Kamala Harris is both empathetic and analytical, caring deeply about problems while strategizing how to effectively solve them. She learned methodical inquiry from her mother (SFMag):
Kamala wasn’t much interested in science, but she absorbed several key lessons from Dr. Harris’s specialty, endocrinology, and its study of dynamic systems. When you don’t understand an issue, move deliberatively. (“The tadpole, you give it this liquid and something happens. Did it happen with every tadpole? What happens if you give the tadpoles a little more, a little less?” Harris recalls.) But then, broaden your inquiry; go where the evidence takes you. Look at the entire system.
At Netroots Nation, August 2018, Senator Harris held two things in balance—the reality of American bigotry, and the reality of the Russian attack—without dismissing either:
Transcript:
Let’s speak truth: Racism is real in this country and we need to deal with that. Let us speak truth that anti-Semitism, homophobia, transphobia are real in this country, let us deal with that. And you know, I serve on the Senate Intelligence Committee so I have to share with you another component of that. The Russians know those truths. They attacked us demographically and geographically. And they are still trying to divide us and conquer. The Russians know racism and other forms of hate have always been America's Achilles heel and we need to deal with that weakness. The Russians' attack continues to this day and guys, what is with calling it "meddling"? I don't get that. That wasn’t meddling. That was an act of cyber warfare. And, by the way, conspiracy is a crime, obstruction of justice is a crime, and anyone involved has to be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.
Election (in)security, cyber warfare, and voter suppression all compromise our democracy. Kamala Harris has consistently focused on election security (questioning DHS officials). She has spoken out against voter suppression (she says without it, Stacey Abrams would be GA Governor). She is committed to fighting for racial justice and dealing with all forms of hate. She is not going to ignore any part of this. That may be one reason she is a target of Russian bots:
“As a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, I will tell you that we should believe exactly what the Intelligence community has told us, which is Russia did interfere in the election of the president of the United States in 2016 ... [and] 2020 ... might be worse than 2016.
Politico’s Cybersecurity newsletter listed some of her cybersecurity credentials:
ANOTHER CYBER CONTENDER — A second Democrat who has placed a heavy emphasis on cybersecurity, California Sen. Harris, joined the presidential field Monday. Earlier this month in an interview, she touted herself as one of the “first to focus on what we need to do around digital forensics and cybersecurity.” In the past few months alone, Harris has introduced or co-sponsored legislation to enhance punishments for economic espionage and make it easier to go after overseas offenders, as well as to upgrade port cybersecurity.
Like some others in the race, she has promoted election security, pressing administration officials on their plans and proposing amendments to strengthen defenses. Her office says she has been a target of disinformation campaigns. Also via amendments, she encouraged cybersecurity personnel exchanges between the feds and the private sector. Despite being a beneficiary of Silicon Valley’s largesse, she has advocated for consumer privacy and surveillance safeguards.
Besides, she came to Congress with a background in cybersecurity. As California attorney general she made multiple recommendations to prevent data breaches, although she found some congressional efforts to pre-empt state notification laws harmful.
At the April 22 CNN Town Hall, Harris warned cyber attacks are a “new form of war”:
“We are vulnerable in terms of all of the systems that hold together our financial systems, that hold together our medical care systems. And we’ve got to pay greater attention,” she said, noting that a bipartisan bill she’s supported to help strengthen state election systems against cyber attacks has been neglected by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
Russian intelligence interfered with the 2016 presidential election; Harris said we need to be ready for additional attacks.
“This will be to our collective peril when people play politics with an issue that is truly about our vulnerability as a country,” said Harris.
Senator Harris cosponsors Sen. Wyden’s Protecting American Votes and Elections (PAVE) Act of 2019 (S. 1472), which mandates hand-marked paper ballots and “risk-limiting” audits, and sets new cybersecurity standards for all federal elections.
Sen. Harris cosponsor’s Sen. Warner’s new bill (S.2242) clarifying the obligation of presidential campaigns to report acts of foreign election influence—obligation Trump continues to ignore.
She also cosponsors Sen. Feinstein’s Prevention of Foreign Interference with Elections Act of 2019 (S. 1469), which amends title 18 of the United States Code to specifically prohibit conspiring with foreign agents, foreign expenditures, and more--the behavior that foisted Trump on us.
Sen. Harris, along with most other Democratic Senators, joins onto Sen. Klobuchar’s Election Security Act of 2019 (S1540), which provides financial support and enhanced security to protect elections.
Harris cosponsors Sen. Udall’s For the People Act (S.949), which broadly increases voting access and decreases big money influence while tightening ethics rules for public servants.
As Senator, Kamala Harris has spoken out out against gerrymandering, voter suppression and barriers to voting:
Kamala’s Government For The People addresses the intertwining issues of election security, voter suppression, and dark money in politics. She vows to fight to overturn Citizens United, restore the full Voting Rights Act, and fight for early voting, automatic registration, and making Election Day a holiday. She looks at the entire system, and pays attention to every part.
Kamala on Mueller and more:
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.
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, Fair Prescription Drug Prices, Kamala’s 3AM Agenda.
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!
If you’d like to volunteer to host one of our Kamala 2020 diaries, please leave your comment in the ”Calling all Volunteers”thread.
Even if you can’t commit to a weekly spot due to your busy schedules, guest bloggers are always welcomed!
This week’s schedule
Please volunteer! Come share your story about why you support Kamala!
This week’s schedule
Saturday, July 27th — Gay CA Democrat
Monday, July 29th —
Thursday, August 1— Gay CA Democrat
Saturday, August 3—
Monday, August 5—
Thursday, August 8— Kitsap River
Let your voices be heard!
Upcoming Events:
Are you planning a debate party? The second Democratic Primary Debate is coming up fast — July 30-31, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. Kamala Harris is in the July 31 group.
August 2: Kamala will be in Denver to rally her supporters and share her “3AM Agenda” on Aug. 2. Doors to the rally will open at 5:15 p.m.. A location has not yet been announced.
August 8: Kamala will begin a 5-day river-to-river bus tour across Iowa.
More events here: www.mobilize.us/…
*Please remember this is a Kamala2020 group effort, & not a Daily Kos sponsored activity or endorsement.
While you’re here, don’t forget to visit Kamala’s Official Campaign Website and her Swag Shop for your favorite campaign gear! 😄
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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.
Tamil Movie Song: No trolls or bots, Yes pot people and scarecrows!
Manisha Koirala and Arjun Sarja, from the 1999 film Mudhalvan (Director: S Shankar Cinematography: K V Anand Music: A R Rahman Lyrics: Vairamuthu Singers: S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Harini, G. V. Prakash Kumar)
Higher-quality version with English subtitles won’t embed here—view at Youtube