Vice President Harris lost in a landslide. But she’s signaling something on the horizon.
Because Kamala Harris just gave a speech with a surprising announcement.
Democrats Attempt to Save Face After Election Losses at DNC Holiday Event
In an apparent attempt to salvage their image after a tough election cycle, Vice President Kamala Harris and President Joe Biden took to the stage at the DNC’s holiday celebration in Washington, D.C. on Sunday to offer words of encouragement to staffers who had been laid off following the election. The event, which was meant to lift spirits, came as many of the staffers were sent home without severance packages, leaving them to face the fallout from the Democratic Party’s disappointing results.
Harris, addressing the group alongside Biden and First Lady Jill Biden, attempted to put a positive spin on the situation. “This holiday season, like any time of the year, let us really be conscious of all the blessings we have. Let us celebrate the blessings we have; let us celebrate and advance the blessings we have yet to create,” she said, urging everyone to focus on what little they had to be thankful for, rather than the looming layoffs. In what seemed like a message to deflect from the DNC’s struggles, Harris added, “And let us always remember our country is worth fighting for, and our spirit will not be defeated.”
Her comments, while intended to inspire, came across as an attempt to distract from the very real frustration felt by DNC staffers who had worked tirelessly throughout the election season only to be left behind once the party’s prospects took a turn for the worse. Harris, in what seemed to be a response to the widespread disappointment, proclaimed, “That spirit that fuels the countless hours and days and months of work that you have put into this, that spirit. It can never be defeated. Our spirit is not defeated. We are not defeated.”
Despite her enthusiastic rhetoric, the truth of the situation was hard to ignore. Many staffers were laid off without any compensation, a common but nonetheless harsh reality after election season. For some, Harris’ words rang hollow, especially after a year of labor with little reward, financial or otherwise.
Biden, also speaking after Harris, did little to ease the underlying tensions as he sought to defend the Biden-Harris administration’s legacy. With the 2024 elections fast approaching, Biden took the opportunity to assert that the country is in a “resoundingly” better position than when he and Harris first entered office, despite the setbacks and challenges that have unfolded during their tenure.
“The one thing I’ve always believed about public service, and especially about the presidency, is the importance of asking yourself, have we left the country in better shape than we found it?” Biden said. “Today, I can say with every fiber of my being, of all my heart, the answer to that question is a resounding yes.” His remarks, likely meant to frame their leadership in a positive light, seemed at odds with the reality many Democrats were facing after a season of electoral disappointments.
Joe Biden Hints At Future Harris Presidential Run?
Biden’s comments were followed by an awkward attempt to rally staffers with the reassurance, “You’re not going anywhere, kid,” referring to Harris. “Because we’re not gonna let you.” While his remark may have been intended as a light-hearted gesture, it seemed more like a desperate attempt to maintain unity and prevent any further cracks from showing within the party, especially as they approach a challenging electoral season.
In the background, tensions continued to simmer. Many DNC staffers, having already expressed frustration with the lack of severance packages, felt the layoffs were emblematic of a broader issue within the party. The DNC union had raised concerns about how workers were treated after the election, calling the layoffs “cruel” and criticizing the party’s management for failing to offer the basic dignity that staffers deserved after their hard work.
“We find it very cruel that DNC management is trying to claim that layoffs are just part of the job,” a DNC union member told *Mother Jones*. “And we feel strongly that losing an election has not absolved the organization of its responsibility to treat its workers with basic dignity.”
With DNC Chair Jaime Harrison stepping down and not seeking re-election, the party now faces the uncertainty of selecting new leadership. The next DNC chair will be chosen in February, but there is no clear direction for the party’s future. Several candidates are vying for the position, including former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Ben Wikler, and Minnesota Democratic Party Chair Ken Martin. However, with the party still reeling from losses, the task of rebuilding and regaining trust seems monumental.
As the DNC moves forward, the holiday gathering served less as a celebration and more as a desperate attempt to project unity and resilience. Despite Harris and Biden’s best efforts to maintain a sense of optimism, the event felt more like a last-ditch effort to save face in the wake of the party’s electoral challenges and internal struggles. The staffers, many of whom had poured their time and energy into a losing campaign, are left wondering if their sacrifices will truly be appreciated or if they are just being used as a backdrop for an image that the party is eager to present in the face of mounting pressure.
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