Supporters of reproductive rights outside the Michigan State Capitol during a “Restore Roe” rally, Lansing, Michigan, September 7, 2022 (Jeff Kowalsky/AFP/Getty)
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In a 20-minute discussion, I joined the This Week’s World Today podcast to examine lessons for Democrats from the US elections, and to consider what lies ahead with a Trump Administration.
I chat with host Keith Kelly about the economy, immigration, rights, and the threat to decency and the US system from Donald Trump.
Listen from 26:52:
I think reflection is necessary for Democrats and for Americans in general as to how a convicted felon — a man who was found guilty of defamation in connection with sexual assault; a man whose business was found guilty of fraud; a man who has denigrated Hispanics, blacks, the women, and disabled, even as he tried to get them to vote for him; a man who said that he will act like a dictator from Day 1 and seek retribution against enemies; and a man who less than four years ago tried to hold on through a coup attempt — won.
I track how the Kamala Harris did set out policies on economic issues but failed to connect with key blocs of voters.
I think the Democrats have to consider, “Why didn’t we get across what we can do for these people if their concern is the economy? How do we get across the real story v. the pernicious disinformation about migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers?
How can we give people the sense, as Harris put it, that we go forward, we don’t look back?”
But this reflection is not just about the Democratic Party. Because a lot of this has to do with a damaged American media culture. Quite enough, the media didn’t want to report or didn’t choose to report when Harris put out policy positions.
Kamala Harris was a bad candidate: https://www.thegazette.com/staff-columnists/kamala-harris-was-a-bad-candidate/
“In short, Kamala Harris was a terrible candidate — terrible enough to be bested by a deeply flawed character like Donald Trump. Her entrance into the race was under the most pathetic circumstances imaginable. Harris was thrust into the role of presumed Democratic nominee to succeed the fast-fading Biden only days after insisting, as she had for months, that the President was cognitively capable of running for a second term as leader of the free world.”
A Michelle Obama – Pete Buttigieg ticker a Gretchen Whitmer – Josh Shapiro ticket (both with women as presidential candidates) may have done a lot better.