WILKES-BARRE — In a speech that lasted just under half an hour, Vice President Kamala Harris gave them everything they wanted and hoped for — “A new way forward.”
With 4,100 supporters in the building who were loudly cheering and snapping pictures with their cell phones, Harris took the stage Friday evening at the Wilkes University McHale Athletic Center in the Simms Center on South Main Street. Many more were watching on closed circuit TV in an adjacent facility.
The scene was electric — filled with energy, enthusiasm and excitement.
Harris made several points, some heard at Tuesday night’s debate in Philadelphia, and she also made some news with comments about removing degree requirements for some federal jobs — which is a new policy.
“As president, I will get rid of the unnecessary degree requirements for federal jobs and increase jobs for folks without a four-year degree, understanding that requiring a certain degree does not necessarily talk about one’s skills,” Harris said.
Harris said in this election, what’s at stake could not be more important.
She talked about the debate and her opponent, former president Donald Trump. Many observers have said Harris was the clear winner.
“On Tuesday night, I talked about issues that I know matter to the families across America, like bringing down the cost of living, investing in America’s small businesses, protecting reproductive freedom and keeping our nation safe and secure,” Harris said. “But that’s not what we heard from Donald Trump. Instead it was the same old show — same old, tired playbook we’ve heard for years, with no plan for how he would address the needs of the American people. Well, folks, look, it’s time to turn the page.”
Harris said Trump offered no plan on how he would address the needs of the American people.
“We are not going back,” Harris said, repeating the battle cry of her campaign. “Because America is ready for a new way forward — a new generation of leadership, of optimism. we are for all the American people.”
Harris said that’s why Democrats, Republicans, and Independents are all supporting her campaign.
“Because we agree — we agree we have a duty as citizens to put country above partisanship and defend our Constitution,” she said. “And that is my pledge to you — I will always put country above party. From the courthouse to the White House, I have always fought for the people.”
Harris said her administration will build a future — an “opportunity economy” — so every American has an opportunity to own a home, to build wealth, to start a business.
“And let me tell you, I love our small businesses,” Harris said. “Are there small business leaders here? Raise your hand. That’s right. That’s right.”
Harris said, growing up, her mother worked long hours. She often worked very long hours. She said she learned about a small-business owner, Ms. Shelton, calling her a second mother.
“Our small-business owners, you are business leaders and you are civic leaders,” Harris said. “You are community leaders. You hire locally. You mentor. You are part of the fabric of our communities. And like Ms. Shelton, you are the backbone of America’s economy.”
Harris said her plan includes giving a $50,000 tax deduction for start-up businesses.
“Because I understand not everybody, like the person that was on the stage with me the other night, gets handed $400 million on a silver platter and then files for bankruptcy six times,” she said. “Come on!”
Harris also said she plans to cut red tape and work with the private sector to build 3 million new homes by the end of her first term. And her plan would lower the cost of living for America’s families on everything from health care to groceries, including taking on price gouging and “those corporations when they take advantage of people in need.”
Harris said, “Under my plan, more than 100 million Americans will get a tax cut. Thousands of dollars of your hard-earned money will go back in your pockets, including $6,000 during the first year of a child’s life for young parents, knowing in that critical stage of your child’s development, you might need a little help, not just to get by but to get ahead.”
Harris also said she will always put the middle class and working families first.
“I know where I came from — I’m clear about that,” she said.
During her speech, there were at least three interruptions from the crowd. The second appeared to be over the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. It appeared the man was removed.
Harris replied to the interruption: “Now is the time to get a hostage deal and ceasefire and we have been working around the clock to get that done. I respect your voice, but right now I am speaking.”
Harris also said Trump intends to cut Social Security and Medicare, bringing a chorus of boos from the crowd. “And he wants to impose what I call a ‘Trump sales tax’ on everyday basic necessities, which will cost the average American family nearly $4,000 a year.”
Harris said some of the top economists in the country and in the world have reviewed her plans. She said Goldman Sachs, for example, has said that her plan would grow the economy and Trump’s plan would shrink the economy — that his plan would reignite inflation and send us into a recession by the middle of next year.
She also talked about Trump’s intent to end the Affordable Care Act.
“Now, think about that,” she said. “Think — we remember what it meant when insurance companies could deny you for a pre-existing condition. So, he wants to get rid of it. And as he said in the debate, he made clear he has no plan to replace it. In fact — you remember ‘concept.’ He has, quote, ‘concepts of a plan.’ I mean, we’re 53 days from this election. ‘Concepts of a plan,’ which means no actual plan.”
Harris said 45 million Americans are insured through the Affordable Care Act.
“So, understand what that means,” she said. “He’s going to end it based on a concept and take us back when folks were suffering. Well, we’re not going back. And ours is a fight for freedom — like the fundamental freedom of a woman to be able to make decisions about her own body and not have her government tell her what to do.”
Harris said when Congress passes a bill to restore reproductive freedom, as president of the United States, she will sign it into law.
“We are not playing around,” Harris said. “And across our nation, we are witnessing a full-on attack on hard- fought, hard-won fundamental rights and freedoms, like the freedom to vote; the freedom to be safe from gun violence; the freedom to breathe clean air and drink clean water; and the freedom to love who you love openly and with pride.”
Harris ended by challenging her supporters to fight for freedom, opportunity and the promise of America.
“And when we fight — we win!” Harris said, as the audience joined in.