Let’s get into the latest political buzz surrounding Vice President Kamala Harris, who is now the official Democratic nominee for the 2024 presidential election. A clip from 2017 has resurfaced, causing quite a stir on social media and sparking a fresh wave of criticism from conservatives.
In the clip, taken from Recode’s annual Code Conference in 2017, Harris is heard urging Americans to “stay woke.” She said, “We have to stay woke. Like everybody needs to be woke. And you can talk about if you’re the wokest or woker, but just stay more woke than less woke.”
At the time, Harris was a U.S. Senator from California, and she was speaking alongside Laurene Powell Jobs, the widow of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. The conference covered topics like immigration and the environment, and Harris was vocal in her opposition to the Trump administration’s policies, particularly on drug enforcement and immigration.
Fast forward to today, and the word “woke” has taken on a much more charged connotation. Initially popularized as a term for being aware of social justice issues, “woke” has since become a lightning rod in political discourse, often used to describe progressive or left-wing agendas.
With the clip now making the rounds on social media, critics are seizing the opportunity to label Harris as “too radical” for the presidency. Conservative author James Lindsay didn’t hold back, calling her a “Communist functionary” and expressing frustration at what he sees as an attempt to downplay her political leanings.
Kamala Harris: “We have to stay woke. Like everybody needs to be woke.” pic.twitter.com/ueVP2hpSup
— MAZE (@mazemoore) August 5, 2024
The resurfacing of this clip comes at a critical time for Harris, who is gearing up for the 2024 election after President Biden’s recent decision to step aside and endorse her candidacy. Harris clinched the Democratic nomination last week, securing the majority of delegate votes. With fewer than 100 days until the election, she’s now in full campaign mode, preparing to face off against former President Donald Trump.
But as Harris builds her campaign, critics are digging into her past statements and positions, bringing to light old controversies. Along with the “woke” clip, other videos and articles are being circulated, including her past support for the defund the police movement in 2020 and her praise of a pastor who blamed the U.S. for the 9/11 attacks. These issues are likely to be used against her as she tries to win over voters in what promises to be a highly contentious election.
Harris is expected to announce her running mate soon, and the two will head to Chicago later this month for the Democratic National Convention. With the clock ticking down to November 5, every move she makes will be scrutinized, and the pressure is on to appeal to a broad spectrum of voters.
