{"id":2318924,"date":"2024-08-04T10:31:00","date_gmt":"2024-08-04T14:31:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/black-jewish-indian-hindu-how-harriss-religious-connections-and-identities-play-into-policy-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-08-04T10:38:33","modified_gmt":"2024-08-04T14:38:33","slug":"black-jewish-indian-hindu-how-harriss-religious-connections-and-identities-play-into-policy-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/black-jewish-indian-hindu-how-harriss-religious-connections-and-identities-play-into-policy-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Black, Jewish, Indian, Hindu: How Harris\u2019s religious connections and identities play into policy &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">32<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fblack-jewish-indian-hindu-how-harriss-religious-connections-and-identities-play-into-policy-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2318924&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>T her experiences as a biracial woman shape her perspectives and policies. In her journey\u200b toward \u2063the presidency, Harris is navigating a delicate balance, trying to honor her diverse heritage while addressing the complex and often divisive issues within her party.<\/p>\n<p>As the tensions surrounding the Israel-Palestine conflict \u200bcontinue to\u2062 evolve, particularly in\u2064 the wake \u2064of recent\u200d violence, Harris&#8217;s \u2062approach is being \u200bclosely scrutinized by both \u200dends of the political spectrum. Many within the Democratic Party are eager to see how she \u200dwill manage the expectations\u2062 of pro-Palestinian \u200cadvocates,\u200b who \u200care\u200b increasingly vocal in their demands for a shift in U.S. policies, while still maintaining support from\u2063 a historically Democratic \u2063Jewish constituency.<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, Harris&#8217;s\u2063 South Asian heritage could play a dual role in\u200b her campaign. It allows her \u2064to connect with a \u2064growing demographic of Indian Americans,\u2063 who have \u200btraditionally leaned \u2062toward the Democratic Party, but may feel alienated due to recent progressive \u2062critiques\u2064 of India&#8217;s political landscape, including sentiments towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Navigating these cultural and political nuances will be critical\u200d as she seeks to solidify her base among\u200c various voter groups.<\/p>\n<p>Harris&#8217;s multifaceted identity resonates with \u200da wide array of voters; however, it\u2064 is also \u2062met with \u2062skepticism from\u2064 those who question \u2063her authenticity \u2064or accuse her of\u2064 political opportunism. As she \u200cgathers support and gains traction in the 2024\u2063 presidential\u200c race, her\u2063 ability to articulate a cohesive vision that honors her diverse \u200droots while addressing pressing national concerns will be vital for her\u2063 campaign&#8217;s success.<\/p>\n<p>That said, her historic candidacy as a\u2063 woman of color\u2014the first of such background in this \u200brole\u2014sets a significant\u200c precedent. Harris \u2062may inspire a new \u200dgeneration \u2062of voters, particularly women and minorities, to \u200dengage in\u200d the political process, advocating for causes that reflect\u200d their values and identities. Ultimately, her campaign strategy will determine\u2062 whether she can unify these diverse identities\u200c or if they will become points of contention as she seeks the highest office in the land.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Black, Jewish, Indian, Hindu: How Harris&rsquo;s religious connections and identities play into policy<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1722157\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Vice President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/kamala-harris\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Kamala Harris<\/a> is making a historic bid to become the nation&rsquo;s first female, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/african-americans\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>black<\/a>, and Indian President, drawing from a well of Hindu, Jewish, and protestant influences. As the vice president leads the Left into the presidential <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/2024-election\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>election<\/a>, voters will determine if her diverse background can unite the country or drive a deeper wedge into party factions.<\/p>\n<p>Some Democrats call Harris&rsquo;s multicultural persona her greatest strength. &ldquo;Her multiple identities is actually her superpower in this moment,&rdquo; Glynda Carr, the CEO of Higher Heights for America, a group focused on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/racism-cited-in-criticism-against-kamala-harris-getting-top-job-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Racism cited in criticism against Kamala Harris getting top job - Washington Examiner\">supporting black women<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2024\/07\/24\/politics\/donors-kamala-harris-diverse\/index.html\">told<\/a> CNN.