Kamala Harris Shows Insensitivity with Snub of Vance’s Children

A young mother from California had to evacuate her home in order to escape the wildfires near Los Angeles this week, and she shared a deeply moving tweet during this crisis.

Her children had only minutes to pack one bag each with whatever they wanted to bring along, and she highlighted her preschool-aged daughter’s choice: her stuffed animals.

The entire backpack was crammed with her beloved stuffies.

This image brought tears to my eyes; I can relate, knowing my own children would likely do the same.

These devastating wildfires have impacted communities across all demographics, leveling both affluent neighborhoods and working-class areas alike.

Even Vice President Kamala Harris’ residence was under an evacuation order.

This harrowing coverage is reminding countless Americans of the value of home and our sense of security, especially for children.

This week, more than anyone else in Washington, Harris should grasp the importance of that feeling.

This highlights why Monday’s CBS News report regarding Harris and her successor, Vice President-elect JD Vance, is so concerning.

Vance, his wife Usha, and their three young children are due to move into the vice president’s official residence at the US Naval Observatory on Inauguration Day, Jan. 20 — yet Harris, the current resident, has refused to allow them to tour it.

According to Jennifer Jacobs’ report, the Vance family’s move-in day will be “the first time they’ve been inside the white Queen Anne-style mansion that has housed vice presidents since the 1970s.”

The Vance children are 7, 4, and 2 years old, raised nearby their extended family in Ohio, and they just navigated a challenging six months as their father campaigned.

Prior to that, he balanced time between Ohio and Washington while serving as a US senator.

This must have been a tough time for these young parents aiming to provide stability for their kids amidst such upheaval and stress.

They’ve managed admirably. Throughout the campaign, Vance was frequently seen with at least one child, engaging in activities like baking biscuits or playing outside Mar-a-Lago, the residence of his running mate.

His dedication to his children was evident and heartwarming.

As the election concludes and a new chapter for the family begins at the Naval Observatory (an 1893 Victorian structure with a turret), it seems grossly unfair that the Vance children are unaware of what the next four years will entail.

For children, moving can be a traumatic experience. My family has found that assisting our kids in acclimating to a new home—allowing them to choose their rooms and personalize their spaces—softens the impact.

Visualizing where their decor will go, and taking practice runs between the new house and their future activities, all aids in easing the transition.

In this scenario, the opportunity to visit the residence would mean more than just emotional comfort for the Vance family.

Denied the chance for an in-person tour, Usha Vance reportedly reached out to Harris’ staff for details about childproofing the historic building, as noted by Jacobs.

It’s been years since a young family occupied the residence, which wasn’t designed with small children in mind.

Usha’s duty is to ensure the home is safe for their kids—and she’s being denied the opportunity to do so.

Supporters of Harris justified her decision, telling CBS that she was never given a chance to tour the home before moving in (a claim that former VP Mike Pence instantly disputed).

As a parent, I cannot be the only one who, upon reading that, was reminded of children arguing, “He started it! He hit me first!”

One would think that a woman who campaigned under the title “Momala” would display more kindness.

This is the Vance children’s first glimpse of life in Washington—unfortunately, it symbolizes the personal and political pettiness often seen in our capital.

Harris’ lack of generosity towards the Vance family highlights a pattern of a woman who promotes empathy but shows little to her political adversaries.

This includes the young children of her political opponents.

Her actions in this situation reflect a broader reason for her failure: The American public saw through her facade.

Kamala was never destined to offer a more compassionate shift in our political atmosphere.

She is a cutthroat political strategist, and we’re all better off with her moving out of Washington rather than heading to the White House.

Bethany Mandel is co-author of “Stolen Youth” and a homeschooling mother of six in greater Washington, DC.