Hard to believe Jennifer Rubin used to be considered an opponent by most on this site and for good reason. She was (is?) a neo-con who just loved Mitt Romney. However these days, the GOP’s extremism has turned her into a strong ally, who puts out thoughtful and useful pieces for Democrats. I just got emailed her latest, which I know a lot of people on this site will love, Democrats should listen to Kamala Harris and follow her example.
Basically Rubin says that VP Harris is saying what all Dems running for office this year should be saying. It is largely what people on this site have also been saying for quite awhile now. Specifically, her main points are:
1) She is putting the Supreme Court on the ballot as a threat to equality and democracy.
Harris started her career as a prosecutor, and if ever the country needed a lawyer to dissect the right-wing Supreme Court justices’ sloppy reasoning and warped history, it is now.
2) She is calling out Republicans for what they are: extremists.
As an example Ruben uses this powerful quote from VP Harris:
These extremist so-called leaders fought against raising your pay … These extremist so-called leaders refuse to keep assault weapons off our streets and out of our classrooms and tried to silence your voice through your union …
While you work hard to teach the principles of liberty and freedom in your classroom, these so-called leaders are taking freedoms away: freedom away from women and the freedom to make decisions over their own bodies; freedom away from a kindergarten-to-third-grade teacher in Florida to love openly and with pride; and away from every American as they intentionally try to make it more difficult for folks to vote.
3) She is expressing contempt for Republicans’ ludicrous defense of easy access to semiautomatic weapons.
In the same speech on Tuesday, she declared over applause that “teachers should not have to practice barricading a classroom. Teachers should not have to know how to treat a gunshot wound. And teachers should not be told that ‘Lives would have been saved if only you had a gun.’ ”
4) She is redirecting Democrats to productive action.
In her Tuesday speech, Harris reiterated a promise that most Democrats have made on the campaign trail: “Congress needs to have the courage to act and renew the assault weapons ban.” For that to happen, voters must send more help so the administration can get this done.
I think that covers Ms Rubin’s points without violating fair use rules. Unfortunately you need a sub to WAPO to read the whole thing. Some of Harris’ biggest fans on this site might want to get a subscription just for this piece.