This is What Opportunism Looks Like

Richard Mellor

Afscme Local 444

HEO/GED

8-11-24

 

US Vice President Kamala Harris made a bit of a blunder as her ego got ahead of her at a rally in Detroit last week when she abruptly responded to anti-genocide anti-war activists (reported as anti-Israel in the Zionist biased U.S. mass media) chanting “Kamala, Kamala, you can’t hide, we won’t vote for genocide.  The protestors also shouted, “Kamala, you need to call for a ceasefire in Gaza. We demand an arms embargo and a free Palestine.”

 

Harris, who has vociferously defended the genocide in Gaza under the guise of Israel having the right to defend itself, responded, “You know what? If you want Donald Trump to win, then say that. Otherwise, I’m speaking.”

 

This was not the right response.

 

Without a doubt, Kamala’s handlers called for a quick meeting to rectify the problem. In March of this year, a Gallup poll found that 55% of Americans opposed the Israeli action in Gaza after narrowly backing it in Gaza one month after the Palestinian resistance broke out what many refer to as the world’s largest outdoor prison, killed some settlers and IDF soldiers and took prisoners back to Gaza.

 

No doubt the gap has widened since March as the Zionist regime continues to slaughter civilians, use starvation as a weapon and assassinate people it is at the negotiating table with and bomb other countries.

 

A week after the Detroit rally, Harris is in Arizona with her choice for VP after, Americans now oppose the campaign by a solid margin. As she begins to speak reminding people that we are here “….because we love our country and to rescue or democracy”, (from Trump) we hear the familiar chants again. This time, Harris stops and urges everyone to listen, to,”hold on” and turns to the dissenting voices reminding her supporters who are a moment away from drowning them out, that we respect democracy and that means “respecting voices” and the one’s we are hearing today.

 

“Let me say….” Says Harris, “….I have been clear now is the time to get a ceasefire deal and get the hostage deal done. Now is the time and the president and I are working around the clock every day to get that ceasefire deal done and bring the hostages home.  So I respect your voices.”

 

Two things must be stated, one is that this is a classic example, not hidden at all, of opportunism. Americans are so sick of it. It’s like the union bureaucrat that puts a baseball cap on when they address a picket line as a proof of his working class credentials. We see past this shit.

 

Harris calling for a cease fire now is nothing special. Not only do most people want it, it was part of the demand at the earlier rally in Detroit, she has had plenty of opportunity to be more vocal about it before thousands of children were burned alive dismembered and starved to death. And a significant percentage , some 60% of Israeli’s want it. 
She will continue to send the weapons, the bullets, the bombs, that are enabling the genocide. Announcing that if elected she would stop all aid to Israel is what any candidate claiming to represent "the people" and democracy would be saying.

 

It’s pretty nauseating watching all the hype now. I want to make it clear as I have faced a bit of criticism for my previous post about not voting for either party in the election, that I do not disparage, or condemn people that will vote for Harris and Walz in November. I have many friends that will do so, even though many of them are disgusted with the two parties and the electoral system in general.  

 

I am not going to go in to why I am not voting for Harris or the Democratic candidate no matter who it is; I commented on this earlier. I think letting the ruling class in this country (the force that backs both parties) that you are not going to give their other party a credibility it does not deserve and millions of people voting for other options, writing in individuals, workers’ or Labor Party, or something akin to that would have as much of a softening effect on the corporate offensive as repeating this age old failed “lesser of two evils” trap.

 

That and also taking actions that aim to build a genuine workers’ direct action movement and ultimately political party is a better way to go. We will see some major working class struggles ahead no matter which party is in power.