Kamala Harris’s Moment in History

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/11/opinion/letters/kamala-harris-joe-biden.html

Version 0 of 1.

To the Editor:

Re “Biden’s V.P. Pick Is Kamala Harris, 1st Black Woman on Major Ticket” (nytimes.com, Aug. 11):

I congratulate Joe Biden for making a superb choice in Kamala Harris for his vice-presidential nominee!

Senator Harris is experienced, intelligent, passionate, well spoken, educated, strong, upbeat, positive and charming, and she has a sense of humor, always ready to laugh — a well-rounded individual and a winner! A bonus is that she is of African-American heritage.

She will withstand the avalanche of mud that is certain to be slung at her as well as anyone can, and she will certainly give Mike Pence a run for his money in a debate.

Bravo, and on to a resounding victory for the Biden-Harris ticket and a bright future for our country after all the damage inflicted over the past three and a half years is repaired!

Oren SpieglerPeters Township, Pa.

To the Editor:

How exciting. How moving. How important. How long in coming. A woman, of color, has been chosen to be Joe Biden’s running mate. Kamala Harris deserves this selection, not because she is a woman, not because she is a woman of color, not because “the time is right,” but because she is qualified, intelligent and a forceful voice for the future of the Democratic Party.

Let’s not walk away from that by repeating her gender and her race. We selected Mr. Biden because of his qualifications, not because of his religion, his race or his gender. Kamala will serve our nation with honor, with integrity and with a determination to bring out the best in all of us.

Doris FenigFloral Park, N.Y.

To the Editor:

Joe Biden’s selection of Senator Kamala Harris as his running mate demonstrates he can put together his own “team of rivals,” as they had their clashes during the primary campaign, but he envisioned what America could look like in their administration. Not only does the choice make history by having a woman of color on a national ticket, but also he wants someone who can challenge him to be a better leader, and to be a better president, which is a refreshing vision for America.

Steven M. ClaytonOcean, N.J.

To the Editor:

The drama is over, and Joe Biden played it perfectly. Not only is the choice of Kamala Harris historically pitch perfect, but also his timing was absolutely spot on. The speculation was at a fever pitch and his V.P. pick was not leaked, no small achievement in this aggressive media environment. While Ms. Harris was always, for many pundits, the front-runner, she was never a shoo-in. She does seem to check every selection criterion, except for her home state — California is a Democratic stronghold and a sure thing to go for Mr. Biden.

Senator Harris has a powerful intellect; she has a sharp, cutting wit; she is agile on her feet; she is a strong, at times, even eloquent orator, and she can more than hold her own with Donald Trump.

Donald Trump has always had difficulty handling strong, powerful women (like Speaker Nancy Pelosi), and he will with Ms. Harris as well. She presents a formidable challenge to both Mr. Trump and Vice President Mike Pence (if, that is, Mr. Pence even remains on the ticket).

She is simply the right pick, at the right time, for this inflection point in our politics and our society. Bravo, Joe Biden!

Ken DerowSwarthmore, Pa.