Vice President Kamala Harris seems to have found herself amongst the candidates for Time Magazine’s ‘Person of the Year’ award, an annual recognition given to whomever or whatever had the most influence on global events in the past year. However, considering the outcome of her presidential run, this decision by Time is questionable at best.
Harris’s inclusion on the shortlist shows that Time Magazine appears to consider a failed presidential campaign worthy of such an honor. During her stint as a presidential candidate, Harris created ripples in the political landscape but ultimately proved unsuccessful. When Biden, her running mate, ended his Presidential campaign and threw his support behind her, many were left unimpressed.
Despite commendations from Time which see her brief and defeated presidential campaign as noteworthy, let’s remember how she conceded the race to Trump on November 6th. This absurd paradox raises questions on the selection criteria for Time’s ‘Person of the Year’ accolade, leaving one to wonder if failures are now being equated with success.
Ironically, Harris, together with President Biden, made the cover of Time’s ‘Person of the Year’ in 2020 after apparently ‘winning’ the presidential election. This controversial decision to consider them as candidates for the award once again calls into question Time’s logic and partiality.
Others who made it to the shortlist include Elon Musk, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, talk show host Joe Rogan, and the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, who sadly is battling cancer. This group of contenders, some more deserving than others, further illustrates the odd mix on the magazine’s shortlist.
The shortlist also features the previous President, Donald Trump, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu – a diverse group to say the least. Yet it’s strange that Harris, who admittedly lost a presidential election, would be considered on a par with this range of high-achievers.
The ‘Person of the Year’ award has been previously given to pop star Taylor Swift, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, and environmental activist Greta Thunberg. It’s a path well treaded by influential figures, leaving us to question the place of Harris’s unsuccessful campaign among these winners.
Caitlin Clark, a highly talented player from the WNBA, was named ‘Athlete of the Year’ on Tuesday by the same publication. One can only guess how Time tries to balance their scales while determining the merit and influence of achievements and, apparently, non-achievements alike.
The election’s downfall left many of Harris’s supporters, including her running mate – Minnesota Governor Tim Walz – perplexed. His comments about their loss expose an unsettling complacency; instead of acknowledging the shortcomings of their campaign, he sticks to unconvincing defense.
Governor Walz’s bafflement over their loss gives a clear indication of their strategies, or lack thereof. To him, the question ‘Are there things you could’ve done differently?’ is obviously answered by ‘yes’, but with no real commitment to identify or learn from their failures.
Harris too has publicly addressed the election defeat, but instead of taking accountability, she veils her statements in obscure motivational language, asking her supporters to maintain their ‘power.’ ‘Don’t you ever let anybody take your power from you,’ she says, but what power does one have when they’ve publicly failed to translate it into results?
Harris continues to speak hollow words of ‘power’ and ‘purpose’ to her followers, insisting that they have the same ‘ability to engage and inspire.’ Yet, her own inability to secure the presidency leaves one wondering what such engagement and inspiration would look like under her leadership, or lack thereof.
The failure has reportedly led Harris to contemplate her political future as she prepares to leave the White House. Speculations have arisen over whether she will sensibly step aside from national politics or stubbornly seek another stint at the White House or perhaps aim for the position of governor in her home state, California.
Whether Harris decides to run for another office is yet to be seen, but her short tenure in the White House and her failed attempt at the presidency makes one question her credentials. And despite Harris being considered for Time Magazine’s ‘Person of the Year,’ the award seems misplaced, if not outright incongruous, for such a figure.