One way to judge people is by what they say and what they do, as opposed to putting too much credence in either people’s words or deeds alone. After all, we are all flawed human beings, and sometimes our actions do not align with our stated beliefs. And vice-versa.
Yet, after assessing both her words and her actions, one can conclude that Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) is a socialist. This means a socialist could be a heartbeat away from sitting behind the Resolute desk in the Oval Office. Yikes!
Although Harris’s political career includes more flip-flops than a fish out of water, she certainly has a long history — especially recently — that points to the fact that she is a socialist.
However, I believe, based on evidence and my intuition, that Harris subscribes to socialist doctrine not because she believes in it, but because she is opportunistically choosing to ride the socialist wave all the way to the White House.
Regardless of her true beliefs and intent (I am not able to read her mind), Harris has gone all-in on the socialist surge that threatens the very survival of America, at least as we know it.
Exhibit A: Harris was a co-sponsor of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s (D-NY) Green New Deal, which is a socialist wish list more than anything. In short, the Green New Deal calls for a universal basic income, even for those “unwilling to work.” It also includes single-payer health care, aka Medicare for All. And free college, among many other Marxian dreams.
By literally co-sponsoring this socialist Trojan Horse, Harris has demonstrated she supports these radical socialist plans in full. After all, the best way to judge a politician is not by what they say but by how they vote.
As if her cosponsoring the Green New Deal was not enough evidence to convince Americans that Harris is a socialist, consider that she called for the abolition of private health insurance in 2019. According to Harris, “The idea is that everyone gets access to medical care, and you don't have to go through the process of going through an insurance company, having them give you approval, going through the paperwork, all of the delay that may require. Who of us has not had that situation, where you've got to wait for approval, and the doctor says, ‘Well, I don't know if your insurance company is going to cover this?’ Let’s eliminate all of that. Let’s move on.”
Of course, Harris walked that back almost as soon as she uttered those words. But that statement was made in 2019, well before she was named Biden’s choice for vice president. To be honest, does anyone (including Kamala) know where she stands on banning private insurance as of this minute?
And if banning private health insurance was not enough to make you question Harris’s socialist credentials, consider she also wants to ban so-called assault weapons. Last time I checked, a socialist staple included the disarmament of the population. Throughout history, socialist regimes have used gun grabs as a prerequisite for their power grabs. A population that has the right to bear arms is not good for socialists. They know this all too well.
Like any good socialist, Harris has never met a ban she didn't like. From plastic straws to fracking, Harris believes bans work. In reality, bans are bad news that infringe on personal freedom and property rights via the force of government.
And, now, without further ado, allow me to introduce Harris’s socialist coup de grace: She supports “free health care, education, housing, etc.” for illegal immigrants. In other words, Harris has pledged she would support an open borders welfare state. This is inimical to common sense and America’s foundational principles.
I could go on and on detailing Harris’s socialist inclinations, both in words and actions. However, I think the point is clear.
Like most politicians, Harris has a penchant for double-talk and flip-flops, but she takes it to a whole new level. As a keen political observer for the past two decades, I can scarcely recall a politician as hollow and prone to the political winds as Kamala Harris.
Oh, wait, I forgot. Joe Biden is just as bad, if not worse. No wonder Biden chose Harris. They go together like two peas in a pod.
Chris Talgo (ctalgo@heartland.org) is an editor at The Heartland Institute.