Opportunities to know the candidates

By Jim Thompson
HCP columnist

I’ve seen this happen in business and it is now happening in the presidential election. In business, a position opens up and rather than promote someone from within, the manager in charge decides to go outside and find a new candidate. Why? The internal candidate has a known flaw.  

So, let me understand this, one's ability to pick from an unknown selection off the street is that good? I can tell you my ability to pick from unknown candidates is not that good.

This is what some are doing in the current presidential race. We have known Donald Trump for decades, flaws and all. Kamala Harris came on the scene as a presidential candidate on July 21 of this year – three months ago. Now, don’t pretend you knew much about Kamala Harris before then. She was a nearly invisible vice president. When she tried at the presidential primaries in 2000, she dropped out before she started almost. No one knew her.

The Never Trumpers' animosity toward Donald Trump is so great that many will vote for an unknown over him. Voters likely know more about Putin than Harris, why not vote for Putin?

OK, so where do you find out about Harris, assuming you know everything about Trump? Well, let’s go to the left-leaning Wikipedia:

“Harris advocates a similar domestic platform to Biden on some issues, supporting national abortion protections, LGBT+ rights, gun control and legislation to address climate change. She also supports federal cannabis legalization, strengthening voting rights, strengthening the Affordable Care Act and federal funding of housing. Harris has departed from Biden on economic issues, proposing what has been described as a 'populist' economic agenda, supporting a ban on grocery and food price gouging, capping prescription drug costs and expanding the child tax credit. On foreign policy, she supports continued military aid to Ukraine and Israel in their respective wars but insists that Israel should agree to a ceasefire and hostage deal and work toward a two-state solution. On immigration, Harris supports increasing the number of Border Patrol agents and reforming the immigration system.”

Going back to when she first floated the idea of a presidential run in 2019, Wikipedia reports:
“Harris began an initial run for the presidency on Jan. 21, 2019 at the time, as U.S. senator from California. In debates, Harris was criticized by opponents over her record as attorney general of California, notably regarding her past positions on marijuana, cash bail, parole reform and alleged negligence in investigating police misconduct, among other issues. Stagnant polling and fundraising struggles in November began to signify a possible end to her campaign. Given inconsistencies in staffing, a lack of funds and a generally poorly managed campaign, she officially withdrew from the Democratic primaries in December 2019.”

Of course, what we don’t know is if Harris is saying the things she is saying today just to get elected and if she will follow through with them if elected. As vice president, she seems to have ignored the office and the mandates President Biden has given her. Whether she will be a “beach baby president” like Joe Biden is yet to be seen. Personally, I hope she doesn’t get the chance.

Jim Thompson, formerly of Marshall, is a graduate of Hillsboro High School and the University of Cincinnati. He resides in Duluth, Ga. and is a columnist for The Highland County Press.