Vice President Harris spoke to the National Association of Black Journalists earlier this week. You’ll recall that when former president Trump spoke to the NABJ at the end of July it was a dumpster fire. He made his famous “Kamala only recently became black” remark, and the interview was such a train wreck that his own people pulled the plug and hustled him off stage after only half an hour.

The Vice President, on the other hand, was sane. She didn’t say crazy stuff. She answered questions on a range of issues like a responsible adult and world leader. The political press was upset because she didn’t go off the rails. But I think America is ready for a leader who is dynamic and steady, visionary and empathetic, serious and joyful. It may be the reason her polling continues to improve week after week.

The NABJ panel had one final question at the end of the interview:

“Before we conclude, Madam Vice President, ‘joyful warrior’ has been used to describe your campaign, and your opponent and Republicans have at times weaponized your laughing in campaign ads, for example. Why is joy important to you to insert into this election, and what do you make of Republicans using that as way to suggest that you’re not a serious candidate?”

Her answer is—to my mind—pitch perfect and one reason that millions of Americans are ready to turn the page.

(Vice President Harris): “I’ll say to whoever the young people are who are watching this: there are sometimes when your adversaries will try to turn your strength into a weakness. Don’t you let them. Don’t you let them. I find joy in the American people. I find joy in optimism—in what I see to be our future, and our ability to invest in it. I find joy in the ambition of the people. I find joy in the dreams of the people. I find joy in building community. I find joy in building coalitions. I find joy in believing that the true measure of the strength of a leader is not who you beat down, but who you lift up. and we should all find joy and have a sense of optimism about who we are as Americans and what we mean to each other, and what we can do to lift each other up.”

What an amazing answer. She begins with advice to young people, noting your adversaries will try to turn your strength into a weakness. Don’t you let them. Then she mentions the things about America that give her joy: optimism, ambition, dreams, community, coalitions.

And Tim Walz is doing a fantastic job at being joyful as well. Watch his reaction to seeing a supporter wearing earrings with his face on them, during his visit to the H&H Soul Food Restaurant in Macon, Georgia. Priceless!

Both videos take less than two full minutes to watch, but they will bring a smile to your face.

Let’s find joy. Let’s be the joy in America. Let’s get out and vote.

More to come . . .

DJB

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H/T to Jeff Tiedrich at Everyone is Entitled to My Own Opinion (warning: salty language) for the link to the videos.

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The image, which Miles Curland created in response to the Shepard Fairey one, is available under Creative Common license. DNC photo from Letters From An American.