Countering Misconceptions About Harris and Trump
Countering Misconceptions About Harris and Trump - Young Voters Memo
Photo Credit: Brendan Smialowski and Brandon Bell
Background: Over half of registered voters expressed low confidence in both Biden and Trump regarding fitness for office, age, personal ethics, and respect for democratic values. This sentiment was particularly pronounced among youth voters, who feel disillusioned with the current political landscape and are skeptical about the potential for meaningful change from federal leadership.
While voting for third-party candidates or abstaining from voting altogether may send a message, it also risks empowering anti-democratic voices, especially if looks likely, despite his denial, that Trump has adopted Project 2025 with its unitary presidential approach (read authoritarian). Instead, we must remind Gen Z and Millennials of the hugely consequential stakes in this election.
With the 2024 presidential election approaching, political polarization at its peak, and Kamala Harris now the Democratic nominee, it is key to highlight the stark differences between Harris and Trump on key issues.
Here are talking points for potential voters that show the difference issue by issue:
Abortion:
Harris: A strong advocate for reproductive human rights (taking a nationwide tour focused on the subject among other efforts as the VP) and protecting in vitro fertilization. The Biden-Harris Administration has worked to protect access to safe and legal medication abortion and defend the right to travel for reproductive health care. Over 200 federal judges who support pro-choice legislature have been appointed during the Biden-Harris Administration. Harris wants a law to protect abortion until the point of fetal viability, around 22 weeks of pregnancy.
Trump: Appointed three of the conservative Supreme Court justices who overturned Roe v. Wade as well as hundreds of federal judges who support abortion restrictions/bans passed by state legislative bodies.
Judges:
Biden-Harris Administration: Appointed close to 200 judges–primarily women and people of color–all of whom support an expansion of reproductive rights and other basic civil liberties.
Trump: In addition to overturning Roe v. Wade, Trump’s three Supreme Court justice appointees have worked to restrict voting rights and strip citizens of other basic human rights. His lower court judicial appointments have generally been recommended by the ultra-conservative Federalist Society and seek to block challenges to extremist laws proposed by state legislators.
Climate Action:
Biden-Harris Administration: Rejoined the Paris Climate Change Agreement and has prioritized combating climate change. The Inflation Reduction Act signed into Law in 2022 invests hundreds of billions of dollars in clean energy, electric vehicles, and environmental justice among other climate action initiatives.
Trump: Dismissed climate change as a “hoax”, rolled back environmental regulations, promoted drilling for oil on public lands, and withdrew from the Paris Climate Change Agreement, that 196 countries signed, neglecting the urgent need for environmental protection. Project 2025’s climate denial, if and when implemented by Trump would be a serious threat to the health of our world and its inhabitants.
Education and Student Debt Relief:
Biden-Harris Administration: Advocated for student debt forgiveness and affordable higher education. Approved $127 billion in relief for about 3.6 million borrowers and plans to make higher education more affordable by expanding access to free community college.
Trump: As president, he advocated for charter schools (which can draw funding away from public schools), called for the elimination of federal relief programs and has overseen cuts to education funding.If he adopts the Heritage Foundation’s antidemocratic Project 2025, he may eliminate Department of Education if re-elected.
Healthcare Access:
Biden-Harris administration: Supported expanding access to healthcare, protecting coverage for pre-existing conditions, and lowering prescription drug costs. The prescription drug law (2022) provides financial relief to millions of people by expanding Medicare benefits and empowering Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices directly with drug companies.
Trump: Sought to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which would have stripped healthcare coverage from millions of people, without offering any viable alternative, risking young voters' access to affordable healthcare.
Criminal Justice:
Biden-Harris Administration: Promoted criminal justice reform, including ending mandatory minimum sentences, cash bail, and addressing systemic racial disparities. As a prosecutor, San Francisco’s District Attorney, and California’s Attorney General, Harris took on perpetrators of domestic violence and child sexual abuse, and predatory lenders. She was also a reformer, championing school enrollment and job training programs for first time offenders. Supported a controversial law aimed to reduce truancy by giving schools more leverage by potentially making parents responsible if their child missed 10% of the school year without valid reason and ultimately charging them with a misdemeanor. As a senator, she worked on issues like due process for immigrants and police reform bill. Finally, Harris supports plan to reform the Supreme Court (including term limits and an enforceable code of ethics).
Trump: Emphasized "law and order" policies, while attacking the rule of law and weakening the checks and balances of the three branches of government - legislative, executive, and judicial. A convicted felon, he has numerous additional charges against him and while advocating for harsher sentencing, he has stoked racial tensions, undermined efforts for criminal justice reform, and exacerbated social divides.
