Politics
/
September 11, 2024
The megastar thought she might damage Hillary Clinton by endorsing her in 2016. Now, she’s overcome her concern. Might all of us do the identical.
A fan of musician Taylor Swift on the conference ground throughout the Democratic Nationwide Conference in Chicago.
(Francis Chung / Politico by way of AP Photos)
This made me cry.
As everyone knows, Taylor Swift endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris after her debate tour de drive Tuesday evening. In its report on the endorsement, The New York Occasions identified that Swift has change into extra politically concerned in current election cycles, reminding us that Swift didn’t endorse Hillary Clinton in 2016.
“Swift…shared considerations that public criticism of her on the time can be unfairly utilized to Ms. Clinton as properly,” the Occasions reported, occurring to cite Swift:
“The summer season earlier than that election, all folks had been saying was, ‘She’s calculated. She’s manipulative. She’s not what she appears. She’s a snake. She’s a liar.’ These are the identical precise insults folks had been hurling at Hillary. Would I be an endorsement or would I be a legal responsibility?”
Swift was 26 on the time. Why did she should assume via misogynistic equations like that? I imply, I do know why I do. I simply thought it might be higher by now (she and my daughter are virtually precisely the identical age).
However perhaps it lastly did simply get higher.
I felt a lot aid final evening and this morning too. Kamala Harris gained the talk with Donald Trump overwhelmingly. She did virtually all the things proper. If you’re a girl, you internalize that feeling that “she may fuck it up for all of us.” Or in some conditions, that you just may do the identical factor.
Present Concern
Harris didn’t.
It was a grasp class in being a girl totally inhabiting your individual… I used to be gonna say house, but in addition face. That smiling, evident, mocking, all-knowing, additionally lovely face. Harris was not afraid to be herself.
Grasp GOP manipulator Frank Luntz obtained rightfully dragged on social media for one of many dumbest posts I’ve ever seen: “If she needs to win, Harris wants to coach her face to not reply. It feeds right into a feminine stereotype and, extra importantly, dangers offending undecided voters.”
Frank, it’s essential to practice your mind to reply logically, with out your ingrained misogyny. ABC wouldn’t accede to her request to maintain each candidates mics on, so Harris stored her face on. And we noticed all the things she was considering.
There’s a take on the market, that Harris is surpassing Hillary Clinton by not emphasizing her gender. There’s no extra “I’m together with her” or speak about “the very best, hardest glass ceiling.” There are too many examples of this argument for me to hyperlink to; I noticed Ashley Parker of The Washington Publish go on about this approvingly on MSNBC Tuesday.
It form of makes me sick.
Standard
“swipe left under to view extra authors”Swipe →
However perhaps our first feminine vice chairman doesn’t have to make that case. In spite of everything, hundreds of her supporters are doing that for her. Perhaps she is aware of we internalized that brutal, sudden loss in 2016 (when Harris gained her California Senate seat, and by her personal account, inhaled a bag of Nacho Cheese Doritos). Perhaps we don’t want to speak anymore about whether or not we had been on the Javits Middle that terrible evening.
When your walk-on music is Beyoncé’s “Freedom,” perhaps you notice you don’t should make a giant deal about your gender, or your race. No person’s gonna miss it. Instantly, Taylor Swift feels free to endorse you—unburdened by what has been, now not frightened that she may damage you with the luggage she carries. As a result of she will be able to let go of it. And so can we.
We’d like your help
What’s at stake this November is the way forward for our democracy. But Nation readers know the battle for justice, fairness, and peace doesn’t cease in November. Change doesn’t occur in a single day. We’d like sustained, fearless journalism to advocate for daring concepts, expose corruption, defend our democracy, safe our bodily rights, promote peace, and defend the setting.
This month, we’re calling on you to offer a month-to-month donation to help The Nation’s impartial journalism. In case you’ve learn this far, I do know you worth our journalism that speaks fact to energy in a approach corporate-owned media by no means can. The simplest approach to help The Nation is by turning into a month-to-month donor; this may present us with a dependable funding base.
Within the coming months, our writers might be working to convey you what it’s essential to know—from John Nichols on the election, Elie Mystal on justice and injustice, Chris Lehmann’s reporting from contained in the beltway, Joan Walsh with insightful political evaluation, Jeet Heer’s crackling wit, and Amy Littlefield on the entrance traces of the battle for abortion entry. For as little as $10 a month, you may empower our devoted writers, editors, and reality checkers to report deeply on essentially the most vital problems with our day.
Arrange a month-to-month recurring donation right now and be a part of the dedicated group of readers who make our journalism doable for the lengthy haul. For almost 160 years, The Nation has stood for fact and justice—are you able to assist us thrive for 160 extra?
Onwards,
Katrina vanden Heuvel
Editorial Director and Writer, The Nation
