie-fights will cost us everything.
And music seems to be customary… I choose Janelle Monáe, Americans (off the album Dirty Computer), performance from the Stephen Colbert show, I love the energy and diversity of her crew on this one. And the lyrics are killer. Very ‘for the People’. :)