Kamala Harris for the People!

Kamala Harris, the candidate:

Democratic Senator from California, Kamala Harris has a deep background in public service and roots in activism. The Senator has written about the fact that her parents met while protesting for civil rights at UC Berkeley. Racial justice is something that the candidate feels intrinsically connected to. Her father, a professor of economics at Stanford, is Jamaican and her mother was an Indian immigrant.

A transcript of Senator Harris's speech delivered at her campaign launch speaks to these roots: 

We were raised in a community where we were taught to see a world, beyond just ourselves. To be conscious and compassionate about the struggles of all people.

We were raised to believe public service is a noble cause and the fight for justice is everyone’s responsibility.

In fact, my mother used to say “don’t sit around and complain about things, do something.” Basically I think she was saying. You’ve got to get up and stand up and don’t give up the fight!

And it is this deep-rooted belief that inspired me to become a lawyer and a prosecutor.

It was just a couple blocks from this very spot that nearly 30 years ago as a young district attorney I walked into the courtroom for the very first time and said the five words that would guide my life’s work:

“Kamala Harris, for the people.”

Kamala Harris has been a prosecutor, she served as California's attorney general, and she is in her first term as U.S. Senator.

Policy Positions

• Reform  the cash bail system 

While Senator Harris is far from the only democratic candidate to propose reforming our cash bail system, which arguably only penalizes the poor, she has already proposed legislation with specific steps to achieve this goal.

• Gun control (Harris has an F rating from the NRA. Enough said.)
• Medicare for All (Senator Harris is a cosponsor of Senator Sanders legislation)
• Controlling housing costs (Senator Harris has a plan to provide rental relief to Americans)
• Immigration reform 

Senator Harris's focus on immigration reform focuses on the rights and dignities of immigrants. She supports a Clean Dream Act and looks favorably upon San Francisco's sanctuary city status. She was also a cosponsor on the 2018 Stop Shackling and Detaining Pregnant Women Act.

Kamala Harris, the cocktail:

Senator Kamala Harris has diverse cultural roots and a fascinating and lengthy career, all of which provided a metric tonne of inspiration for her cocktail. What was most important for me was celebrating her as a uniquely inspiring candidate with a drink that pleases the eye and belly.

What I ultimately did was take an existing non-alcoholic Indian beverage, a mango lassi, and booze it up for the occasion! This drink is delicious and tastes light, although it is thick and more akin to an adult milkshake than a cocktail. And, garnished with a strawberry, it reflects Senator Harris's red and yellow campaign colors (which she borrowed from the legendary Shirley Chisholm!)

This recipe makes 2-3 drinks, so invite some friends over to watch the first Democratic debate and drink with you!!

2 cups frozen mango chunks
2 cups vanilla soy (or dairy) yogurt
2/3 cup vanilla soy (or cow) milk
60 ml black spiced rum
honey to taste (about 1/4 cup)

Blend all ingredients together in a blender until smooth. As pictured, this is non-dairy.

Sprinkle with about a quarter teaspoon of cardamom. Garnish with a strawberry. Sip and enjoy!