When the Facts Change, So Does Kamala—And That’s a Good Thing (Bob's Essays on Election 2024 #013)

When the Facts Change, So Does Kamala—And That’s a Good Thing

Imagine this: you're in the boardroom. Your company's market share is tanking because, surprise surprise, nobody wants to buy another overpriced widget. The CEO walks in, admits that the original plan was garbage, and pivots the company in a new direction. "Visionary!" you shout, applauding with such vigor that your Fitbit thinks you've hit your cardio goal for the day. You’re not alone. In the business world, a strategy change is leadership in action, the kind of stuff that earns you a glowing write-up in Forbes and a yacht party with Elon Musk.

Now let’s shift gears and stroll down the hall of American politics. Let’s say Kamala Harris takes a stand on an issue—maybe it’s immigration, healthcare, or even the size of the federal budget. And then, shockingly, she adjusts her position. You can almost hear the cries from the political peanut gallery: “Flip-flopper!” “She has no convictions!” The same folks who cheer the business CEO for adapting to new realities are now clutching their pearls and demanding loyalty to ideas as outdated as Donald Trump’s tax returns.

As Hunter S. Thompson once said, “In a closed society where everybody’s guilty, the only crime is getting caught. In a world of thieves, the only final sin is stupidity.” Politicians get crucified for daring to evolve, and the irony is as thick as a foggy San Francisco morning.

Let’s talk about Kamala Harris for a second. Here’s a leader who has repeatedly shown that when the facts change, so does her approach. Instead of doubling down on a bad idea, she has the gall—yes, the gall!—to change her mind. And what does she get for it? Criticism from the same crowd that watches Donald Trump flip-flop more often than a politician in quicksand. Trump, is the guy who will say one thing, do another, and then rewrite history in his head to believe he’s always been right. In the Trumpian universe, facts are mere suggestions.

Trump’s supporters don’t mind that he changes his tune more often than a radio stuck between stations. No, they love it! Why? Because it’s not about principle—it’s about the spectacle. As P.J. O’Rourke famously said, “When buying and selling are controlled by legislation, the first things to be bought and sold are legislators.” And if Trump is anything, it’s a salesman, peddling whatever idea happens to boost his ratings that day.

Meanwhile, Kamala Harris stands accused of actually using her brain. She sees a world that’s changing faster than you can say “TikTok” and has the audacity to keep up with it. If that’s flip-flopping, then I say, hand her a pair of flippers and call her Michael Phelps, because she’s swimming circles around Trump’s outdated playbook.

Kamala Harris is the kind of leader who understands that when the facts change, so must the policy. And here’s to Donald Trump—the kind of leader who understands that when the facts change, you simply ignore them and go golfing.