The Core Values of Kamala Harris: A Balanced Examination

Kamala Harris, the Vice President of the United States, is a figure of significant influence and scrutiny. Her career, marked by various positions in public service, reveals a set of core values that have guided her actions and policies.

Her journey has not been without contradictions and criticisms, though. I want to look at six core values associated with Kamala Harris here, and I'll try to give both the positive actions and the challenges she has faced a fair hearing.

1. Justice and Fairness

Harris has consistently emphasized justice and fairness, particularly in her roles as District Attorney of San Francisco and Attorney General of California. As San Francisco DA and later as Attorney General, she created the "Back on Track" reentry program to cut recidivism among nonviolent offenders, and she required California DOJ agents to wear body cameras themselves.

Her record has also faced criticism, though. Criminal-justice reform advocates have pointed to specific cases, like her office's 2015 appellate defense of a conviction in the Jamal Trulove case (later overturned for prosecutorial misconduct) and her DOJ's 2015 appeal in the Efrain Velasco-Palacios case, as evidence that her tough-on-crime record in office sits uneasily alongside her reformist image. Her reluctance to support statewide standards for police use of body cameras during her tenure as Attorney General has been pointed out as a significant oversight.

2. Equality and Inclusion

Harris has been a strong advocate for equality and inclusion, supporting LGBTQ+ rights, immigrants, and gender equality. Her backing of DACA and the DREAM Act highlights her commitment to immigrant communities.

But her office's defense of California's death penalty and her initial opposition to the release of nonviolent offenders due to overcrowding raise questions about her consistency in promoting equality and inclusion. Critics argue that these positions disproportionately affect marginalized communities.

3. Public Service and Civic Duty

Harris's career in public service includes roles as a prosecutor, Attorney General, U.S. Senator, and now Vice President. As Attorney General, she was credited with securing a landmark multibillion-dollar mortgage settlement for California homeowners, after rejecting the banks' initial, much smaller offer, as well as environmental enforcement actions against major oil companies. Not everyone was convinced, though: PolitiFact and other reviewers argued the settlement didn't go far enough, since no bank executives were prosecuted and much of the relief came through short sales rather than keeping people in their homes.

Whether "lenient" is really the right word is debatable, though. That critique is more about the settlement's design than her overall approach, I think. This duality reflects the complexity of balancing civic duty with political realities.

4. Integrity and Accountability

Harris has often taken principled stands, pursuing cases against powerful entities like banks and corporations. Yet her integrity has been questioned at times. Her handling of the 2019 resignation of senior aide Larry Wallace, who stepped down after reports surfaced of a $400,000 harassment and retaliation settlement tied to his conduct while working under her at the California Department of Justice, raised questions about what she knew and when, though her office maintained she hadn't been informed of the underlying lawsuit at the time. And her shift in positions on issues like healthcare—initially supporting Medicare for All before later advocating for a more moderate approach—has led to criticisms of political expediency over steadfastness.

5. Innovation and Forward-Thinking

Harris has supported progressive policies on climate change, healthcare, and technology. Her advocacy for a green economy and legislation for scientific advancement are notable. But her innovative thinking has sometimes been seen as inconsistent. Her position on fracking has shifted over time, for instance: she supported a fracking ban during her 2019-2020 presidential primary run, went quiet on her own view once she joined Biden's ticket, and then, by her 2024 presidential campaign, had reversed course entirely to say she would not ban fracking as president. That evolution has drawn criticism from environmental groups who see it as sitting uneasily with her broader climate advocacy. It's a good example, I think, of the tension between promoting innovation and working through political pressures.

6. Resilience and Perseverance

Harris's career demonstrates resilience and perseverance, from overcoming challenges as a woman of color in politics to achieving historic firsts. Her resilience has sometimes been viewed through a critical lens, though. Her handling of tough situations, such as her direct challenge to Joe Biden over his past comments on segregationist senators and busing in the June 2019 primary debate, or her pushback against interruptions while criticizing the administration's COVID-19 response in the October 2020 vice-presidential debate against Mike Pence, has been scrutinized for either being overly defensive or insufficiently transparent, alongside the controversies surrounding her prosecutorial record. These instances reveal, I'd say, the complexities of maintaining resilience in the face of public and political challenges.

Conclusion

Kamala Harris's core values of justice, equality, public service, integrity, innovation, and resilience paint a complex picture of her as a leader. She has achieved significant milestones and enacted policies reflecting these values, but her career has also been marked by contradictions and criticisms. I've tried to hold both of those things together here, the accomplishments and the challenges, because I think that's what a fair account of her leadership requires.

As Vice President and a prominent political figure, Harris's actions and policies continue to be closely scrutinized. Her ability to work through the intricate landscape of American politics, balancing ideals with pragmatic decisions, highlights the multifaceted nature of public service. Looking at her core values this way, weighing the strengths against the challenges, gives us a fuller picture of what defines her leadership.