Election day, Nov. 5, will be the central event that will forecast American policy for the next four years. In the past month, Donald Trump's and Kamala Harris' campaigns have gone full throttle in convincing the American public why they should stay with the status quo or go back to old policies through Trump's executive hand. Before you go out and cast your ballot, please consider these points.
The Harris campaign has come into question due to its constant maneuvering for public approval. Harris, a far leftist, has appeared to be seen as conservative or moderate. One prime example is a recent interview where Harris vehemently states that Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, would ban guns and inherently take away your Second Amendment right. Not only is this thought-provoking, but Harris needs to explain how Trump will ban guns. This exchange, along with other examples, gives me the impression the Harris campaign is purely motivated by appeasing the American public by advertising attractive policies for voters that would not initially vote for her.
The overarching theme is the lack of integrity and accountability. Harris chooses to ignore addressing these discrepancies in her statements and backs it with a heartwarming laugh that attempts to connect with voters. The American people are not voting for someone they would want to hang out with — they are looking for a political party that will aid them in their personal lives against pressing matters such as housing affordability, job security, preserving their income after taxes and health.
Although displayed in red, the Trump campaign should be looked at with an array of colors that symbolize people from different backgrounds who are in support of the Trump campaign. Robert F. Kennedy, in a recent rally at Madison Square Garden, explained that the current Democratic party has evolved from its original identity. He says, "I didn't leave the Democratic Party, the Democratic Party left me." RFK has been a role model for young people and inspired many through his political expertise. If the Democratic party could not clearly explain why it didn't integrate RFK into the DNC and why it rejected his principles, then his statements have evidential backing.
There is still no clear explanation for how Harris became the presidential nominee. The 25th Amendment explains that if a president cannot perform his civic duties, the vice president will take their place. In Harris's case, there has been no explicit confirmation that Harris has invoked the 25th Amendment. Not only is this deception, but it is a slap to the current constitution. If Harris did not invoke the 25th Amendment, how could she surpass other Democratic nominees?
Actions speak louder than words; while many words are thrown by the Democratic Party, it has not backed those promises from the past four years in office. Voting red will declare accountability towards the DNC, stating that it cannot forecast intelligent rhetoric and evade promises after the fact; it is not fair to the American public.
Do not look at Trump's campaigns purely through the image of Donald Trump. Direct your view to the distinctly different faces that chose to back Trump. People such as Musk and RFK, who are proponents of improving the environment and promoting positive health agencies; people who primarily identified with the Democratic party. Both of these individuals chose to back Trump instead of Harris. There is much on line for the country, and these figures are taking a step forward and we must decide if we should follow. We must recover our country's dire status through a pragmatic policy approach instead of a rhetorical battle on who said what. While red is just a color, in this context, it is code red, and we must choose to act appropriately not just for ourselves but for future generations to come.
Go Gators.
Abraham Hilu is a UF political science senior
