Beth Ann Rosica: The case against Kamala — Part Four

It is likely that the presidential election will be decided in Pennsylvania, and I am part of the demographic that may tip the scales in either direction. As a white, suburban, middle-class professional and mom residing in Chester County, Pennsylvania, Democrats and Republicans are courting and counting on my vote. 

This is the final article of a multi-part series that will focus on my insights about Kamala Harris and the policies that she has embraced as Vice President and the policies she will likely bring as President. I will explore topics such as abortion, the economy, Title IX, education, energy, and immigration.

Thank you to those who read and followed this four-part series. Here are parts one, two, and three, in case you missed it.

Part Four — Security moms won’t gamble with our children’s safety

When this series kicked off three weeks ago, the Harris campaign unveiled an issues section on their website. The site now has an 82-page document, entitled A New Way Forward for the Middle Class, available for voters to read more about her policies. There are sections on lowering food and grocery costs, energy costs, and lowering taxes, just to name a few.

“That’s why as President, Kamala Harris will create an Opportunity Economy where everyone has a chance to compete and a chance to succeed — whether they live in a rural area, small town, or big city.”

There are multiple problems and inconsistencies with Kamala’s positions on the economy that get to the heart of what is important to moms across the country and specifically in southeastern Pennsylvania. Additionally, possibly more important, is safety and security. The conclusion of this series will analyze Kamala’s positions on the economy and foreign policy.

The Economy

In preparation for the November election, every voter should ask themself the question that Reagan posed to voters in 1980, “Are you better off today than you were four years ago?” From an economic perspective, the resounding answer is no. Harris knows this and is attempting to distance herself from the last four years of economic stagnation.

Biden rightfully continues to tie Harris to himself and his current administration’s policies. “Kamala and I promised to move quickly to tackle America’s challenges head-on and deliver results for working families. That’s what our Administration has done.”

The Biden-Harris administration has not only failed to quickly tackle challenges, they have crippled our economy with a myriad of bad policies, resulting in high inflation. If Kamala actually had solid solutions to restore economic prosperity for middle, working-class families, she would have attempted to implement them as Vice President. Instead, she is desperately trying to rewrite history and is counting on voters to have short memories.

A New Way Forward for the Middle Class is a long-winded way to distance herself from the current administration and the current economy that we are all living in today. The question is whether voters will actually buy what she is selling because, despite the 82-page plan, there is not a concrete path forward. For example, how will she lower taxes for the middle class and continue to forgive student debt?

A recent Gallup poll shows that most voters are worried about the economy. “Gallup’s Economic Confidence Index is currently at -28, indicating Americans’ attitudes about the economy are negative, on balance. The rating is derived from the 22 percent of Americans describing current economic conditions as ‘excellent’ or ‘good’ versus the 48 percent saying they are ‘poor,’ and the 32 percent believing the economy is ‘getting better’ versus the 62 percent saying it is ‘getting worse.’”

When I talk with other moms, most agree that we are paying far more for groceries and gas today than we were four to six years ago. And while middle- to upper-class families may be able to afford the increases with minimal change to their lifestyle, lower-income families are not so fortunate.

This anecdotal evidence is supported by a recent New York Times poll of 2,437 likely voters published last month. Almost half of the respondents are Pennsylvania residents. Despite the fact that 54 percent of women in the poll said they were voting for Harris, only 47 percent of women believe that Harris will do a better job managing the economy. And only 29 percent of women said that Harris represents a major change.

Based on these results, Kamala is not fooling the moms with her “new way forward” messaging. If women vote for her, they seem to understand that they are getting more of the same, including higher prices for groceries and gas. And maybe, just maybe, they will consider that when they fill out their ballot.

If moms seriously analyze their economics and the financial situation of those less fortunate today versus four to six years ago and still support her, it points to a major disconnect between the economy being the top issue and Kamala receiving failing grades on her policies. For me and many other moms, the economy is of paramount importance, and as such, I do not support Kamala’s demonstrated or proposed economic policies.

