Hate Factor : 11
My folks have a speed limit sign on their steeply inclined driveway: Speed Limit 11. It's a nod to Spinal Tap, the rockumentary/mockumentary. For those of you not in on the joke, guitarist Nigel Tufnel (Christopher Guest) has an amplifier with a setting of 11, instead of the usual 1-10 range. Turning it up to 11 indicates maxing it out. And so it is today on the day that Biden has announced his decision to withdraw from the 2024 US Presidential race, Republicans have begun ramping it up to 11 with hatred.
Expect more and more hate as Kamala Harris takes the reins as she steps into the Democratic position atop the ticket. The Republicans have so many reasons to hate Harris.
1. Female
2. Black: Trust me. In America where the word "octaroon" is still used in some quarters, her primary identity will always be black to many Americans.
3. Indian and Black, PLUS Born to immigrants. There will be more talk about amending the Constitution about birthright citizenship, probably some Trumpian Birtherism BS too.
4. Intelligent (An Intelligent Female!)
5. Feminist
6. Pro Choice, unapologetically so!
7. HBCU educated
8. No children (stepmother to two). She will be called "childless" as an insult
9. Baptist woman married to a Jewish Man. "Interracial marriage" will be a strong second but mostly whispered.
10. Pro-decriminalization of Cannabis
11. She was raised multi-cultural (religiously and socially).
12. Worked to ensure religion could not be used to discriminate against others
13. Voiced support of Liberation theology to promote social justice
14. Successful Female in her own right, no male arm candy needed!
15. Pro Gay rights
Years ago in Athens, GA, Gwen O'Looney ran for the Mayor/CEO of the unified city/county. Gwen was an established name about town and a "damned liberal". Certain that if she were exposed for her liberalism, her opposition distributed a now famous flyer describing her work. They listed her liberal deeds. Feminist. Member of NOW. Pro-decriminalization. Worked to improve the lives of those in federal housing. Founder of the Rape Crisis Center. Grant Writer for Project Safe, a battered women's shelter. Advisor to GA Gov. (later President) Jimmy Carter for Mental Health Groups. Founder of Community Connection, a 211 service. Boys Club Worker in NYC! Worked with the National Council on Crime and Delinquency. Board Member of local Homeless Shelter. Red Cross volunteer in Vietnam. It backfired! It drummed up so much support that people riding the fence showed up in droves.
I'm really hoping that Americans realize that what we need is the diverse, multicultural, progressive culture we have for generations prided ourselves in led by an equally well rounded liberal candidate like Kamala Harris. I hope that for all the hate filled rhetoric that the Republicans will surely ramp up to 11 we will respond with a resounding FUCK YOU AND FUCK YOUR HATE!
