She was still just a supporting role. On the night of Joe Biden’s inauguration, January 20, 2021, Kamala Harris gave a short speech, all smiles. His brilliant quotes celebrated American voluntarism and imagination. “We not only dream, we act. We not only see what was, but what can be. We aim at the Moon and plant our flag on it. » On Tuesday, November 5, Kamala Harris’s election moon landing ended in a historic disaster.
She aspired to become the first woman elected president of the United States, avenging Hillary Clinton for her failure in 2016. The vice president hit the same glass ceiling, marking a new setback in the arduous but constant progress of women to the highest positions. spheres. position of responsibility, in a country with infinite capacity for regeneration but deeply fractured. Powerful symbol of diversity, daughter of Jamaican Donald Harris and Indian Shyamala Gopalan, she embodies the America of the 21st centurymy century. But this century is also the century of right-wing populist movements, with authoritarian leanings, that launch attacks against the rule of law and institutions, capture popular resentment and take advantage of an isolated media ecosystem.
Contrary to what her most fervent followers claimed, Kamala Harris did not arouse massive support for her, a movement comparable to what Obamamania was. An important part of the votes in his favor demonstrate, first of all, a rejection of Donald Trump, the same one that benefited Joe Biden in 2020. The latter’s withdrawal in July caused immense relief in the Democratic ranks, who saw a defeat threatening. inevitable. The replacement, 60 years old, had all her physical and cognitive integrity, which at least allowed her to fight in good condition. But Joe Biden’s decision came too late to deploy a bold strategy.
Difficulty telling stories.
During the campaign, Kamala Harris barely mentioned her work as vice president, constantly citing her experience as district attorney of San Francisco (elected in 2003) and then as attorney general of California (since 2010). Woman of justice, fighting criminal networks, drug trafficking and powerful corporations: this story idealized as a Marvel comic, a 2024 version of Captain America, was more appropriate in the face of Donald Trump, criminally convicted, responsible for civil sexual abuse. assault, and who expresses his fascination with the Chinese leader, Xi Jinping, or his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin. Good, Bad: Eternal Dramaturgy of American Politics. The Democrats thought it would be favorable to them.
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