Has there been a worse politician of any relevance in modern history than Kamala Harris? Two years ago, people would have scoffed at that question, assuming that Harris was a rising star. Of course, those who knew her from California were never fooled. Her career as a prosecutor was checkered at best, and as a senator, she was a backbencher, never accomplishing anything of note.
But per Joe Biden’s pledge to choose a running mate based on sex and race, Harris checked the “right” boxes. Thus, we now have a vice president who is comically incapable of doing her job. Yet, instead of, you know, getting better at it, Harris has spent most of her time trying to “fix” her image via other means. Staffing issues have been legion, with a steady outflow of people and conflicts flaring up with the White House.
But if Harris thought bringing on new blood would represent a reset for her troubled tenure, things already aren’t going as planned. Her new communications director is already in trouble, not with Republicans or the media, but with his own party.
Jamal Simmons, Vice President Kamala Harris’ new communications director, is scheduled to meet with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus on Thursday to listen to their concerns about his old tweets, congressional officials tell Axios.
Why it matters: Harris has been seeking to reset her public image and professional accomplishments. Yet her new communications chief faces questions from a key constituency not only to the Biden administration but her potential presidential prospects.
You see, Simmons committed the cardinal sin of wondering, back in 2010, why ICE doesn’t pick up illegal immigrants who appear on cable news. He’s since apologized and expressed “regret” for his tweet on the matter, but the far-left never forgets.
Democrat Rep. Lou Correa, who is going to be in the meeting on Thursday, actually has questions about whether Simmons is a “Trumper.” That’s how militant these people are. Any semblance of respect for the rule of law when it comes to the border, and you are immediately cast into the outer darkness.
There are two sides to this, in my view. One, Simmons is a pathetic coward to grovel over a 12-year-old tweet. He didn’t say anything wrong, and what does the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (which won’t even allow Republicans to join because it’s naught but a leftwing farce) have to do with being the communications director for the vice president? How is Simmons going to turn things around for Harris, when he can’t even manage his own bad PR?
Two, attacking Simmons like this is politically idiotic. Obviously, the CHC is going to extract their pound of flesh here, but to what end? What is actually being gained by getting him to once again pledge to be an “ally” to illegal immigrants? I’d posit the answer is that nothing is gained. But there’s plenty lost by further emasculating him on the national stage, in a moment where Harris needs staffers who can command a room and set the narrative. The dude hasn’t even really started his job yet, and he’s already lost control.
Regardless, the biggest misconception here is that anyone, including Simmons, can actually “fix” Harris. She’s disliked because she’s genuinely terrible and inept. No amount of fresh paint on the veneer of her political career is going to change that. At some point, Harris is going to have to entertain the idea that maybe there’s just no solution here? She is who she is.