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Discussing Politics
A close associate of Kamala Harris accuses Joe Biden of not keeping his word in an interview with Senator Laphonza Butler, a Democrat from California, as she wraps up her last week in the Senate.
Written by Lisa Lerer
Laphonza Butler has been a senator representing California for approximately 15 months. Despite her short time in this role, she has been a strong supporter and partner of Vice President Kamala Harris for 15 years.
During the week, I had a conversation with Butler, who has been in a long-lasting partnership with Harris. They first crossed paths when Butler was a union leader in Los Angeles. Butler’s unique viewpoint sheds light on the reasons behind her party’s loss in the presidential election and offers insights on how it could potentially recover.
Harris has not discussed in detail the reasons for her loss. According to Butler, part of the blame lies with President Biden, who she believes went back on his promise by running for re-election. However, Butler emphasizes that simply blaming Biden is not sufficient; Democrats need to shift from talking to actively listening, truly hearing the concerns of others.
Governor Gavin Newsom selected Butler to take over the U.S. Senate position that was vacated by Senator Dianne Feinstein’s passing in September 2023. Since Feinstein chose 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 latest senator after being sworn in.
The interview was shortened and made clearer for better understanding.
LL is asking for your opinion on why Harris did not win.
LB: The American citizens desired a shift in leadership. They were looking for a candidate who they believed embodied the idea of change. I believe that might be the primary reason for the outcome.
Is it possible that Biden should not have entered
President Biden first stated that he would be a transitional leader, which was the expectation people had. It would have been better for him to stick to that initial plan. Despite the success of his presidency, it will be remembered as one of the most impactful in history. When you set expectations with people, it is important to follow through on them.
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