Staff Reports
Kamala Harris and her team have seemingly embarked on an ambitious campaign to erase her legacy as “border czar,” a title that was never truly her own—more a concoction of an overly dramatizing press than an official designation. Once President Biden publicly acknowledged the political landmine underneath his administration—namely, the looming specter of Donald Trump—it appears Harris was put in a frantic position to erase any responsibility tied to the border crisis on her watch. Rather than gracefully bowing out of the responsibility, it seems a full-on Public Relations operation is underway.
The robust media cleanup involves downplaying her role in addressing the surge of migrants coming from South America. Biden reversed key Trump-era policies on his first day, including the effective “Remain in Mexico” policy, and soon after, Harris enjoyed the dubious distinction of being known as the administration’s point person on border issues—a distinction that now has some Democrats sweating bullets. As she attempts to pivot away from her past failures, it seems that her team is frantically sweeping the title under the rug, claiming she was merely a diplomat… as if that’s supposed to satisfy the millions of Americans concerned about the chaos at the southern border.
Wake up with the Washington Examiner: Harris history as ‘border czar,’ Supreme Court skepticism, and Title IX worries – Washington Examiner https://t.co/UOGZYx36ZQ
— NeverGiveUpYourDream.US (@GoodKindHappy) August 1, 2024
With less than three months until Election Day, Republicans are seizing the moment to polish their attack ads featuring Harris’s tumultuous border record, labeling her “failed, weak, and dangerously liberal.” As if straight out of a comic book, the Democrats have their own hacks preparing countermeasures, perhaps hoping that if they throw enough glitter on the issue, the public will forget that Harris originally flew south to tackle the “root causes” of migration—a task she has demonstrated quite the Houdini act in dodging.
Moreover, Harris’s alleged focus on immigration in the U.S. rather than at the border appears to be an attempt to refocus the screaming headlines from her handling of the crisis to the “services” immigrants could be provided once they’ve made it into the country. Amidst the chaos, she has tried to shift the narrative to integration to distract from her past hard-line stances, particularly concerning her questionable comments about decriminalizing illegal border crossings and her lofty dreams to dismantle ICE. After all, it’s all about creating a bright and shiny future—until someone brings up the past.
When the dust settles, the truth remains that Harris has a belligerent history that she must reckon with. Once upon a time, the California attorney general asserted that “an undocumented immigrant is not a criminal,” a statement that turns out to be fun to quote but has tangible repercussions for federal policies and law enforcement. Unfortunately for the vice president, the longer she tries to absolve herself of a role in the border chaos, the more laughter ensues from conservatives who remember her past statements and resulting failures.
As for her other plans to regain the public’s favor, Harris’s pivot might not exactly carry the built-in support she expects. The Republican-led narratives surrounding her tenure give off the scent of desperation from the Democratic side, screaming that when in doubt, just throw some cash at a PR firm and hope no one digs out the receipts. Harris’s dilemma serves as a prime reminder that past decisions in the political arena—especially on issues as charged as immigration—follow candidates like a shadow. Her attempts to redefine her narrative may wind up being yet another stain on the increasingly threadbare canvas of the Biden-Harris administration’s border policy.
