The 2024 Democratic National Convention was anything but conventional. As recently as late July, President Joe Biden was the unpopular presumptive Democratic nominee and Vice President Kamala Harris was his similarly unpopular running mate.
By late August at the DNC, Biden’s 11:30 p.m. speech effectively amounted to a farewell address, both passing Harris the torch and yielding power to a new generation of Democrats. In Harris’ acceptance speech on the fourth night of the convention, she stood before a party in flux — yes, it was more diverse and hopeful, but it was also a party less focused on policy.
Democrats made a concerted effort to widen their tent in Chicago, both demographically and ideologically. Gen Z voters dominated the convention hall, with the youngest delegate from Michigan being 19. The speaker list was tailored to historically underrepresented groups such as the LGBTQ+ community and people of Color. Even Republicans were invited to give speeches: Former Illinois Rep. Adam Kinzinger and former Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan received thunderous applause as they tore into former President Donald Trump.
It is important to note that no stage time was given to a Palestinian American speaker, despite intense advocacy by pro-Palestine groups in the form of protest in front of the convention and a continued dedication to an “uncommitted” vote. Although these advocacy groups offered a list of possible speakers and even a script for a potential speech, the DNC’s refusal to highlight Palestinian voices demonstrates the limits of how wide Democrats want this tent to be.
Typical Republican talking points such as patriotism and freedom were staples for this year’s DNC programming, and Harris’ speech was no exception. Surrounded by American flags, the vice president praised veterans and discussed her mother’s immigrant background. She never used the phrase “American dream,” but it was an obvious theme of the night. Whether or not this will translate to increased voter turnout in November is yet to be seen, but her current messaging appears to be working.
Harris is relying on vibes to appeal to the broadest electorate possible, presenting neutral political recommendations with nonpartisan wording. Vibes are fine — but not when they come at the expense of real policy discussion. In Harris’ case, and in her party at large, that’s precisely what’s happening.
While this strategy may pay off in the short term, it’s bad for the country in the long term. Americans have no idea what they’d be in for under a Harris administration because she hasn’t told us. That means we are unable to cast an informed vote. Without the clear focus on policy that voters deserve, the Democratic Party risks giving demagogues the platform to enact change that sounds appealing but has disastrous consequences.
Harris has caught significant flack for her lack of clarity on key issues. When she ran for president in 2019, she promised to outlaw fracking, deliver single-payer health care and decriminalize illegal border crossings. Her campaign says she no longer holds these positions. In her interview that aired tonight, she claimed her values have stayed the same, despite her policy positions switching. Her obfuscation of a consistent policy outlook leaves voters asking themselves what her actual positions are.
Harris’ website still lacks a policy section, and tonight marked Harris’ first interview on cable news as the Democratic nominee. With a little over two months until the election, just one pre-recorded sit-down with a journalist isn’t — and wasn’t — enough for voters. Harris must recognize the value of live interviews, as they will give her a chance to properly articulate policy plans, answer the “hard” questions and directly address the American public’s concerns.
Some have called Harris’ intentionally vague approach “political pragmatism.” This Editorial Board calls it a cop-out. The challenges America faces demand real solutions, of which Harris and the Democrats have offered none. They’ve made every effort to fill this void with buzzwords such as “joy,” “forward” and “brat,” but these aren’t policies. When former President Barack Obama ran on “Hope” in 2008, he accompanied the slogan with an actual platform. Americans elected him because they knew what they were hoping for. No one knows what about Harris and the Democrats should make them joyful.
Democrats are falling into the same trap Republicans fell victim to in 2016. Trump paved his way to the Oval Office with buzzwords and charisma. Eight years later, the Republican party is hollow and controlled entirely by one man. The effect of his presidency on the country as a whole has been equally dire. It’s concerning that pageantry and vibes have entirely eclipsed the policy debates that American voters are counting on.
Maybe Democrats can win without clarifying their positions — current polling suggests that they can — but then what? Right now, that’s anybody’s guess. If voters reward the vagueness that the Harris-Walz campaign is banking on, they could further incentivize other Democratic candidates, if not the entirety of the party, to drop their policy and focus on the rhetoric.
This isn’t how the American government is supposed to work. We were meant to be governed by people with concrete policy positions, not by idols with vague ideas. Unfortunately, the DNC gave us the latter. “Freedom” by Beyoncé won’t solve the country’s many problems, and Democrats know that. They’re playing a dangerous game.
Democrats passed the torch at the DNC. They successfully invigorated a significant portion of disenchanted voters — with the notable exception of those who hoped to hear a Palestinian American speaker. But, in this shift toward rhetoric and pageantry, they also played with fire. The question now is who will get burned and when.
This editorial represents the opinion of The Michigan Daily’s Editorial Board. If you are interested in submitting an Op-Ed or Letter to the Editor, please send your submission to tothedaily@michigandaily.com.
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