Kamala Harris was asked a simple question about American history, and her answer managed to become the biggest political story of the weekend. Not because of who she named, but because of who she conveniently forgot to mention. As Conservative Brief reported, the former Vice President appeared at the National Urban League conference on Friday night, where she was asked to rank her top three most effective presidents. And Joe Biden, the guy she literally worked for in the Oval Office, did not make the cut. Not even an honorable mention. Not even a participation trophy.
National Urban League President Marc Morial lobbed what should have been a softball question, and Harris initially tried to dodge it with an "Oh Marc, don't make me do that" before diving right in. Her first pick was Franklin D. Roosevelt, whom she praised for tackling the Great Depression by expanding the federal government through New Deal programs. She also gave him credit for trying to expand the Supreme Court, which went over about as well as you'd expect. Worth noting that critics have long argued FDR's policies actually made the Depression drag on longer, but hey, details.
"He did some good things," Harris said, highlighting Social Security and the idea that government should invest in people during tough times. Ringing endorsement there.
Next up was John F. Kennedy, whom she credited with laying the groundwork for initiatives that Lyndon B. Johnson later carried across the finish line. So basically Kennedy gets the assist and LBJ gets the basket. Classic political stat padding.
Then came Barack Obama, whose presidency Harris called one of America's greatest, specifically pointing to the Affordable Care Act. She argued that fixing a healthcare system that had only served wealthy Americans for generations was a monumental achievement, even though Obama took enormous heat for it.
And that was the list. FDR, JFK, Obama. No Biden. The man who endorsed her for president after dropping out of his own reelection bid following that legendary debate performance against Donald Trump. The guy whose entire campaign infrastructure she inherited for her own abbreviated presidential run, which ultimately ended in defeat in both the Electoral College and the popular vote.
The snub becomes even spicier when you remember that Harris wrote in her memoir last year that Biden made a "reckless" decision to seek another term, blaming what she described as his ego. So perhaps this omission was less of a brain freeze and more of a deliberate choice.
When asked at the same event whether she plans to run for president again in 2028, Harris played it cool, saying she hasn't decided yet and is currently focused on the midterm elections. Sure, that's what someone who's definitely running always says.
Whether this was calculated shade or just an honest ranking, Democrats are now stuck debating what it all means for the party's future. One thing is crystal clear though. If you want Kamala Harris to remember your presidency fondly, maybe don't be the boss she just spent four years working under.
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