Immigration Reform:
Harris: Worked with other governments and private companies to fund economic and social programs in the Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador, as a VP. Her efforts resulted in reduction in migration from those countries to the US. Some Republicans wrongly accuse Harris of failing as a border czar, but she was not in charge of border control. As a senator, she supported legislation to provide citizenship for Dreamers. The main concerns with immigration are crime and jobs. Although there has been a rise in legal and illegal immigration over the past decades, crime has as a percentage decreased, and jobs have increased during Biden-Harris Administration. A bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform Bill which was endorsed by US Border Patrol failed to pass because Republicans switched their support of the Bill when instructed by Trump.
Trump: Pursued aggressive immigration policies, including family separations, travel bans, and border wall construction, disregarding humanitarian concerns and perpetuating xenophobia with comments such as “poisoning the blood of our country.” Opposed the bipartisan Senate immigration bill. Tried to end DACA; Supreme Court overruled. If re-elected, he plans to use the National Guard and local police, with possible detention camps, to deport 15 to 20 million illegal immigrants. He also plans to renew his Muslim ban and end automatic citizenship for everyone born in US.
Defending Democracy:
Biden-Harris Administration: Prioritized defending democratic institutions, upholding the rule of law, and protecting our rights and freedoms - i.e., voting and workers' rights, freedom of religion and speech.
Trump: Undermines democratic norms and institutions, blocks legislation for his own aims, attacks the legitimacy of elections, spreads false information and lies and incites insurrection, posing a direct threat to democracy and young voters' faith in the electoral process. He has openly admired authoritarians around the world, verbally attacked journalists, judges, and prosecutors including those involved in his trials, stoking violence, and promised to pursue revenge and retaliation against his political enemies if re-elected. Trump fuels hate towards non-white groups, such as legal and illegal immigrants, and questions opponents racial and ethnic identities, to categorize people as the other or non-human. A number of Trump’s cabinet members and senior officials have criticized him and/or have expressed strong opposition to his re-election; including his Attorney General Bill Barr, Secretary of defense Mark Esper, Chief of Staff John Kelly, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, National Security Advisor John Bolton, and Communication Director Stephanie Grisham among others.
Economic Recovery:
Biden-Harris Administration: Focused on creating jobs, investing in infrastructure, reducing inflation, and supporting small businesses. Since the beginning of the administration, gross domestic product (GDP) has increased by 8.4 percent, adjusted for inflation (GDP grew 6.8 percent under Trump). Even accounting for the plunge in economic activity during the pandemic, annualized growth rate was slightly higher under Biden (2.9 percent versus 2.7 percent for Trump). Although inflation has been higher during this administration (due to factors such as COVID-related supply chain disruptions) it has fallen sharply since 2022. Under this administration, over 15 million jobs have been created (versus negative 3 million jobs under Trump, partly due to the pandemic) and unemployment is near a 50-year low.
Trump: Prioritized tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations, deregulation, and protectionist trade policies; which resulted in economic instability and exacerbated income inequality.
Diplomatic Engagement on Gaza-Israel Conflict:
Biden-Harris Administration: Advocates for diplomatic solutions, promoting dialogue, humanitarian aid, and a two-state solution.
Trump: Adopted a unilateral approach, recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital, and brokered deals without Palestinian involvement, contributing to tensions and hindering progress towards peace.
Uncommitted or No Vote: Some voters consider either voting uncommitted or not voting at all. This is de facto a vote for Trump. A couple of phrases to use are:
“Voting is not a prize or a love letter. It’s harm reduction.”
“If you don't vote, you are doubling the voice of someone who disagrees with you.”
Organizations: We have identified progressive organizations actively promoting the Biden-Harris Administration’s positive impact and denouncing Trump's harmful policies. By supporting these organizations and engaging in nuanced discussions with young voters, we can highlight the stark differences between Harris and Trump and encourage voter turnout in November. See the addendum for a list.
Ultimately, the choice is clear: voting for a progressive candidate like Harris or unintentionally empowering a divisive and authoritarian figure like Trump. Let's work together to ensure that young Americans understand the stakes and make informed decisions at the ballot box.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
The Gothamites
Addendum of Organizations
To highlight the differences between Biden- Harris and Trump's policies and governance approaches, we can utilize progressive organizations.These groups offer opportunities for donations or volunteer involvement. Also go to politinvolve.org for other organizations:
DNC and HarrisCampaign: Both work to dispel misconceptions about Biden.
Stop the Coup 2025!: Centrally organizes against right-wing attacks on democracy.
Collective PAC: Focuses on electing progressive Black leaders and highlights Biden's contributions.
Latino Victory Fund: Emphasizes Biden-Harris’ positive impact on Latinx communities.
Voto Latino: Advocates for Latinx political power and contrasts Biden-Harris’ achievements with Trump's policies.
SwingLeft, Move On, Forward Majority: Stress the urgency of defeating Trump's reelection bid.
Common Cause: Argues against Trump's eligibility for reelection due to impeachment and indictment.
Protect Democracy: Works to protect democracy from Trump's abuses of power.
Center for American Progress and Brennan Center for Justice: Promote pro-Biden articles focusing on policy issues.