Kamala Harris Knows How To Be Genuine

By Andrew Sanford | Politics | October 9, 2024 |

You can’t fake being genuine. Authenticity cannot be bought and sold. One must possess these qualities inherently. They are formed over time like rain smoothing out the edges of a mountain. Being your bona fide self allows people to know you instantly. They get your vibe, even if they don’t dig it. Despite being so important in appealing to a large audience, authenticity often dies on the political stage.

Being authentic is hard for politicians because they so often try to force it. They have their talking points and messaging and (occasionally) policy, but so much of that is formed by others. Regardless, a politician’s job is to make you think it’s coming from their heart and brain. I would argue that most are very bad at that. Everyone has their moments, but more often than not it’s a dog and pony show packed in a seasonal getup.

The trick is to be authentic even if you don’t like or understand something. That is where so many politicians fail. They try to please people so consistently that they give answers that feel strained, unbelievable, or just f***ing weird. The ones who can remain true to themselves at all times are the ones who have the best chance at succeeding, even if they still put up with “tests” like drinking a beer on national television.

Vice President Kamala Harris made the media rounds yesterday (well, ya know, in New York). She chatted with Howard Stern about Prince. On The View, Harris had her first live interview since becoming the Democratic Presidential nominee. Then, Harris made her way to the Ed Sullivan Theater and, because this is all nonsense, had a sip of beer with Stephen Colbert.

Now, obviously, Harris’s campaign had to agree to this beer-drinking moment that worked half as a political stunt and half as an ad for Miller High Life. Harris even said the catchphrase! Still, both Harris and Colbert play up the ridiculous of the moment. Harris more or less admits to not drinking beer often, then only has one sip throughout the whole segment. She picks the beer up again but doesn’t so much as sniff it.

If I had to guess, I’d say Kamala Harris doesn’t like beer. She doesn’t have to. Plenty of people don’t. What matters is she’s not pretending to like it. She isn’t pretending to be refreshed or regaling us with some made-up tale about having her first sip of beer with her Uncle. Harris is laughing at the absurdity of it all. There isn’t any discomfort; she’s just not giving in to the game. She’s being genuine, and because of that, she nails the very next question.

After the beer, Colbert mentions how Harris was recently in Pennsylvania. He asks her to choose between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Harris chooses the San Francisco 49ers. She then says something that, were it up to me, would win her the election. “No one will be mad at you for being loyal to your team,” Harris noted. You’re damn right!!

I am a die-hard Texas Rangers fan. I have been since I was four years old. They’ve been bad for most of that time! Still, I’ve never wavered. Despite living in Massachusetts during the Red Sox’s historic 2004 World Series win, I never changed up. I stayed loyal to my team, and I wasn’t facing anything close to the pressure of a Presidential election. Harris treats this whole process as authentically as she can. That’s why she only took one sip of beer, and that’s why she didn’t try to appeal to local sports fans.

You look at people like Donald Trump or JD Vance and they would jump at the opportunity to appease the rubes. But there won’t be anything authentic about it (except for when they pull out their hatred). Trump wouldn’t sip that beer, but brag about how he knows the manufacturer. Vance would say he likes whichever team is less woke. She’s better at this than them and a lot of other people. Hopefully, it’s enough.