At the recent Annual Phoenix Awards Dinner hosted by the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation in Washington, D.C., Vice President Kamala Harris seized the moment to unleash a broadside against conservative policies and leaders. Her rhetoric, steeped in the urgency of the present political climate, painted an ominous portrait of America under the influence of what she deems the “extreme right wing.”
In her address, Harris claimed that these right-wing leaders have orchestrated a “long-term agenda” that threatens the core values of the American dream. She pointed fingers at historical figures such as Ronald Reagan, Newt Gingrich, and Pat Buchanan, casting them as architects of a supposed conspiracy while deftly glossing over the Democratic Party’s own checkered past of political maneuvers and election interference.
The Vice President didn’t shy away from targeting former President Donald Trump directly, accusing him of personal enrichment at the expense of the working class. According to Harris, Trump is responsible for significant social welfare cuts, neglecting scientific advancements, dismantling cancer research initiatives, and misusing military forces against American citizens—a litany of charges resonating with those who feel betrayed by current political realities.
Harris’s words were not just a rebuke of Trump but also a repudiation of the millions of Americans who supported him, echoing a sentiment of contempt masked as righteous indignation. Her speech took a turn toward the celebratory when she praised activist strategies that “speak with their pocketbooks,” referencing the return of Jimmy Kimmel to the airwaves as a sign of activism’s impact.
Illuminating a potentially contentious strategy, she declared, “We must fight fire with fire,” urging Democrats to fiercely protect their narrative against conservative dominance.
WATCH:
Full transcript:
Kamala Harris:
“As a lifelong member of the CBC, I feel a deep honor in receiving this award. For over fifty years, the CBC has been instrumental as a moral compass in Congress and across America, championing opportunity, equality, and liberty for all.With your support, 75 million Americans joined our efforts last year, believing strongly in America’s promise. Today, the CBC stands resolute, facing an extraordinary threat to that promise—one we have seen before.
The Constitution gives Congress equal power with the executive branch, making your advocacy and actions vitally important, especially as some peers forsake their commitments to uphold this balance.
Every day, we witness how a president enriches himself and the wealthy elite while burdening hardworking citizens with higher tariffs, cutting essential programs like SNAP and Medicaid, disregarding scientific guidance, phasing out cancer research, and making military presence a norm on our streets.
We predicted these outcomes, yet what surprised me was the prevailing capitulation within universities, media entities, and firms that swiftly capitulated to those in authority.
However, I’ll tell you who doesn’t capitulate—the people.
When a president, unable to tolerate humor, unleashed governmental might to silence a citizen, the public responded with their wallets. With Jimmy Kimmel back on air, we witnessed the power of collective voice. Dr. Jamal Bryant reminded us of the importance of economic decisions as a form of protest.
This moment calls for leaders like those in this room to remind the public of their power: to speak truth and act boldly, even when the audience is absent.
Now is the time to secure victories in the midterms to implement checks on a president whose actions echo incompetence and erraticism.
Yesterday, I returned to Howard University, where at 17 I found my voice and power. Back then, Ronald Reagan was in office, and the groundwork for the right-wing agenda we face today was being laid, often fueled by misinformation.
Let us not forget—the right has played a long game, methodically targeting statehouses, manipulating district boundaries, and stacking the Supreme Court to serve their agenda. The current president operates as their vessel, but the groundwork was established over decades through harsh rhetoric and a disjointed political narrative.
CBC, the task at hand is significant. First, we must address immediate challenges, such as the soaring costs of basic necessities like food, housing, and healthcare.
Secondly, we cannot accept misleading narratives that blame the vulnerable while shielding the powerful from scrutiny.
Finally, let us abandon the notion of a singular savior. We have an abundance of talent and leadership within our ranks. So, repeat after me, Democrats: we possess countless stars in this room.
You are the leaders willing to confront challenges with courage and honesty. At this critical juncture, one thing stands undeniably true:
We must fight fire with fire.
So, CBC, let’s get to work.”
