Sitting U.S. Senators usually play quiet in election years. They just want to be re-elected.
But one U.S. Senator just went rogue to call out Kamala Harris as an empty suit.
In a recent appearance on Fox News’ The Ingraham Angle, Republican Louisiana Senator John Kennedy delivered sharp criticism of Vice President Kamala Harris, particularly focusing on her handling of economic issues. Kennedy did not hold back, labeling both Harris and President Joe Biden as “inflation machines” and accusing them of contributing significantly to the nation’s economic challenges.
Kennedy expressed his frustration with Harris, alleging that she lacks a clear strategy to tackle rising prices. He claimed that Harris often relies on “abstractions” to divert attention from her policy record.
“Well, the reason, I think, that Ms. Harris talks about abstractions like the rule of law, like freedom, like joy, like opportunity, is because she can’t talk about a record,” Kennedy asserted. He went on to criticize her record on a range of issues including inflation, crime, the economy, the border, and national security, concluding that “it all sucks.”
Further emphasizing his point, Kennedy stated, “In America today, it is harder than ever to get ahead. And it is easier than ever to do nothing. I still think the economy, inflation, and this campaign is going to be the main issue. Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have been inflation machines,” adding, “What is Ms. Harris’ plan to reduce prices? She doesn’t have one.”
In this election, we each face a question: What kind of country do we want to live in?
A country of chaos, fear, and hate? Or one of freedom, compassion, and rule of law?
Each of us has the power to answer that question with our vote.
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) September 1, 2024
The senator’s comments come at a time when the Consumer Price Index showed a year-over-year increase of 2.9% in July, marking the first time inflation has fallen below 3% since its peak at 9% in June 2022. In response to inflation concerns, Harris proposed a plan to ban price gouging on groceries during an Aug. 16 speech.
Meanwhile, a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted from Aug. 23-25 revealed that former President Donald Trump’s lead over Harris on economic matters has narrowed. The poll found that 43% of registered voters preferred Trump’s economic policies, while 40% favored Harris’. The poll has a 4% margin of error.
Concluding his remarks, Kennedy argued that peripheral talking points like “joy” will not distract Americans, stating, “I don’t think this election will be decided on abstractions like the rule of law or joy. I don’t think most Americans think that much about abstractions. They’re too busy getting up every day and going to work and obeying the law and paying their taxes and trying to keep their kids’ morals.”
Kamala Harris Policy Positions Are Slim Pickings
The critics of Kamala Harris and her campaign thus far have rightly pointed out that it’s been hard to pin her down on any policy positions at all. She’s been extremely vague even on the ones she has publicly shared.
Not only that, but if one were to go to her campaign website, you would not find any policy positions at all (at the time of writing). That’s unprecedented for a campaign that is now more than a month in and has had plenty of time to put pen down to paper and share the policy positions of the candidate.
This is also concerning because the election is now just two months away. We are less than ten weeks away from the election and there is no where for Americans to go and find out about what the policy positions of one of the top Presidential candidates are.
It’s seemingly entirely possible that we arrive at election day and Kamala Harris has not shared any centralized information to discuss her policies at all. In fact, the election will have early ballots cast in a matter of days. Meaning, yes, there will be ballots cast from Americans who have not had time to digest any of her policy positions.
That is an unprecedented reality, but it’s all intentional. Kamala Harris and her allies are specifically trying to stay quiet and vague about what she believes in now because they know it’s a nightmare for her to overcome.
She’s tied at the hip to Joe Biden, a presidential administration that many Americans are furious at for mishandling a number of important issues like the economy, immigration, and national security. She’s also pushed some policies back in 2019 when she was running for President that are wildly unpopular.
So they are hoping they can just stay quiet and hope that she just might win in this hyper-polarized American culture that has essentially made every Presidential election a toss-up.
Stay tuned to the DC Daily Journal.