Foreign Policy

What moms value above anything else is to feel safe and to believe that their children are safe and secure. Reminiscent of the security moms in 2002 and 2014, many women and especially mothers of school-aged children, are very concerned about what is happening around the world and its impact locally.

Although foreign policy is not as easily quantifiable as an issue like the economy, its emotional impact on voters — particularly moms — is very high.

While most Americans, myself included, do not have a full grasp of the vast complexities of foreign policy, we know when dynamics shift and we start to experience concerns about terrorism and world war. As we approach the one-year mark of the massacre in Israel and the continued escalation in fighting in the Middle East, combined with the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the threat of China, Americans are on heightened alert about the state of affairs in the world.

Concerns over foreign policy prompted many women to vote differently than they might have in 2002 following 9/11 and in 2014 after the ISIS beheadings. Even Biden in 2002, a U.S. Senator at the time, acknowledged that his party failed to listen to women, specifically mothers who were concerned about what the party was doing to protect their children against terrorists. “Soccer moms are security moms now.”

While we may not fully comprehend the intricacies of foreign policy, we know there are precarious situations happening now that may impact our country in the very near future. We worry whether our children will be safe. The current state of affairs is analogous to 2002 and 2014 and comes down to who you trust to make the right decision as the leader of the free world.

For most of the last quarter century, security moms did not believe Democrats’ policies would keep the country safe. “Fundamentally, the Democrats’ terrorism problem with women — especially married white women — isn’t about policy. It’s about trust. In 2002, at a time of heightened anxiety, women trusted a Republican president to keep them safe. In 2014, with that anxiety heightened again, they don’t trust a Democratic president to do the same.” [emphasis added]

I, for one, certainly do not trust Kamala to keep our country safe. Standing up to our enemies and standing up for our allies requires an experienced leader who is serious and steadfast. Over her career, Harris has shown that she is neither. “Joy” is not a serious approach to foreign policy.

Based on a recent poll conducted by the Institute for Global Affairs, 1,835 respondents, including a focused sample from Pennsylvania, agree that Kamala is not the best choice for those concerned with foreign policy. “Where Trump is perceived more favorably than Harris nationally — more likely to reform immigration, end the Gaza and Ukraine wars, and respond effectively to a Chinese attack on Taiwan — he has an even greater margin of favorability in swing states.”

Only 43 percent of Pennsylvania respondents think Kamala will “respond effectively if China attacks Taiwan.” Only 44 percent of Pennsylvania respondents are confident she will “end wars in Ukraine and Gaza.” And only 46 percent of Pennsylvania respondents believe Kamala is “a strong leader who advances America’s interests internationally.” 

Of all the topics that this series has analyzed — immigration, fracking, Title IX, abortion, the economy — foreign policy, from my perspective, is far and away the most significant given current world events. It is incumbent upon every voter to ask if they truly trust Kamala to make highly difficult life and death decisions.

The thought of Kamala Harris serving as the Commander in Chief, holding the highest level of responsibility for foreign relations, is truly terrifying to me — and it should be to every mom and every voter in this country.

Even if you agree with her on other policies, I encourage you to think long and hard about whether you trust this person with your children’s and grandchildren’s lives.

As a mom, I want a president who will grow our economy, protect the rights of women and girls, make our country energy independent, keep our communities and cities safe, and represent us on the world stage as a strong and fearless leader. We need a president who loves America, praises its strengths, and works to overcome its challenges. I want our president to create an environment where all citizens have the opportunity to prosper.

Kamala Harris is the antithesis of the person who I want as our president.

Beth Ann Rosica resides in West Chester, has a Ph.D. in Education, and has dedicated her career to advocating on behalf of at-risk children and families. She covers education issues for Broad + Liberty. Contact her at barosica@broadandliberty.com.