Editor’s note : Views in the article do not necessarily reflect the views of borkena.com
By Yesheregna Medhanit
The defeat of Kamala Harris signals a significant blow to the Zionist lobby and a powerful reckoning for the Democratic Party. While other factors, such as economic uncertainty, rising security concerns, dissatisfaction with healthcare reform, and growing public frustration over inflation and immigration, also contributed to Harris’s defeat, the administration’s slavish loyalty to the Zionist lobby had a significant impact. This loss is less about Trump’s victory and more about Harris’s failure, a consequence of the administration’s unyielding support for actions in Gaza, which aligned with the interests of the Zionist lobby. Biden and Harris believed that opposing this lobby would risk losing the election. To avoid that risk, they calculated that appeasing it was essential, given its influence over media, finance and donor networks.
Driven by these political fears, the Biden administration not only ignored the demands of its own base, which vocally protested the genocide in Gaza, but actively supported the Israeli military’s campaign. They financed and armed the Israeli military, providing diplomatic cover on the world stage while helping to suppress dissent at home, all under the belief that keeping the Israel lobby on their side was necessary for re-election.
When Biden stepped aside and Harris took over, she continued these same policies without hesitation, never distancing herself from the administration’s support for the Israeli military’s operations in Gaza. Meanwhile, the Democratic Party attempted to shift the national conversation toward identity issues such as women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights and minority issues, hoping to placate their base with cultural wins. Yet their unyielding support for the Israeli military’s actions remained constant.
Ultimately, the base of the Democratic Party demonstrated that political power does not lie solely with lobbies, donors or media influence: it lies with the people themselves. This realization marked a turning point, challenging the belief in the invincibility of lobby-backed political strategies.
The victory of Donald Trump does not signify an end to the ongoing violence in Gaza, just as a vote for Harris would not have guaranteed that it would stop. Rather, the election results served as a stark reminder to Biden, Harris and their allies: they could not keep catering to the Zionist lobby at the expense of their base. Despite their unwavering loyalty to the lobby, they were defeated, proving that allegiance to powerful interests is no guarantee of political survival.
Biden, Harris and the Democratic Party sacrificed their principles, integrity and, arguably, their souls in pursuit of electoral security. They acted out of fear of lobby retaliation, losing connection with the people who had once supported them. But this choice not only cost them politically; it left them humiliated, defeated by an opponent viewed by many as an inarticulate demagogue—a candidate who had faced numerous legal and ethical challenges of his own. Their moral compromises enabled the rise of such a figure.
Had they taken a stand for justice, win or lose, they might have been remembered with more respect and dignity in the eyes of history. They could have been leaders who prioritized humanity over power, standing against the Israeli military’s actions, which impacted thousands of innocents in Gaza. Instead, they are likely to be remembered as leaders who allowed the suffering of over a hundred thousand children in Gaza, only to face a humiliating defeat in return.
This loss starkly shows that catering to the powerful at the expense of core values may yield not only political failure but a far deeper loss of legacy and integrity. This scenario illustrates the dangers of sacrificing one’s principles for the sake of short-term interests or perceived electoral gain. By choosing to placate powerful lobbies instead of staying true to their values, the Biden administration, Harris and the Democratic Party not only compromised their integrity but also alienated the very base that had once supported them. The pursuit of power at the expense of morality left them vulnerable to political defeat. Principles are not merely a luxury; they are a foundation for long-term credibility.
In Ethiopia, while traditional lobbies may not exist, ethnocentric oligarchic interests consistently prioritize their own agendas over the needs of the majority. This has devastated the country’s economy, security and integrity. The conduct of war has become reckless and deeply concerning, making peace not only difficult but seemingly unattainable. Efforts to pursue peace are often manipulated to serve narrow, self-serving interests, further deepening divisions and obstructing true reconciliation. The failure to prioritize the common good over factional power is a stark reminder of the dangers of sacrificing principle for temporary gain.
Above all, Harris’ defeat illustrates that in a true democracy, people power outweighs the influence of lobbies. It underscores the enduring strength of democracy over plutocracy, reminding leaders that while they may win immediate battles by catering to powerful interests, they inevitably lose the war for trust, respect and true political legitimacy when they abandon the people they serve.
Editor’s note : Views in the article do not necessarily reflect the views of borkena.com
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Nicely put.