Kamala Harris: America Is At Breaking Point & I'm Deeply Concerned About The State Of The Country!
In this episode of The Diary Of A CEO, Vice President Kamala Harris discusses her political career, from her time as deputy district attorney to her selection as Joe Biden's running mate. She shares insights into the tensions within Biden's administration, including her experiences with staff members who she believes were reluctant to defend her against criticism or promote her achievements.
Harris also explores her approach to public service, which was shaped by her upbringing in Berkeley and Oakland and her mother's involvement in civil rights activism. The conversation covers her views on the Democratic Party's engagement with younger voters, addressing issues like climate change and housing affordability, as well as the personal challenges of navigating high-profile politics and the importance of maintaining strong support systems.
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Harris's Political Career, Presidential Campaign, and Vice Presidency
Kamala Harris's journey began as a deputy district attorney, leading to a presidential campaign that ended due to funding constraints. After a secretive selection process, Joe Biden chose her as his running mate via FaceTime. During her vice presidency, Harris reports experiencing challenges with Biden's staff, noting their reluctance to defend her against criticism or promote her achievements, which she attributes to a traditional suspicion of vice presidents.
Tensions and Dynamics Within the Democratic Party
Harris reveals tensions in her relationship with Biden, including a disappointing call before her debate with Trump where Biden focused on criticism rather than offering support. She expresses frustration with Biden's staff, who she feels viewed her as a threat and failed to defend her against media attacks.
Harris criticizes the Democratic Party's approach to engaging younger voters, advocating for bolder strategies like lowering the voting age to 16. She emphasizes the importance of addressing Gen Z's concerns about climate change, AI's impact on employment, and housing affordability. Harris also points out the party's delayed response to conservative agendas, particularly regarding issues like public education and gerrymandering.
Harris's Background, Values, and Public Service Approach
Growing up in Berkeley and Oakland, Harris's approach to public service was deeply influenced by her mother, an Indian immigrant involved in civil rights activism. Harris describes her leadership style as authentic and pragmatic, driven by a desire to help others rather than personal gain. She acknowledges the emotional toll of high-profile politics, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a strong support system, including her husband's crucial role in providing strength and encouragement throughout her career.
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Clarifications
- During her vice presidency, Kamala Harris faced difficulties with Joe Biden's staff, who she felt were hesitant to defend her against criticism or highlight her accomplishments. This strained relationship stemmed from what Harris perceived as a traditional skepticism towards the role and influence of vice presidents in the administration. Harris's frustrations with Biden's staff were compounded by what she viewed as a lack of support and protection against negative media coverage and attacks.
- Harris criticizes the Democratic Party's approach to engaging younger voters by advocating for more innovative strategies like lowering the voting age to 16. She believes that the party should address Gen Z's concerns about climate change, AI's impact on employment, and housing affordability to better connect with younger demographics. Harris also highlights the importance of responding promptly to conservative agendas on issues like public education and gerrymandering to appeal to younger voters.
- Lowering the voting age to 16 is a proposal to allow 16-year-olds to vote in elections. Advocates argue that younger individuals should have a say in decisions that affect their future. This idea aims to increase youth engagement in politics and address issues that impact younger generations.
- Harris highlights the need to address Gen Z's concerns about climate change, reflecting the generation's focus on environmental issues and sustainability. Additionally, she underscores the impact of AI on employment, pointing to the growing automation of jobs and the need for workforce adaptation. Lastly, she mentions the importance of tackling housing affordability, a pressing issue for many young people struggling with rising housing costs and limited access to affordable housing options.
- Kamala Harris's leadership style is characterized by being genuine and practical. She aims to be true to herself while making decisions based on what is realistic and sensible in a given situation. This means she values authenticity and a down-to-earth approach in her leadership roles. Harris strives to lead in a way that is both sincere and focused on achieving practical results.
- Harris recognizes the mental and emotional challenges that come with being in the spotlight of politics. She emphasizes the need for a strong support system to navigate the pressures and demands of high-profile roles effectively. This acknowledgment highlights the personal sacrifices and resilience required to sustain a career in public service at such a visible level.
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Harris's Political Career, Presidential Campaign, and Vice Presidency
This overview covers Kamala Harris’s journey from her time as a successful prosecutor and Attorney General, through her 2020 presidential campaign, and into her current role as Vice President.
