Why I am voting for Kamala Harris, not just against the other guy

Lots of reasons in one handy place

Sep 25, 2024

I am so tired — so so so so tired — of the question, “What has she done, really?”

Or “I just want to hear more about her policy details.”

Or worst of all, “Aren’t you voting for Kamala Harris just because she’s a woman?” — which makes me want to do actual physical damage to something. Not a person (I am not violent) and not an expensive thing (I’m not that impulsive), and definitely not a wall that I would have to repair myself (please don’t ever ask me to repair a wall)…but you know. Like rip a used cardboard box to absolute shreds, and hurl each and every one of those pieces forcefully into the recycling bin!

I am a responsible damager.

My first instinct is to respond to the policy questions of so-called undecided voters with, “If only we had some sort of, I don’t know… like a Google machine? Something compact that we carried with us all the time, and allowed us to look things up? That would be so great!”

But as I said, I’m not that impulsive. So I try to take a deep breath and answer the question.

It can be hard. We don’t all have a handy list of talking points in our brains that we can access at a moment’s notice when someone asks — in good faith — for more information.

I mean, there’s a lot to work with here!

Back in August, someone on the socials DM’d me to ask why I am supporting Kamala Harris as our next President and Commander-in-Chief. This was before the DNC helped America learn much more about her and the people who support her; and certainly before the too-graphic-for-small-children smackdown that will heretofore be known as the Harris-Trump Debate.

I shared my response to the question in a thread (a threaded Thread?), but for those of you who reached out to ask for it in one convenient place — i.e. here — you’ve got it.

I’ve included plenty of carefully chosen links to a variety of sources for more detail.

Why Kamala-Walz?

A follower on Instagram asked me: Serious question and I'm not trolling... what is it about Harris and/or her policies that appeals to you?

Here’s what I wrote:

First I look at how a candidate has spent their life. Have they worked to make others' lives better? Do they feel an authentic call to service? Kamala has dedicated her entire career in service of protecting + advocating for the most vulnerable among us.

Also, are they capable of evolving and growing over time? Do they listen to smart advisors? Do they understand nuance?

Kamala’s policies align with my values:
- protecting kids from unnecessary gun violence
- taking on price gouging
- capping exorbitant Rx costs for all of us
- preserving medicare and social security
- supporting clean air/water initiatives (including the Paris Accords)
-supporting family leave / childcare
- protecting LGBTQ rights
- expanding the ACA to keep us all healthy without going broke.

She has been consistently and unapologetically at the forefront of protecting women's lives, health, and bodily autonomy, especially in the wake of Dobbs.

Harris has an incredible grasp of issues and seeks out creative root-cause solutions, not bandaids. (See her work re Central American infrastructure + economic change as a long-term solution addressing illegal immigration.)

She commands extraordinary respect domestically and around the globe.

She is going to protect democracy, preserve essential alliances, and stand up against bad actors, foreign and domestic.

As for her opponent? Where to begin! He orchestrated a violent coup to stay in power! He threatened the life of his own VP. He foments violence. He is a convicted felon and rapist! How are these things not entirely disqualifying?

His own VP and half his cabinet will not support him, which is unprecedented. They call him "unfit" and "unhinged," "nauseating," "despicable," "shouldn't be anywhere near the Oval Office." He has no respect for the constitution, democracy, our military, or regular Americans who can't do something for *him* which is so ass backwards it still shocks me.

He demands bribes (the Egypt story, the Ukraine call, giving access to foreign governments that spend money at his hotels). He is in the pocket of hostile foreign governments. He mismanages every crisis, and he has used the office primarily to enrich himself and his family.

Не is a pathological liar and sadistically vengeful and cruel. And lordy, he just whines all day long! Wah wah wah. Crowd size / witch hunt / unfair / me me me blah blah blah. No one likes a whiner. Whiners are weak

This is obviously an abbreviated list.

I hope it is enough to explain why I am not only voting for Harris, I am doing it with enthusiasm. She will do things that benefit all of us — not just the people who vote for her.

THAT is what a good President does.

More Reading:

If someone you know is on the fence or genuinely wants more info, I think a good tactic is to ask them what issues they care about. Then talk to them about that. I may be an optimist, but I bet there is more common ground than you realize once people get the facts.

Here are some helpful links and meaningful endorsements beyond the issue-based links above.

Night-by-night highlights of the Democratic National Convention (I’m Walking Here)

The highlights of the Harris-Trump Debate (I’m Walking Here)

Why Tim Walz brings joy, hope, and opportunity for the best memes (I’m Walking Here)

The list of 400+ bipartisan economists, business leaders, officials endorsing Harris (CNN)

Scientific American’s endorsement of Kamala Harris — only their second ever (SA)

Doctors “Fight Like Hell” Against a Second Trump Administration: “Elections Do Matter for Your Health” (Politico)

More than 700 former military and national security officials endorse Harris (CNBC)

111 former Republican officials endorse Harris, say “Trump is unfit to serve” (CNBC)

Harris endorsement from Republican Mayor of Mesa, AZ, John Giles (AZ Central)

88 corporate leaders endorse Harris as “a president who wants American industries to thrive” (CNBC)

16 Nobel-winning economists say Trump policies will fuel inflation (Reuters)