KAMALA HARRIS COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF AND POSSIBLE MILITARY POLICIES


By akirschbaum
Kamala Harris, potential commander in chief walking down plane stairs.

One of the most notable roles of the President of the United States is to be the "Commander-in-Chief" of the military; this is very useful in terms of national emergency or disaster. This great power to the President dates back to the emperors who held command and legal powers. Most of the time, only men had such power. However, the times are changing and current Vice President Kamala Harris may become Commander-in-Chief soon. Here’s how her policies may affect the military community.

How Kamala Harris May Become Commander-in-Chief

Although briefly, Kamala Harris was the first woman to become Commander in Chief, when President Joe Biden gave all his executive powers to Vice President Harris while he was under anesthesia for a routine colonoscopy at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Maryland. Through hard work and dedication, Harris has risen higher in the country’s leadership than any woman, underscoring her political career’s extraordinary arc. Harris was a former district attorney in San Francisco. She was selected as the first woman of color to serve as California’s attorney general. However, Harris did not stop there. She crawled to the top until becoming elected as the second black woman in the chamber’s history. But the dream of having the title Kamala Harris Commander-in-Chief on a full-time basis is now closer to becoming a reality.

The Childhood of Kamala Harris

Harris did not have a typical childhood as she was growing up, born in Oakland, California, to immigrant parents, a Jamaican father and an Indian mother. The young Harris grew up in a loving extended family and a diverse community. Throughout her childhood, she and her sister got inspiration from their mother to pursue. She was a breast cancer scientist who came to the United States at the age of 19 and received her doctorate in the same year as Kamala's birth. Her parents are active in civil rights movements. They instilled in her the desire to build strong coalitions that fight for the freedom and rights of all people. Harris was exposed to civil rights marches and was taught about Thurgood Marshall and Constance Baker Motley.She finished her college education at Howard University, a well-known prestigious campus, and for being a Black college. Harris then pursued being a prosecutor on child exploitation cases and domestic violence. These experiences would help prepare her for public service in a political career that continues to ascend through the highest of offices.In 2014, she married a lawyer, Douglas Emhoff, and was blessed with two children, Ella and Cole.

Kamala Harris, the Possible First Female Commander-in-Chief, and How It Affects the Military

President Biden has decided not to run again for another term and Kamala Harris is the heavy favorite, already gaining support, to earn the spot as the Democratic Party’s nominee.This puts Harris in a prime position to become the first woman to hold the title of Commander-in-Chief on a full-time basis.Becoming POTUS means not only leading the military and making major decisions, with the heavy influence of Generals of course, but also advocating for and signing off on policies that affect the military community as a whole.So far, it’s a bit unclear how Harris becoming President will affect the military, if it would much at all.For example, as a part of the Biden Administration, she supported many initiatives to help active duty members and Veterans. This includes the expansion of the PACT Act and withdrawal from Afghanistan.However, diving into the initiatives spearheaded by the current VP doesn’t focus primarily on issues involving the military.This shouldn’t be a surprise because these days, the Vice President is primarily a core advisor for the President but isn’t making such decisions as POTUS or making as many waves as other political figures.

Military Policies & Issues Kamala Harris Is Predicted to Address

Right now, there is a lot up in the air. But if we look at what we do know, here are some of the military policies and projects throughout her political career, which may help us better understand what to expect, should she win:

  • Harris has stood up against for-profit colleges looking to take advantage of the education benefits Veterans receive. A notable lawsuit against Corinthian Colleges saw Harris win $1.1 billion against the institution.
  • Kamala Harris has worked to provide student loan forgiveness for Veterans and other students who attended Corinthian.
  • While campaigning in 2019, Kamala Harris called for extending healthcare and housing benefits for Veterans. She is also being tough on fraud. Additionally, she is providing an easier path for immigrants to earn citizenship through military service.
  • Harris has supported Israel’s right to defend itself against Hamas. However, she will speak out against the suffering Palestinians are experiencing as a result of the war.
  • While in the Senate during the Trump Administration, Harris supported the Mission Act, expanding VA-funded care outside of the VA healthcare system for Veterans.
  • Harris has voted for and against the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

If Kamala Harris becomes Commander-in-Chief, she will no doubt take on a larger role involving the military and Veterans.How this plays out is up for debate. However, with Veterans needing more benefits than ever, conflicts in the Middle East and Europe, the U.S. losing allies in Africa, and tension rising in Asia, her plate is sure to be full.Suggested reads:

Updated by Buddy Blouin


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