What will the person who is called ‘Kamala Harris for the people’, ‘Queen of the borders’, ‘Kamala Is Brat’, ‘Kamala is a cop’ bring to the world (continued)

The world has become like a sweepstakes. Every week, the global community places bets on whether democratic or authoritarian forces will take over in a particular country. But it was 5 November that many expected to be the turning point, when the wheel of history could start turning in the opposite direction.

As for the Ukrainian community, according to spontaneous exit polls, in the election confrontation between the Democratic candidate and the Republican leader, the vast majority of sympathisers are on the side of Kamala Harris. Last time, we outlined the image of Harris, a former state prosecutor and senator, and now the Vice President of the United States. Now we offer a few cases that will help us better grasp her essence as a politician and a person.

Intra-party disputes with Biden

During the election campaign, Harris faced criticism for her work as a prosecutor, which was reflected in the meme ‘Kamala is a cop’. Eventually, she withdrew her candidacy and endorsed Biden, who made her his vice presidential candidate.

During her vice presidential tenure, along with corporate unity with Biden, Harris demonstrated harsh criticism of the latter. During the intra-party campaign, Kamala accused him of collaborating with senators who opposed the abolition of segregation in the 1970s and 1980s. This intransigence on this issue is likely to be linked to her childhood, when, thanks to the desegregation programme, Kamala had the opportunity to study and socialise on an equal footing with her white peers.

She also accused Biden of opposing the anti-racist ‘bussing’ programme, which involved transporting children from poor neighbourhoods to schools in more affluent areas. Biden responded that Harris had misrepresented his position and that he saw himself as a ‘public defender’ rather than a prosecutor.

Migration policy: why Kamala was dubbed the ‘Queen of Borders’

Biden and Harris fought a tough election campaign and defeated Trump and Pence. They were sworn in in January 2021, two weeks after Trump’s supporters stormed the Capitol. At the beginning of her term, the former prosecutor and senator was tasked by the president to address the issue of migration at the southern border of the United States. ‘I can’t think of anyone more qualified to do this,’ Biden said. But this task has become a challenge for her. Despite her efforts, the number of illegal border crossings rose to a record. Republicans have dubbed her the ‘border czarina’ and criticised her for failing to reduce illegal migration.

Fighting for reproductive freedoms

The former prosecutor found a new field to fight her political opponents. In 2022, when the US Supreme Court made abortion impossible in a large part of the country, she became a powerful voice in defence of the right to abortion. This year, she embarked on theFight for Reproductive FreedomTour to defend women’s right to abortion. ‘Extremists across the country continue to attack our freedoms,’ the White House quoted her as saying. Meanwhile, Trump supported the court’s decision and took credit for it.

How our word will be heard

To create a three-dimensional, vivid image of a personality, it is worth talking not only about their virtues but also about their weaknesses. The media are merciless in quoting the former prosecutor’s unfortunate phrases that caused ambiguous connotations or even bewilderment in the audience. For example, in her speech in March 2022, Harris described the Russian invasion in a strange way: ‘Ukraine is a country in Europe. It exists alongside another country called Russia. Russia is a bigger country.’

And here’s her line about the shooting at the US Independence Day Parade: ‘We have to take it seriously, as seriously as you do, because you were forced to take it seriously.’

Another remark about climate change: ‘We will work together and we will continue to work together to solve these problems… and we will work together under new norms, rules and agreements… we will work on this together.’

However, it is possible that these are simply rhetorical devices inherent in prosecutorial speeches, for example, to emphasise key points through repetition, rhetorical questions, ethical or emotional appeals.

Over the course of 4 years, Kamala has coined a number of phrases that are difficult to interpret. She repeated one of them at least 60 times: ‘We have the ability to see what can be, unencumbered by what has been, and then make the possible real.’

However, even during the 2020 elections, she was not only accused of being a generator of random phrases, but also criticised for her inability to present a clear ideological vision. ‘Is she a liberal or a moderate, a representative of the establishment or a populist, a reformer or a radical? Critics say she has confused her positions on important political issues,’ Time reflected.

‘Kamala Is Brat’.

This is a meme that emerged on social media and went viral among young people, especially Generation Z. It comes from the album ‘Brat’ by British pop singer Charli XCX, which was released in June this year. In the context of this meme, ‘brat’ means to be a little naughty, to like parties, to be honest and a little unpredictable.

