Kamala Harris has been running for president for less than a week, and already her opponents are desperately trying to find anything they can to slow her down. As the former Attorney General of California and current Vice President, Harris is used to facing tough criticism from her rivals. But the situation has taken a sharp turn because Harris is both highly qualified and relatively young, making it hard for her critics to stick with their usual attacks on President Biden.
With no substantial criticism to throw at Harris, some Republicans are turning to outdated tactics. They’re relying on racism, sexism, and old controversies, discarding any sense of politeness. One of their more recent and somewhat comical strategies involves digging up old Tweets, particularly one related to the actor Jussie Smollett from 2019.
What Did Kamala Harris Say About Jussie Smollett?
In case you don’t remember, Jussie Smollett is an actor who was known for his role on the TV show Empire. In early 2019, Smollett claimed he was attacked by a group of men who used racist and homophobic slurs, poured bleach on him, and put a noose around his neck. Smollett said his attackers had shouted, “This is MAGA country,” and the attack was allegedly staged to be caught on camera, though it later turned out the footage was flawed.
Following the incident, prominent figures, including Kamala Harris and Cory Booker (D-New Jersey), condemned the attack, calling it an “attempted modern-day lynching.” They also supported a federal anti-lynching bill, which was eventually passed as the Emmett Till Antilynching Act in 2022.
However, it was soon revealed that the attackers were actually acquaintances of Smollett. This led to Smollett being charged with filing a false police report and other offenses. When the investigation pointed to Smollett himself, Harris expressed her disappointment and frustration on social media.
Recently, Fox News has been using an old documentary about the case to criticize Harris. The documentary features Eugene Roy, a retired police officer who was critical of those who quickly judged Smollett before all the facts were known. Roy’s comments have been used to argue that Harris and others were wrong to support Smollett before the full story emerged.
While there’s merit to being cautious about rushing to judgment, Harris’s initial support helped push through a crucial anti-lynching bill that had been in the works for over a century. The current focus on a single Tweet from years ago seems misplaced, especially when compared to the far more controversial statements made by former President Trump.
In the grand scheme of things, the criticisms Harris faces over this issue seem minor, especially when stacked against the history of inflammatory and offensive remarks made by Trump. Harris’s opponents may want to rethink their strategy, as their attacks appear more like grasping at straws than substantive criticisms.
