The power of Kamala Harris' simple DNC message: Freedom is what normal Americans want

The power of Kamala Harris' simple DNC message: Freedom is what normal Americans want
For Democrats this election, democracy is the "how," but freedom is the "why"

By Amanda Marcotte
Senior Writer
Published August 23, 2024 6:00AM (EDT)


(Salon) CHICAGO — Vice President Kamala Harris only entered the presidential race a month ago, so it's unsurprising to see trace evidence all over the Democratic National Convention of the original plans of when President Joe Biden was the nominee. The order of the states for the ceremonial roll call, the choice speaking slots for folks like Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware, and even a party platform that was so hastily rewritten it mentions Biden's "second term": all ghosts of the convention that would have been if Biden hadn't stepped down. Unsurprising, the most prominent relic of the alt-history convention was Biden's Monday night speech, which focused on the theme of his now-deceased campaign: "clear and present threats to our very democracy" from Donald Trump.

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Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota, Harris' running mate, struck a similar tone in his 16-minute speech Wednesday night. "When Republicans use the word freedom," he said, they mean freedom "to invade your doctor’s office," "to pollute your air and water," and "to take advantage of customers." Democrats, in contrast, "mean the freedom to make a better life for yourself and the people that you love."

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It's overstated to say Harris' campaign has abandoned the "democracy" language. The week's program, for instance, featured speakers and segments on the January 6 insurrection. In her convention speech, Harris reminded the crowd of Trump's coup, arguing he "fanned the flames" of the riot. Multiple speakers at the convention highlighted how the vote was hard-won for certain Americans. But the campaign does seem to feel that "democracy" is too abstract. Americans support democracy in theory, but in practice, it can be confusing or opaque. Many voters can't say who their governor or senator is, much less their local representatives. "Democracy" is a word that may sound soaring to political junkies, but feels bureaucratic and frankly bloodless to many others.

"Freedom," in contrast, is an idea more people can wrap their hands around, especially with MAGA Republicans openly gunning to take away freedoms that protect the most intimate parts of people's lives, like who they marry or when they have children. The path between your vote and the end goal of policies can seem byzantine. But losing the right to abortion is immediately visceral. Most everyone knows how life-derailing an unwanted pregnancy or medical emergency can be. ..............(more)

https://www.salon.com/2024/08/23/the-power-of-kamala-harris-simple-dnc-message-freedom-is-what-normal-americans-want/