Kamala Harris Shouldn’t Commit the same Mistake as Hillary Clinton in Focusing on Trump’s Authoritarian Personality

Harris needs to refute Trump’s claims of representing the working class. As a starter she needs to point to his reduction of corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% in 2018, which big business and the Republicans want to extend beyond 2025. Then she needs to remind voters that Trump’s promise of tax exemption on social security pension makes no sense unless the government eliminates the cap on income subject to social security tax which is currently at $168,000. She also needs to emphasize union issues which is one reason not to choose Mark Kelly as her running mate. Kelly hasn’t signed on to the Pro-Act legislation which would facilitate union organizing and increase fines on companies for unfair labor practices, such as coercing workers to attend employer meetings designed to discourage union membership. 

Of course the mainstream leadership of the Democratic Party would prefer to focus on Trump’s fascist tendencies because shifting the emphasis to economic issues would have to be accompanied by a clarification and hardening of the party’s positions on economic issues affecting working people. One more way in which identity politics sometimes diverts attention from the real issues which most U.S. voters are most concerned about. Stressing these issues is the only way to defeat the Republicans, and particularly the populist right faction headed by Trump.