Government

Opinion: Kamala Harris’ campaign is still going strong.

Published

5 years ago

October 9, 2019

Senator Kamala Harris’ knowledge, experience, and political talent promise an impeccable performance in next Tuesday’s Democratic presidential primary debate. Today I write with a special purpose: To explore some of the unique, impressive, and underrated strengths Sen. Harris consistently demonstrates.

First, I believe Sen. Harris’ sense of humor is one of her greatest and most distinctive assets. Perhaps the most attractive facet is the authenticity it reflects. Every time I hear her tell a joke, I laugh, but more importantly, I feel resonantly the impression that she actually thinks the joke she’s telling is funny. I value that quality in a president. I don’t want to be led by a leader who tells a joke merely because they think an audience will reward them with sentimental affirmation and applause.

Of course, being warmly received by the public is always desirable and as a presidential candidate, knowing your audience is crucial. But I thoroughly appreciate how Sen. Harris proudly embodies the openness, self-confidence, amiability, and uncommon desire to let her sense of humor show America important dimensions of her personality.

For example, when Sen. Harris turned to Joe Biden in the last debate and said, “Hey Joe, instead of saying no we can’t, let’s say yes, we can,” I could not have disagreed more stringently with seasoned commentators who described her rejoinder as “deeply awkward,” on Twitter. I thought her retort deft and witty. And genuine! It communicated Sen. Harris’ admiration for the inspiring leadership and legacy of former President Barack Obama. It touched on the memorable, uplifting slogan Obama elevated eloquently to the highest office in our land. Her witticism evinced the integrity and sure-footedness to joke in ways that say something meaningful about her character beyond skill in eliciting laughter from the crowd.

Topping off, her delivery was silky.

Second, Sen. Harris exhibits exceptional nimbleness. While many examples come to mind, one, in particular, stands out. Last Wednesday evening during her segment on MSNBC’s gun town hall with Craig Melvin, Sen. Harris perceptively noted that everybody has a plan and that she wants voters to know that her policy agenda is about substantive actions she “fully intends” to carry through, once elected. In the gaggle after the event, a ruffled reporter testily posed the question: “You said that you have intentions and that everyone else has plans. What’s the difference?”

Let’s be real. A smart-aleck could have responded, “I’ll let you use your imagination.” Or, “I hear Merriam-Webster is a reliable source since you’re curious.” A hothead might have slammed back. “The difference is, unlike you, I’m interested in issues facing the American people, not a sensational gotcha game to boost online traffic.” An earnest aspirant caught between a rock and a hard place would have floundered.

Sen. Harris did none of these things.

Masterfully, she made a self-deprecating joke and said well, the two words have a lot of different letters (to which the audience laughed), and then she called her own joke “corny,” adding, “I can be corny sometimes.” Transitioning swimmingly, she answered the reporter’s question succinctly: “I fully intend to carry these initiatives out. I’m not just offering a concept…I have a strong commitment to seeing these things done.”

Realistically, prominent politicians encounter innumerable interactions like this. One question is, how do they respond? Senator Harris patently distinguishes herself in her ability to quickly comprehend such situations and formulate a proper response that puts her on top.

Lastly, Sen. Harris has been the most strategically aggressive and persuasive candidate in prosecuting the case against four more years of Donald Trump. In the last debate, she dismantled him in broad daylight. In interviews, she punishes him. Some Republican officials have even admitted that Trump fears Sen. Harris. On Twitter, she must torment him psychologically as he watches FOX News to console himself. What is more, after lambasting Trump for being a dastard who abuses his power to beat people down, Sen. Harris reminds us of what a president should do: Use their power to lift people up.

With three debates now under her belt, I’m confident that come next Tuesday, Kamala Harris will be poised to cash in on a spellbinding display of presidential power.

Zachary R. Wood is a Board Director at Heterodox Academy and the author of Uncensored: My Life and Uncomfortable Conversations at the Intersection of Black and White America.

Zachary Wood

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Related Topics:Joe Biden Kamala Harris Presidential Election 2020

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Activism

Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

Published

2 days ago

April 26, 2024

Oakland Post

To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.

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Alameda County

DA Pamela Price Stands by Mom Who Lost Son to Gun Violence in Oakland

Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018.

