Kamala Harris Appeals to Patriotism to Attract Republican Dissidents
A Navy veteran supporting Kamala Harris, Oct. 2024. X/ @deckape_1
October 18, 2024 Hour: 8:21 am
She seeks to wrest the monopoly on patriotism from Republicans with a hawkish image and militaristic language.
Patriotism is experiencing a resurgence within the Democratic Party. U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris has successfully reclaimed symbols that for a long time seemed to belong to the Republican Party, such as the American flag, military camouflage, and a more conservative concept of freedom.
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At her rallies, U.S. flags wave strongly, accompanied by chants of “U-S-A!, U-S-A!” that, until recently, were only heard at former President Donald Trump’s events. Anthems like Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the USA” and John Mellencamp’s “Small Town” also resonate.
Among the attendees, camouflage hats (associated with the conservative ‘Deep America’ popularized by the show “Duck Dynasty”) abound, featuring the slogan ‘Harris-Walz’ in orange letters.
This style, typically linked to Republicans, has been adopted by Democrats ever since Harris chose Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate. Walz is known for his passion for hunting and has 24 years of military experience.
In every election cycle, both Democrats and Republicans attempt to appropriate patriotic symbols to demonstrate that they better represent the values of a traditional and conservative America. However, Democrats have historically struggled to convey this message, leaving a void that Trump filled in 2016, using gestures like hugging the flag to bolster his image of devotion to the country.
After years of struggle, Democrats have found a formula to counter that message: the idea of freedom, said Michael Cornfield, a professor of Politics at Georgetown University.
For decades, Republicans have championed individual freedom against government restrictions. Now, Harris has reclaimed this concept, but adapted it to her agenda, advocating for women’s freedom to make decisions about their own bodies in the face of abortion restrictions in several states.
Freedom as a Banner
With Beyonce’s song “Freedom” as part of her campaign soundtrack, Harris champions freedom on multiple fronts: Americans’ freedom to access the same economic opportunities and children’s freedom to attend school without fear of dying in a shooting.
“The word ‘freedom’ is the most frequently repeated term at Harris and Walz rallies, along with concepts like community, future, and joy,” Cornfield said.
In this way, Democrats are claiming an optimistic patriotism, based on the idea of uniting Americans and moving toward a better future, in contrast to Trump’s rhetoric of “us versus them” and his attempts to demonize migrants.
Democratic strategist Lanae Erickson argues that Harris’s campaign goal is to prove that Democrats are the “real patriots,” using Trump’s own words to support that claim.
At each rally, Harris also reminds the crowd of Trump’s role in the 2021 Capitol attack and how he has hinted that he would “end” the Constitution and govern like a dictator on his first day.
“We love our country. One of the highest forms of patriotism is fighting for the ideals of America,” Harris said at a recent event in Pennsylvania, urging voters to turn out in force to protect democracy.
A Strong Patriotism
Besides appealing to love for the country, Harris has sought to wrest the monopoly on patriotism from Republicans with a hawkish image and militaristic language.
For example, at the Democratic convention, she promised that, as commander-in-chief, she would ensure that “the U.S. maintains the most powerful and lethal fighting force in the world.” Since then, she has gained the support of more than 700 former military and security officials, both Democrats and Republicans.
She has also strengthened ties with Republican figures critical of Trump, such as former Republican Congresswoman Liz Cheney, daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney (2001-2009), who led the Congressional investigation into the Capitol attack.
This month, the two shared a stage in Wisconsin, surrounded by signs proclaiming “Country over Party,” where Cheney appealed to the duty of all Americans to defend U.S. values at the polls.
In a race where every vote counts, Harris hopes her message will resonate with Republicans and independents, who have historically shown greater pride in their country.
A 2022 Gallup poll showed that 60 percent of Republicans felt “extremely proud” to be American, compared to 29 percent of Democrats. If Harris can attract a fraction of that group, her path to victory could become clearer.
teleSUR/ JF Source: EFE