Harris's Journey to VP: Presidential Run and Selection as Biden's Mate
Kamala Harris started out as a deputy district attorney and quickly became known for her fearlessness. Her presidential campaign ended primarily because of funding issues, but she does not regret inspiring others with her run. She recounts a secretive and challenging process that ultimately led to a FaceTime call from Joe Biden asking her to be his running mate. The vice-presidential selection process was characterized by clandestine meetings to avoid media detection, involving car swaps and covert interviews. After accepting Biden's offer, Harris quickly transitioned into campaign mode as the vice-presidential nominee.
Harris's Vice Presidency: Experience, Challenges, and Tensions
During her vice presidency, Harris has been acutely aware of the need to prove her loyalty to Biden, citing a traditional suspicion towards vice presidents. Harris has felt frustration with the president's staff, feeling they were reluctant to defend or uplift her against unfair attacks. She indicates there was imbalance in resources for defending and promoting her accomplishments, implying that the president's staff had more resources but chose not to use them. Harris expresses pain from not having her leadership and achievements promoted, attributing it to a belief in a zero-sum game mentality among some staffers. Despite these challenges, she remains committed to her role and to affecting change.
Har ...
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Harris's Political Career, Presidential Campaign, and Vice Presidency
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Actionables
- Reflect on your career trajectory by journaling your progress from your starting point to your current position, noting key milestones and what they've taught you about resilience and ambition. This exercise can help you appreciate your growth and identify areas for future development, much like Harris's rise from deputy district attorney to Attorney General showcased her career progression.
- Create a personal "campaign" for a goal you're passionate about, allocating a realistic budget and timeline to achieve it. This mirrors the planning and resource management aspects of a political campaign, teaching you to inspire yourself and potentially others, even when resources are limited.
- Practice making important decision ...
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Tensions and Dynamics Within the Democratic Party
Kamala Harris shares her experiences with Joe Biden and reflects on the strategic challenges the Democratic Party faces, emphasizing the need for a more engaging and decisive approach, especially toward younger and diverse voters.
Harris's Strained Relationship With Biden and His Team
Harris opens up about instances where she felt let down by President Biden, particularly concerning her loyalty and the lack of support from his staff.
Harris Recalls Biden Disappointing Her Over Call Timing Before Trump Debate
On the day of her debate with Trump, Kamala Harris received a call from Joe Biden that left her disappointed. Initially expected to be supportive, the call diverted to Biden's grievances about people in Pennsylvania speaking ill of her, which Harris saw as unhelpful and distracting for her debate preparations. She also sensed Biden's reluctance about the debate and was concerned it would affect his performance. While in LA, preparing to speak on behalf of Biden during the debate, she found his attitude off-putting.
Harris Felt Biden's Staff Undermined Her By Not Promoting Her and Viewing Her As a Threat
Harris reflects on the vice president's traditional perception as a potential threat to the president, a sentiment that chiefs of staff have seemingly advised upon. Having previously run against Biden, she felt an unfair need to overprove her loyalty. Harris felt that Biden's staff contributed to negative narratives about her and refrained from using their resources to defend her from unjust media attacks, largely remaining indifferent or even believing she should be "knocked down a little bit more." This reluctance was seen as counterproductive as the successes of the president and vice president are where they intertwine.
The Democratic Party's Strategic Missteps and Challenges
Harris criticizes the Democratic Party's approaches and urges bolder strategies to engage young, diverse voters, while also responding more effectively to the conservative agenda.
Harris Urges Bolder, Decisive Strategy to Engage Younger, Diverse Voters
Kamala Harris emphasizes the necessity for the Democratic Party to employ a bolder strategy to rally young and diverse voters. She suggests policies like lowering the voting age to 16 and addresses the unique challenges and concerns faced by Gen Z. This includes issues such as the climate crisis, the disruption of education by the pandemic, ...
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Tensions and Dynamics Within the Democratic Party
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Clarifications
- Kamala Harris felt let down by Joe Biden before her debate with Trump when he called to discuss grievances about people in Pennsylvania speaking ill of her, which she found unhelpful and distracting. She sensed Biden's reluctance about the debate and was concerned it would affect his performance, leading her to feel his attitude was off-putting.
- Kamala Harris felt that Joe Biden's staff viewed her as a threat due to her past competition against Biden. She believed they did not promote her and may have contributed to negative perceptions about her in the media. Harris sensed a need to prove her loyalty excessively, feeling undermined by the lack of support from Biden's team.
- Kamala Harris suggested policies like lowering the voting age to 16 to engage young and diverse voters. She also emphasized addressing issues such as the climate crisis, education disruptions due to the pandemic, implications of AI on employment, and the struggle for affordable housing. Harris highlighted the importance of effective communication strategies and understanding the reasons behind voter apathy.
