By James B. Ewers Jr. Ed.D.
Some years back, Motown legends, Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell sang a song entitled, “Ain’t nothing like the real thing”. Simply put, don’t accept substitutes. In a strange way, there are some similarities in choosing a relationship partner and picking a president of the United States of America. If you choose the right one, you are happy and if you choose the wrong one, you are unhappy.
At least back in the day, you dated the person. Having the same interests, goals and dreams were some of the criteria. Then, as time went on, you decided to take another step or to part ways.
It’s like choosing a president to lead this country. You listen to their positions on the issues, you assess their character and ultimately you cast your ballot for one of them.
We have heard and watched both Vice President Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump. Each has provided us with enough information for us to make an informed choice in November.
I have heard enough and seen enough so I will be voting for Kamala Harris in November. She and her running mate, Tim Walz will make an excellent team for our country. They will gain the respect of world leaders as well.
They will give meaning to democracy which is a corner- stone of our beloved country. Our America has been under a covert siege. Our values and mores have become compromised by scoundrels and pre-tenders.
This discouraging dream will come to an end in November when we put Kamala Harris in the most powerful position in the world. The polls and the people say she is the right person at the right time.
We need bold, authentic and ethical leadership and Kamala Harris has it. What we don’t need is a bully and a tyrant. That’s what the former president is. Totally red states are now turning shades of blue. Is that worrying the Republican Party? Is that causing them to have a Maalox moment? The answer to both questions is yes.
The Trump campaign has been filled with errors and innuendos. They have filled many Americans with ideas that are simply out of bounds. Mr. Trump, himself, continues to be unhinged and off-script.
For example, in the debate against Vice President Harris, he was unprepared and was weak throated in his responses and statements. He was cooked and taken to the political woodshed. Last week, he talked about creating a high tariff if the John Deere Company moved some of its manufacturing jobs to Mexico.
Iowa State University economics professor, Peter Orazem says higher tariffs won’t necessarily do what Mr. Trump wants. He said, “Making parts more expensive for John Deere either and it probably would not help jobs in the United States. So, I think some of this isn’t perfectly well thought out.”
When Mr. Trump was president, a bipartisan bill would have passed however Trump did not like it. Now he wails on about immigration. When he had a chance to do something about it, he didn’t. Vice President Harris visited the border last week and laid out her immigration bill. It will be stronger than the bill presented by President Biden.
As November comes, polls show that the Vice President has strong support among women in this country. If you are in the Trump camp, come out of the darkness, see the light and vote for Kamala Harris. She has your best interests at heart.
Vice President Harris’ stature is growing by leaps and bounds. Will the race to 270 electoral votes be close? Yes it will which means we must vote in record numbers. Sit- ting and staring at the television won’t help her. We must register and we must vote.
Let us vote for the Harris-Walz ticket. America can’t afford to have substitutes or scrubs in the White House.
Dr. James B. Ewers, Jr. is a longtime educator who hails from Winston Salem, N.C. Ewers is a life member of the NAACP and a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.
