Backwards in Heels
Kamala = Ginger
It is often cited (or misquoted as some claim) that dancer Ginger Rogers once remarked on her dancing ability and choreography being more difficult than that of her partner, Fred Astaire, noting that she did everything he did but backwards and in heels. Pointing out the extra degree of difficulty required of the female partner to not only match the abilities of their male counterpart, but surpass what they do given the extra challenges. This came up last night watching the town hall with Vice President Harris— she did something difficult and was still was asked to do much more than her opposition— Mr. Technicolor.
Let me get the first thing out of the way. Why was this a town hall for her anyway? It is because her opponent was too scared and too much of a baby to show up. He didn’t want to get embarrassed, again, by this allegedly ‘low IQ’ Black woman. Maybe it was because of fear of ruining his makeup but it is very clear that my dude did NOT want that smoke.
Town halls are generally my favorite. Actual town halls. I’ve participated in them myself. A traditional town hall lets the candidate take questions from the audience—generally you have some for you some against you. It is an exchange of ideas and a way to get to hear more than a soundbite driven debate where candidates speak over each other and just see who can not answer the question the best.
But nooooo not tonight. The town hall was set up like a town hall but operated like an inquisition. Okay, maybe that is dramatic. It wasn’t an inquisition but Anderson Cooper REALLLLLLY wanted it to be. The so called ‘undecideds’ were people who either should have known better — looking at you Carol the political science professor—or who came into it trying to make a point and be on the big ol teeeveee.
A republican bro named Jackson (because of course) wanted to ask how he could support her if she didn’t want to be super racist and hate migrants. His question— Umm if we let those people come here, how much DO I have to pay in taxes for them? Well Jackson, the way you asked your question tells us everything we need to know.
The Vice President SHOULD be tested. That isn’t the issue. The issue is how it was done. Multiple times, the VP gave a pretty good answer to only have Anderson Cooper dig back in. Bro acted like HE was doing an interview. In a debate— fine, but remember this was not a debate because one party was skurrred. So why did you want to keep making it about YOU Anderson? On one question about the evolution of her ideas and policy stances—VP Harris gave a pretty thoughtful answer about how her values and beliefs have not changed but her understanding and exposure has shifted. She went on to point out that true leaders take the ideas of others and incorporate them to get to consensus and being practical.
Great answer.
But then Anderson was like…but umm…in 2017 you said this…and in 2019 you raised your hand once to a question that doesn’t really challenge what you just said but I want to look like a journalist on tv and I just got a fade from the barber so I want camera one on my profile asap.
This wasn’t uncommon for the whole town hall. Then I saw a tweet that kinda encapsulated my feelings about all of this.
Black people, and Black women especially ALWAYS have to do more. The former guy in one week’s time— praised hitler, said he wants to command a billion people like other dictators, bragged about Arnold Palmers—dictator, etc. He also swayed to music for 39 minutes (off beat of course) and doubled down on being racist saying some people are born criminals. He clearly is losing his already limited faculties, yet the tough treatment is reserved for VP Harris. Why?
Van Jones, who is 90% annoying, actually had a point. On the coverage he said this:
It isn’t a shock that we are here. And we all know she is a DEI Doubly Exceptional Individual—like Black people have to be in order to make it in America—but seriously how do they get away with it?
The immediate coverage on CNN from Dana Bash was that Harris didn’t '“close the deal” well, Dana, that sounds like a you problem. Last night the VP was great in moments— the response on humility and changing positions with information— and had a few hiccups —Seriously how hard is it to be right on Palestine at this point— but overall she showed that she is a leader, qualified, smart, and human. That is something missing from debates, humanity, and the town hall was supposed to be a way to show that more. Too bad Anderson wanted it to be more about him.
It also comes as no surprise that many of those ‘undecideds’ were looking to get on tv and had already made their positions clear. Four of them had anti-Harris online posts. Two were aspiring actors who openly support the other guy. But a funny thing happened, and contrary to what Dana Bash tried to claim— none of the undecideds left willing to support her opponent.
My favorite part of the town hall was the end. After the event ended, the Vice President walked over to one of the audience members who it seemed she had a less than ideal response earlier in the night. She voluntarily walked over to someone who seemed to disagree with her—with a smile— and they chatted. The other guy would NEVER. But again, she has to do more than he does at all times.
If you learned anything last night or from this, some people are unjustly asked to do more— and not only do they surpass expectations, they do it backwards and in heels.