Jo Freeman Reviews Kamala’s Way, an Overview of Harris’ Life in California Politics

 

By Jo Freeman

 

This is a political biography.  

 

Published only a week before Kamala Harris was inaugurated as this country’s first female Vice President, this book is an overview of Harris’ life in California politics.  The author was able to write it so quickly because he has reported on California politics, policy and justice for two newspapers in that state for four decades; Harris has been politically active for about three.  

 

Born in Oakland CA in 1964, Harris left the state with her mother at age 12 and returned ten years later.  As a student at UC’s Hastings Law School, she got an internship in the Alameda County District Attorney’s office across the bay.  This led to a job in that office after she graduated and a 26-year career as a prosecutor.  She was DA of San Francisco County for two terms and was in the middle of her second term as California’s Attorney General when five-term Senator Barbara Boxer retired.  Harris entered the race and won in a walk.  

 

Her style as a Senator was shaped by her career as a prosecutor.  She was often accused of cross-examining witnesses at Committee hearings rather than questioning them.  It didn’t affect her style as a person.  This book is full of anecdotes of personal kindnesses done outside the public glare.  One-on-one, Harris has an attractive personality and makes friends easily.

 

Of all the issues that shaped Harris career, the longest running is her opposition to the death penalty.  That led her to refuse to ask that a cop-killer be sentenced to death when she was San Francisco DA.  The police unions never forgave her.

 

Reproductive rights and immigration were also important issues.  The author devotes major space to these and a short chapter to the Kavanaugh hearing, where Harris gently walked Dr. Christine Blasey Ford through her experience of sexual assault by Kavanaugh when they were teenagers.