Joseph Sabino Mistick: Harris vs. Trump

The closing statements by Kamala Harris and Donald Trump last week were a chance for both candidates to put their beliefs in front of America one last time. These are not slapdash events, haphazardly thrown together. They are carefully choreographed to make the best pitch to voters for a final time.

Neither candidate tried to present a different face to America last week than the one they have shown throughout the campaign. Both stayed true to form with no real surprises in tone or message.

On Tuesday night, Harris talked the politics of reconciliation to a crowd of 75,000 on the Ellipse in Washington, D.C. She chose the spot where Trump spoke on Jan. 6, 2021, just before his supporters stormed the Capitol and assaulted the police.

She promised “to seek common ground and commonsense solutions to make your lives better. I am not looking to score political points. I am looking to make progress.

“I’ll be honest with you. I’m not perfect. I make mistakes. But here’s what I promise you. I will always listen to you. Even if you don’t vote for me.”

The next day, in North Carolina, she said, “I don’t believe people who disagree with me are the enemy.” While Trump wants to put people in jail for disagreeing with him, “I’ll give them a seat at the table.”

On Sunday night, Trump talked the politics of belligerence to a crowd of nearly 50,000 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Before Trump’s combative speech to an enthusiastic crowd, a number of provocative warm-up speakers provided the red meat that MAGA-world loves.

A so-called comedian referred to Puerto Rico as a “floating island of garbage.” Another speaker said Harris has “pimp handlers.” Tucker Carlson belittled her heritage and intelligence. The racism and vulgarity aimed at Blacks, Latinos and women was so blatant that some Republican officials broke with Trump to speak out against it.

Harris followed the old adage that politics is about pulling people out of the water and into your boat. Trump continued to push people out of his boat and into the water. It has worked for him. His followers love it.

Whatever else you think about Harris or Trump on the big issues, you know they will govern very differently. For Trump, it has always been his way or the highway. Harris believes we must work together — even compromise — to move forward. I agree with her.

I know from the anger in the voices and actions of others that they see the stakes as being just as high as I do. Americans have been angry before, so maybe this is a phase. But the truth is we only grow and prosper when we work together.

When I was 6 years old, I stayed out of school on Election Day for the first of many times to pass out slate cards at our polling place. I have slept on a desk at campaign headquarters, gone door-to-door in bad weather and stood in the back of pickup trucks to staple campaign signs to telephone poles.

I have been lucky enough to serve mayors and commissioners and legislators. I have even been on the ballot a few times.

As much as I love this political life, it can be a grind. I sometimes have wondered if it was all worth it. Now I know. All of that was leading up to this election. This election is about saving our republic.