We do not think it comes as a huge surprise that racial grifter Shaun King would come out in support of VP nominee Kamala Harris. It might, however come as a small surprise to anyone who has followed the messaging of King.
Firstly, Tupac Sugar had these words of support following the announcement of Joe Biden being told who his running mate would be.
That's it for me.
I am incredibly proud to see a brilliant Black woman, and HBCU grad, chosen as a Vice Presidential nominee.
I've done political work my whole life. It's rarely things dreams are made of.
Kamala Harris is the most progressive VP nominee in American history.
— Shaun King (@shaunking) August 11, 2020
We suppose his dreams were not made of a Barack Obama presidency. But sure, Kamala is historical.
Somehow King’s enthusiasm seemed to ebb somewhat not too much later.
Pretty much.
I can only speak for myself, but when I harshly critique leaders, it’s with the hope that they will grow and evolve.
Kamala has done so, in very specific ways, on issues of justice.
I’ll remain a critic. But I’m nothing but glad to see the growth. Is what it is. https://t.co/vS57O9jgeO
— Shaun King (@shaunking) August 12, 2020
So why do we think that Pale Revere was sounding somewhat qualifying in his ”historical” praise? It is probably due to the kind of detail that Dan Crenshaw points out. Seems there was a time when Alexander Scamilton was less than enthusiastic about Kamala Harris. Something like 99 percent less.
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To be fair to Shaun King, he left open a 1% chance that he would totally change his mind. pic.twitter.com/NXU2w5Q19a
— Dan Crenshaw (@DanCrenshawTX) August 13, 2020
That is a pretty harsh turnaround. Note that King essentially called the presidential ticket for the Democrats, and in so doing gave an all but 100% assurance of not supporting them.
Okay, cue the spinning.
Yes.
In 2018, I said I did not plan on endorsing either Joe Biden or Kamala Harris IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARIES.
I endorsed Bernie.
I’ve been a strong critic of Biden & Harris on issues of justice.
She has grown and evolved on policing & justice.
Especially this summer. https://t.co/RwuR8weka1
— Shaun King (@shaunking) August 12, 2020
Now granted, he has some wiggle room by using PRIMARY support as an escape clause. But how does he explain away that his turnaround on Harris is rather rapid? It was not like these were tweets unearthed from a more naïve era in his past; these impressions are from the last election.
He was besmirching Harris and her record about a year and half ago, but now we are to believe she is a different leader since that time frame. While we would like to allow someone the chance to grow and change, this compressed timeline smacks a bit more like conveniently softening one’s positions for a general public appeal.
As King himself says, he was judging her on her history of decisions, basing his views on her ”entire career”. He harbors no curiosity it seems that somehow she has made wholesale alterations to her core values this summer.
Right along the same time that she became a name on Biden’s shortlist of potential running mates. Curious, that.
Anyhow, there is already signs that King’s adoration is waning. It took one newspaper headline for him to begin getting wistful.
Damn I miss Bernie. https://t.co/mvHzbChTCv
— Shaun King (@shaunking) August 13, 2020
That is some kind of timeline:
- Dreamlike elation
- Hedging bets and explaining himself
- Longing for the candidate he truly adores
All that in less than 30 hours.
It is good to know that Shaun’s shifting standards set remains cemented in fluxuation.
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