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It was his summer. We have witnessed a political season unlike any other in our nation’s history. We have seen an assassination attempt on a former president running for a second term. An aging president dropped out of the race just weeks before his party’s convention. A vice president gave a dying campaign a much-needed shot of adrenaline, revitalizing the party and energizing new and loyal voters alike.
This wild turn of events could not come at a more dangerous time. Multiple foreign wars threaten our security and risk setting the world on fire. High interest rates and inflation have people anxious across the country. This year is set to be the hottest on record: Hundreds have died as temperatures soar, crops have withered, sea levels have risen, and forests have burned.
But in this time of real danger, one presidential candidate is speaking only of his own grievances. His party, once able to boast of being a big tent, is now devoted to a toxic cult of personality. The Republican Party is following in the footsteps of Donald Trump. The party rejects legislation, threatens another government shutdown, and engages in petty feuds, like its leader. It opposed the bipartisan border bill in deference to Trump—and continued chaos there for his own political gain. We live in a two-party system built on compromise. It is vital to the health of the country to have a sane Republican Party that offers a counterpoint, checks and balances. But Trump is incapable of acting in good faith or uniting a polarized nation. Believers in the slogan “Make America Great Again” are willing to follow him blindly to our collective destruction.
Trump is clearly unfit to hold office again. From January 6 to his deadly incompetence in handling of the pandemic, his callous response to the George Floyd protests, and his dangerous reshaping of the Supreme Court into an arm of the conservative right, Trump has shown us time and time again exactly who he is. He lies so much that his candidacy would be a joke if it weren’t so dangerous. And he will make the plans outlined by right-wing extremists in Project 2025 a reality. He has promised to be “dictator” for a day. The entire premise of Trump’s restoration should frighten even the most casual observer of politics. This is not a fire drill. As Sen. Bernie Sanders recently said Rolling Stone“This election is about whether we remain a democratic society or whether we move toward authoritarianism. Trump does not believe in the basic principles of American democracy.”
Throughout his career, Trump has stoked racial divisions in this country. He entered politics by spreading lies about President Obama, ran a campaign demonizing Latino immigrants, and among his first acts as president was to enact the so-called Muslim ban. His blatantly racist tactics were on display during his September 10 debate with Vice President Kamala Harris, most notably when he repeated disproven claims. Haitian immigrants eating cats and dogs in Springfield, Ohio, have caused a stir. These reckless, hateful comments have had real-world consequences in and around the city: bomb threats, school closures, and the cancellation of a local festival. Such unnecessary, mind-bogglingly stupid comments have become the norm in the Trump era. They need to stop.
The past decade or so of Trump’s fearmongering has divided the nation in ways not seen since the turmoil of the 1960s. Harris was right to condemn him for failing as a leader. “It’s a tragedy that we have someone who wants to be president and has tried repeatedly throughout his career to use race to divide the American people,” she said in the debate. “I think the vast majority of us know that we have more in common than what divides us. And we don’t want that kind of approach that is constantly trying to divide us, particularly on the basis of race.”
A few months ago, before she became a candidate, Harris said Rolling Stone The question at stake in this election is a fundamental one: “What country do you want to live in?” Harris highlighted the dangers that lie ahead in November, and how many rights could be taken away from us under a second Trump administration. “We have to be vigilant in holding on to whatever freedoms we have and have fought for. They are the result of our collective commitment to democracy,” she said.
Based on her career and campaign, it's clear Harris shares Rolling StoneShe believes the United States should be a nation that leads the world against the threat of the climate crisis. She will fight for reproductive freedom and civil rights. She wants to build more affordable housing, believes it is important to strengthen the social safety net, and advocates for reasonable gun laws. She wants the United States to have the best education system in the world. She will work for peace, even as she secures our national defense. In contrast to her opponent, Harris’s record as attorney general, senator, and vice president has shown a politician dedicated to the rule of law, democratic norms, and a willingness to work across party lines. She is not an extremist or a demagogue; she is a lifelong, dedicated public servant who believes that government exists to help and protect the American people.
Kamala Harris is the clear choice over Donald Trump. Vote for a future where the carnage of the Trump era is in the past and America moves forward.