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">San Francisco&rsquo;s new district attorney, Kamala Harris takes the oath of office on Jan. 8, 2004, in San Francisco. In the center is Harris&rsquo; mother, Dr. Shyamala Gopalan, who holds a copy of &ldquo;The Bill of Rights.&rdquo; Harris is California&rsquo;s first district attorney of Indian and black descent. (AP Photo\/George Nikitin)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>When she married Doug Emhoff in 2014, Harris put one foot into the Jewish community. As America&rsquo;s Jewish spouse of a vice president, Emhoff led Passover celebrations at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/White-House\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>White House<\/a> and espoused support for Israel.<\/p>\n<p>However, there&rsquo;s growing tension between Harris&rsquo;s Jewish ties, a community long a Democratic stronghold, and a growing pro-Palestinian faction in her party. The clash of identities has even shown up in Harris&rsquo;s home. She&rsquo;s stepmom to a daughter who posted support for the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA), an organization that reportedly has links to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/Hamas\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Hamas<\/a>, the terrorist group that launched an attack on Israel and murdered over 1,200 civilians.<\/p>\n<p>Harris&rsquo;s comments in the wake of Oct. 7 suggest she&rsquo;s listening to the pro-Palestinian movement and tweaking her support for Israel.<\/p>\n<p>The Harris of 2017 fondly remembered her first trip to Israel as she praised the Middle Eastern state for the &ldquo;Israeli ingenuity that has made the desert bloom,&rdquo; during remarks to the AIPAC Policy Conference.<\/p>\n<p>After Hamas&rsquo;s October 2023 invasion of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/Israel\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Israel<\/a>, Harris condemned the terrorists as &ldquo;appalling&rdquo; and made it clear that &ldquo;such attacks are never justified.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">From our family to yours, Happy Hanukkah. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/yfCQfsE1uX\">pic.twitter.com\/yfCQfsE1uX<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Douglas Emhoff (@SecondGentleman) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SecondGentleman\/status\/1465109160069107718?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">November 29, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>As Hamas&rsquo; actions were characterized by some in the pro-Palestinian community as the result of Israel&rsquo;s apartheid rule and unjust occupation of Palestinian territory, Democrats were forced to reckon with a growing faction of their party that saw Israeli &ldquo;colonization,&rdquo; not &ldquo;ingenuity.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Hamas is coming,&rdquo; anti-Israel activists wrote on a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/Washington-DC\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Washington, D.C.<\/a>, monument as thousands gathered to support Palestine in the capitol this month.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The Harris of 2023 and beyond has been careful not to slam the door on factions of the far left who see Israeli warfare in Gaza as genocidal.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I appreciate you raising the subject, and I appreciate your leadership,&rdquo; the vice president <a href=\"https:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/briefing-room\/speeches-remarks\/2023\/10\/17\/remarks-by-vice-president-harris-in-a-moderated-conversation-with-maria-teresa-kumar-and-jay-ellis-during-the-national-fight-for-our-freedoms-college-tour\/\">told<\/a> a pro-Palestinian protester last year who claimed the U.S. and Israel were committing genocide in the Middle East.<\/p>\n<p>In March, Harris became the first White House official to call for a ceasefire in Gaza.&nbsp;Her rhetoric around the Gaza conflict reliably invokes warnings to Israel to make a ceasefire deal and end Palestinian suffering in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/Middle-East\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Middle East<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>When the vice president met with Israeli Prime Minister <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/Benjamin-Netanyahu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Benjamin Netanyahu<\/a> earlier this month, her interaction with him drew criticism from Republicans who said she disrespected the Jewish leader.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Let&rsquo;s get the deal done so we can get a ceasefire to end the war,&rdquo; Harris said after the meeting. &ldquo;Let&rsquo;s bring the hostages home, and let&rsquo;s provide much-needed relief to the Palestinian people.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Harris&rsquo;s angling on the Gaza conflict suggests she could be positioning herself to draw pro-Palestinian voters disillusioned by Biden&rsquo;s handling of Israel back into the Democratic camp.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>One Palestinian-American person told the <em>Wall Street Journal <\/em>shortly after Harris announced her presidential campaign, &ldquo;She has centered Palestinian voices. She has talked about Palestinian suffering, and casualties and spoken about this situation on a more human level.