The meme began to spread after Charli XCX posted on Twitter ‘kamala IS brat’, confirming this status of Kamala Harris as part of the ‘brat’ movement. This became a kind of symbol of her campaign, especially among young voters who see her as an active and energetic candidate. Among other things, she actively supports the rights of the LGBT community, and, moreover, immediately after the legalisation of such marriages, she organised the first same-sex wedding in California.

Why Biden chose Harris as his successor

After Biden’s poor performance in the debate with Trump, Kamala Harris became one of his most vocal defenders, even as other Democrats suggested she could replace Biden. White House spokesperson Karin Jean-Pierre said that Biden chose Harris as vice president because she is ‘the future of the party’.

When Biden announced his withdrawal from the campaign due to the debate over his health, he recommended Kamala as the new Democratic presidential candidate. Influential party voices, including the Clintons, as well as the governors of California, Pennsylvania and North Carolina, quickly endorsed her. After announcing her candidacy for the 2024 presidential election, Kamala raised a record amount of money in 24 hours. During her campaign, she focused on states with high racial diversity, such as California and South Carolina.

Harris’ position on the war in Ukraine

Harris actively supports Ukraine in its defence against Russian aggression, criticising Putin and accusing the Russian army of atrocities. Western media believe that she will continue Biden’s policy of military support for Ukraine. In 2023, the US vice president rejected the idea that Americans would get tired of helping Ukraine despite their own problems with inflation. ‘I know that the American people feel a moral outrage and a responsibility to support the Ukrainian people,’ she said.

In February, at the Munich Security Conference, Harris met with President Zelenskyy, who spoke about the lack of ammunition and the need for military assistance from the United States. ‘There is only Plan A – Ukraine must get what it needs. We cannot play political games,’ Harris said. She stressed that Democrats will continue to provide Ukraine with the necessary resources. ‘America stands by Ukraine not because of charity, but because of strategic interests.’ She expected the same from the representatives of the 90 countries represented at the forum.

At the Munich Security Conference, Harris reiterated Biden’s pledge to support Ukraine ‘foras long as it takes’. She sharply criticised Putin, blaming him for Navalny’s death and calling attacks on civilians in Ukraine ‘crimes against humanity’. ‘To all those who committed these crimes and their superiors: you will be held accountable,’ the vice president said.

On 15 June, Harris attended the Global Peace Summit in Switzerland. She commented on Putin’s statements, saying: ‘Yesterday, Putin offered his proposals. But let’s be clear. He is not calling for negotiations. He is calling for Ukraine to surrender.’

According to experts, Harris demonstrates a pragmatic approach to politics, balancing idealism with realities. The war in Ukraine is a key area for her administration, as two-thirds of Americans support Ukraine’s victory. Her national security adviser, Philip Gordon, known for his involvement in regional issues, has influence over Harris. It is likely that his pragmatic internationalism will shape her administration’s approach to the war in Ukraine. Gordon, known for his scepticism about Middle East regime change, should ensure that Harris’s strategy in Ukraine is balanced.

If Harris is elected president, her administration can be expected to have a clearly articulated strategy in Ukraine that focuses on long-term goals, including support for green building programmes and effective self-defence. She may be willing to take calculated risks to ensure Ukraine’s victory, including tightening sanctions on Russian hydrocarbon exports and seizing Russian sovereign assets for transfer to Ukraine.

Harris should be expected to face debate over the extent of US military involvement and the risks of conflict escalation. She is likely to continue Biden’s cautious strategy, but with a greater emphasis on concrete results. This could include increased arms transfers and aggressive measures against Russia’s economic supply chains.

With the threat of a Trump presidency removed, which could undermine support for Ukraine, Harris will be in a position to take bolder steps. This could include lifting restrictions on the use of Western weapons to strike Russian territory, which could weaken Russia’s military capabilities.

Harris is committed to Ukraine’s resilience and recovery. During the Ukrainian Peace Summit in June, she announced a $1.5 billion aid package, including investments in energy infrastructure, humanitarian aid, and civilian security. Her support for Ukraine is based on adherence to international norms and the protection of US strategic interests.

Tetyana Morarash