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Discussing Politics
A supporter of Kamala Harris accuses Joe Biden of not keeping his word in an interview with Senator Laphonza Butler, who is a Democrat from California, as she prepares to leave the Senate.
Written by Lisa Lerer
Laphonza Butler has been a senator representing California for a relatively short period of around 15 months. However, she has been a strong supporter and friend of Vice President Kamala Harris for a much longer span of 15 years.
During the week, I had a conversation with Butler, who has been in a long-term partnership with Harris. They initially met when Butler was a union leader in Los Angeles. This partnership offers Butler a unique viewpoint on why their party lost the presidential election and the potential strategies for rebuilding.
Harris has not spoken much about the reasons for her loss. Butler believes that part of the blame lies with President Biden, who she thinks went back on his promise by running for re-election. However, solely blaming Biden is not the solution, according to Butler. She believes that Democrats need to shift from talking to actively listening, truly listening to the concerns of the people.
Butler was chosen by Governor Gavin Newsom to take over the U.S. Senate seat that became vacant after Senator Dianne Feinstein passed away in September 2023. Since Feinstein opted not to seek re-election, this week marks her final days in the Senate. On Monday, Representative Adam Schiff will officially become the state’s newest senator.
The interview was shortened and made clearer by editing it.
LL: What is your opinion on why Harris was unsuccessful in winning
LW: The American public desired a shift in leadership. They were looking for a candidate who they believed symbolized change. That might be the reason behind it.
Do you think Biden should not have entered the
When President Biden first took office, he mentioned that he would be a transitional leader, which was what people were expecting. It might have been better for him to stick to that plan. Despite the success of his presidency, it will likely be remembered as one of the most impactful in my lifetime. However, once you set certain expectations with people, it’s important to follow through on them.
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