Staff Reports
The Democratic National Committee is rolling out the welcome wagon for Vice President Kamala Harris as she takes the mantle for the upcoming election, but it’s hard to overlook how the convoluted 92-page platform resembles a last-minute scramble rather than a polished political manuscript. With President Biden dropping out of the presidential race, one must wonder if they’re still trying to live in the past, considering that the document is more focused on Biden than it is on Harris, who is now the supposed new hope for all things Democratic.
Among the glaring oddities, the platform has the audacity to mention Biden’s “second term” 19 times while he isn’t even seeking one! In total, the platform name-drops the current president a staggering 271 times, leaving one to question whose campaign the Democrats are really promoting. Perhaps they’re unaware that Biden isn’t running anymore, or they’re hoping viewers cautiously forget they mentioned it. Meanwhile, Harris’s new policies remain conveniently vague, particularly her unfulfilled promise to tackle “price gouging,” which somehow didn’t make the cut in her own party’s platform.
Democrats Unveil Convention Platform With Familiar Themes
The party is calling for tax increases on corporations and the rich while also focusing on working families, infrastructure, climate change and abortion rights. pic.twitter.com/DZzfNJkItK
— Thien (@thiennghiem) August 19, 2024
In a masterclass of deflection, former President Trump gets more than four times the mention as Harris in this supposed Harris-centered platform. He is referenced 150 times, while Harris can only muster a measly 32. It appears that despite being the new face of the party, Harris is still getting overshadowed—even by her predecessor. The irony of this whole endeavor suggests that the Democrats might be attempting to sell a new product while holding up an old one. Every other paragraph seems to be dedicated to contrasting the Trump administration with the current administration’s policies, but inadvertently, it’s just a reminder of the trail of chaos left behind by the Democrats.
In an unexpected twist, the Democrats have decided to show some concern for border security—a topic they largely ignored in the previous platform. The new section entitled “Securing our border and fixing the broken immigration system” is a striking departure from their 2020 strategy, which was more focused on criticizing Trump than anything else. This newfound attention to the border could be seen as an attempt to avoid giving Trump another win on the issues he championed during his campaigns, but it also reeks of desperation as Democrats scramble to acknowledge a pressing problem that they have historically downplayed.
The platform takes additional shots at the Supreme Court, particularly for its so-called attacks on American legal principles. It paints an interesting portrait of Biden claiming he will continue to appoint dazzlingly “brilliant jurists” who are committed to defending American rights. However, one must wonder if these “brilliant jurists” will actually defend the Constitution or simply rewrite it to meet progressive whims. Moreover, the proposed sweeping federal voting laws showcase a party desperately wishing to restore parts of the Voting Rights Act, as if that will somehow erase the ongoing concerns regarding election integrity that persist in many American minds.
Despite anticipated anti-Israel protests during the convention that would make a lesser party quail in their boots, the Democrats firmly stand by their support for Israel. Yet, in a clear example of double-talk, they advocate for a two-state solution while simultaneously calling for a ceasefire without guaranteeing the release of hostages held by Hamas. This ambivalence might serve as the party’s attempt to appease both factions of their ever-divided base. It seems clear that while they attempt to project a unified front, the reality is a party more divided than ever as they gear up for their convention in Chicago, proving once again that Democrats might just be their own worst enemy.