- Harris criticizes the Democratic Party for not promptly addressing the long-term conservative agenda, which she sees as a strategic mistake. She believes the party's slow response to conservative initiatives like public education reforms, gerrymandering, and court-packing has allowed these issues to persist and potentially undermine progressive goals. Harris emphasizes the need for a more proactive and comprehensive approach to counteracting conservative strategies and safeguarding progressive values within the party.
- A piecemeal approach in addressing systemic issues means tackling problems one by one or in small, disconnected parts instead of implementing comprehensive solutions that address the root causes and interconnected nature of the issues. This method can lead to incomplete or temporary fixes that fail to create lasting change or fully resolve the underlying problems. It contrasts with a holistic approach that considers the broader context and interdependencies of systemic issues to develop more effective and sustainable solutions.
- A systematic opposition to conservative strategies involves a comprehensive and organized approach to countering the long-term goals and actions of conservative groups and individuals. This includes understanding the un ...
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Harris's Background, Values, and Public Service Approach
Kamala Harris has a rich background, deeply ingrained values, and a distinctive approach to public service, influenced significantly by her upbringing, family, and personal experiences.
Harris's Roots and Influences Shaping Her Public Service Commitment
Harris was raised in an environment steeped in the civil rights movement. Rooted in Berkeley and Oakland, California, her mother—an Indian immigrant aligned with civil rights activism—instilled in Harris a duty to protect and respect people's dignity. This duty was reinforced by Harris's experiences, which often contrasted with her mother's vision, as she witnessed firsthand how her "five-foot-tall brown woman with an accent" mother was treated. The eldest of her siblings, Harris learned at an early age from her mother to look out for others, a lesson that has carried over into her approach to leadership and public service.
Harris's Personal Leadership Style and Decision-Making Approach
Harris characterizes her leadership style through authenticity, candor, and the courage to face challenges directly. She values authenticity and never intended to practice law for monetary gain, instead focusing on helping people and providing dignity. She describes herself as pragmatic and idealistic, with high personal standards and a perfectionist nature, acknowledging that she's driven to solve problems and moves quickly to the next challenge without pausing to celebrate victories. Harris recalls her mother's support and confidence in her during challenging times, like her campaign for Attorney General, as well as her initial experiences with imposter syndrome after being elected DA, which she reflects on with humility.
Harris's View on the Toll of High-Profile Politics
Harris acknowledges the heavy emotional toll her career can have, particularly when dealing with harrowing cases of child sexual assault. Despite this, she remains motivated by purpose, driven by her upbringing around justice and equality. To handle the stresses of responsibility, Harris relies on routine workouts, valuing them for her physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. She admits that setbacks and criticism are part of her job but stays focused on what motivates her: fighting for people's dignity and rights. Harris also speaks of feeling a deep emotional imp ...
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Harris's Background, Values, and Public Service Approach
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Clarifications
- Imposter syndrome is a psychological pattern where individuals doubt their accomplishments and have a persistent fear of being exposed as frauds, despite evidence of their competence. People experiencing imposter syndrome often feel inadequate and believe they are deceiving others about their abilities. It is not a recognized psychiatric disorder but is widely discussed in the context of achievement and success.
- A District Attorney (DA) is the chief prosecutor representing a U.S. state in a local government area, typically a county. They are responsible for presenting cases against individuals suspected of breaking criminal laws, guiding criminal investigations, recommending sentencing, and participating in grand jury proceedings. DAs are elected officials in most states and lead a team of prosecutors and staff who handle various legal matters within their jurisdiction. Staff attorneys working under a DA are commonly known as Assistant District Attorneys (ADAs) or Deputy District Attorneys (DDAs).
- The "rigors of public service" encompass the demanding challenges and responsibilities faced by individuals in roles that serve the public. This includes the pressure, scrutiny, and sacrifices involved in upholding the duties and expectations of serving the community. Public service roles often require resilience, dedication, and the ability to navigate complex and high-stakes situations while prioritizing the well-being and interests of the public. Balancing personal life with the demands of public service can be intense, requiring individuals to manage stress, maintain ethical standards, and make decisions that impact society.
- The emotional toll of high-profile politics refers to the significant impact on an individual's mental and emotional well-being due to the demands, pressures, and scrutiny that come with holding a prominent public position. This toll can manifest in various ways, such as stress, anxiety, and feelings of isolation, especially when dealing with challenging or distressing situations like sensitive legal cases or intense public scrutiny. It can also involve ma ...
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