📧 “Harris on military civil rights” to Sullivan
Robert, I apologize for being vague in my last email. I have been thinking about it a lot and realized I wasn't the most clear. The more I've thought about this, however, the more I feel disadvantaged by the editorial decision so I wanted to put it in writing to see if I could illuminate another perspective. And I also recognize I pitched this as an opinion piece, which I had assumed would not need to adhere to more journalistic considerations you mentioned. So that it was rejected under that rubric felt unfair and inconsiderate. Here is where I'm at, and if you feel differently I hope you will let me know because I will be taking it to conservative/Republican outlets next.
---
This is not two equal candidates; one is a top member of the Executive branch. On October 4, a (high ranking Democratic) Senator asked the Attorney General about an Executive Agency not enforcing military civil rights. The office of the Vice President also serves as President Pro Tempore of the Senate; will Harris allow the Senate to be snubbed by the Executive? And if so, what does this say about her potential leadership in 2025 and beyond?
Compounding the problem is not only that, as AG Harris ignored state law when California made military and veteran states a protected class, but she was also on the Senate Judiciary in 2019 when an earlier letter was sent by a (Democratic) House Representative to then-Attorney General Barr and FBI Director Wray (who still serves in his same role, under Harris).
Harris has a long and troubling record of ignoring civil rights when it comes to military families, making her selection of a military veteran for her Vice President look like she chose a token veteran rather than recognizing and empowering military families. That begs the question;
Is Harris snubbing the military, (other Democrats in) Congress, or both?
The most likely scenario is that she is simply unaware of the implications of civilian bias she carries. I’d bet that, if she knew about the situation, she would publicly endorse military civil rights. But I don’t live in a swing state so it’s not as though I can ask her or her campaign directly.
By choosing to keep silent on military civil rights, America is reinforcing systems that disenfranchise not just some voters, but military voters in particular. If America sees itself as upholding journalistic standards then it stands to reason that this issue should matter apart from electoral considerations. That it has come down to the few days before the election is not my responsibility. If this issue hasn’t been on your radar before, it’s not because I’ve been making myself invisible. It’s because civilian bias has already had a finger on the scale.
@ 1627 from Sullivan
I'm sorry, but we don't have the capacity to edit and fact-check such a piece, and get a response from the Harris campaign, in the few days remaining before the election.
@ 1643 to Sullivan
I understand, but it also saddens me that attention to this matter has been so lacking.
As a person of faith, it is doubly disappointing that Catholic Social Teaching does not rise to the level of being operative in these situations.