Published

5 days ago

April 22, 2024

Oakland Post

District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones

Publisher’s note: Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018. The photo was too small for readers to see where the women were and what they were doing. Here we show Price and Jones as they complete a walk in memory of Scott. For more information and to contribute, please contact Carol Jones at 510-978-5517 at morefoundation.help@gmail.com. Courtesy photo.

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Bay Area

MAYOR BREED ANNOUNCES $53 MILLION FEDERAL GRANT FOR SAN FRANCISCO’S HOMELESS PROGRAMS

San Francisco, CA – Mayor London N. Breed today announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded the city a $53.7 million grant to support efforts to renew and expand critical services and housing for people experiencing homelessness in San Francisco.

Published

1 week ago

April 20, 2024

Oakland Post

Mayor London Breed

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Wednesday, January 31, 2024

Contact: Mayor’s Office of Communications, mayorspressoffice@sfgov.org

***PRESS RELEASE***

MAYOR BREED ANNOUNCES $53 MILLION FEDERAL GRANT FOR SAN FRANCISCO’S HOMELESS PROGRAMS

HUD’s Continuum of Care grant will support the City’s range of critical services and programs, including permanent supportive housing, rapid re-housing, and improved access to housing for survivors of domestic violence

San Francisco, CA – Mayor London N. Breed today announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded the city a $53.7 million grant to support efforts to renew and expand critical services and housing for people experiencing homelessness in San Francisco.

HUD’s Continuum of Care (CoC) program is designed to support local programs with the goal of ending homelessness for individuals, families, and Transitional Age Youth.

This funding supports the city’s ongoing efforts that have helped more than 15,000 people exit homelessness since 2018 through City programs including direct housing placements and relocation assistance. During that time San Francisco has also increased housing slots by 50%. San Francisco has the most permanent supportive housing of any county in the Bay Area, and the second most slots per capita than any city in the country.

“In San Francisco, we have worked aggressively to increase housing, shelter, and services for people experiencing homelessness, and we are building on these efforts every day,” said Mayor London Breed. “Every day our encampment outreach workers are going out to bring people indoors and our City workers are connecting people to housing and shelter. This support from the federal government is critical and will allow us to serve people in need and address encampments in our neighborhoods.”

The funding towards supporting the renewal projects in San Francisco include financial support for a mix of permanent supportive housing, rapid re-housing, and transitional housing projects. In addition, the CoC award will support Coordinated Entry projects to centralize the City’s various efforts to address homelessness. This includes $2.1 million in funding for the Coordinated Entry system to improve access to housing for youth and survivors of domestic violence.

“This is a good day for San Francisco,” said Shireen McSpadden, executive director of the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing. “HUD’s Continuum of Care funding provides vital resources to a diversity of programs and projects that have helped people to stabilize in our community. This funding is a testament to our work and the work of our nonprofit partners.”

The 2024 Continuum of Care Renewal Awards Include:

$42.2 million for 29 renewal PSH projects that serve chronically homeless, veterans, and youth
$318,000 for one new PSH project, which will provide 98 affordable homes for low-income seniors in the Richmond District
$445,00 for one Transitional Housing (TH) project serving youth
$6.4 million dedicated to four Rapid Rehousing (RRH) projects that serve families, youth, and survivors of domestic violence
$750,00 for two Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) projects
$2.1 million for three Coordinated Entry projects that serve families, youth, chronically homeless, and survivors of domestic violence

In addition, the 2023 CoC Planning Grant, now increased to $1,500,000 from $1,250,000, was also approved. Planning grants are submitted non-competitively and may be used to carry out the duties of operating a CoC, such as system evaluation and planning, monitoring, project and system performance improvement, providing trainings, partner collaborations, and conducting the PIT Count.

“We are very appreciative of HUD’s support in fulfilling our funding request for these critically important projects for San Francisco that help so many people trying to exit homelessness,” said Del Seymour, co-chair of the Local Homeless Coordinating Board. “This funding will make a real difference to people seeking services and support in their journey out of homelessness.”

In comparison to last year’s competition, this represents a $770,000 increase in funding, due to a new PSH project that was funded, an increase in some unit type Fair Market Rents (FMRs) and the larger CoC Planning Grant. In a year where more projects had to compete nationally against other communities, this represents a significant increase.

Nationally, HUD awarded nearly $3.16 billion for over 7,000 local homeless housing and service programs including new projects and renewals across the United States.