&rdquo; Almadhoun was not going to vote for Biden before he dropped his reelection bid. Now, he is enthusiastic about Harris&rsquo;s candidacy.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Still, Harris enjoys the backing of many Jews, including the Jewish Democratic Council of America (JDCA).<\/p>\n<p>Last week, the JDCA&rsquo;s PAC <a href=\"https:\/\/jewishdems.org\/press_release\/jewish-dems-launch-six-figure-ad-campaign-jewish-americans-stand-with-kamala-harris-because-she-stands-with-us\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>announced<\/a> a six-figure digital ad buy to back Harris.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The divide over the Israel-Hamas conflict among Democrats has become especially evident as Harris selects her running mate.<\/p>\n<p>Gov. Josh Shapiro (D-PA) is rumored to head Harris&rsquo;s vice presidential shortlist, yet as a practicing Jew, the battleground Democrat has faced criticism from the pro-Palestinian wing of his party who are urging Harris to ditch the veep option.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, as Harris aims to become the first black president and makes an effort to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/watch-biden-snaps-at-reporter-after-question-sets-him-off-did-you-fall-on-your-head\/\" title=\"Watch: Biden Gets Angry at Reporter and Asks, &#039;Did You Fall on Your Head?!\">bring black voters back<\/a> into the Democratic fold, she could face a dilemma: how to appeal to black voters &mdash; who support Palestine by wider margins &mdash; without alienating Jews and centrist factions of her party.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Sixty-eight percent of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/poll-just-35-percent-of-voters-approve-of-joe-biden-after-sotu-address\/\" title=\"Poll: Just 35 Percent of Voters Approve of Joe Biden After SOTU Address\u00a0\">black voters supported<\/a> an immediate and permanent ceasefire in April, according to a Carnegie <a href=\"https:\/\/carnegieendowment.org\/research\/2024\/04\/most-black-americans-want-a-more-active-us-role-in-ending-the-war-in-gaza-and-protecting-palestinian-lives?lang=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>survey<\/a>. Another <a href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/policy\/international\/4629597-americans-israel-hamas-gaza-student-protests-poll\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>survey<\/a> conducted the same month showed that only 39% of voters overall support an unconditional ceasefire.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>As Harris weighs how Gaza policies could impact the Democratic patchwork quilt, some strategists say her South Asian Hindu background could also win her support.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Harris&rsquo;s mother is a native of India and raised her two daughters according to Hindu tradition.&nbsp;During an event last year with India&rsquo;s prime minister, Harris spoke warmly to the South Asian leader as she reflected on Indian heritage.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;When my sister Maya and I were growing up, our mother would take us from the Bay Area to India pretty much every other year. And the purpose of those trips were many, including that we would well understand where she came from,&rdquo; Harris told Shri Narendra Modi.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Vice President Kamala Harris toasts India&rsquo;s Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a State Visit Luncheon at the State Department, Friday, June 23, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Jacquelyn Martin)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>As an adult, Harris married an observant Jew and became a practicing Baptist.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think we&rsquo;ve ever before had a candidate who has navigated various religious spaces and celebrated those various spaces in such an intimate way as the vice president,&rdquo; Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush, president of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.interfaithalliance.org\/about-us\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Interfaith Alliance<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.deseret.com\/faith\/2024\/08\/02\/kamala-harris-beliefs-about-religious-freedom\/\">told<\/a> the <em>Deseret News.<\/em>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>While she hasn&rsquo;t indicated her Hindu heritage would reshape foreign policy, Shoba Viswanathan, who heads civic engagement for Indiaspora, a nonprofit told the <em>New York Times<\/em> that Harris &ldquo;normalizes us in a way; she is a visible representation of Indians in public service.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, Sanjoy Chakravorty, the author of a 2016 book on the rise of Indian Americans told the newspaper that Indian Americans were &ldquo;guaranteed&rdquo; to support the Democratic Party. <\/p>\n<p>His words come as other <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/just-be-quiet-republicans-calling-for-biden-resignation-could-be-making-big-electoral-mistake-strategists-say\/\" title=\"\u2018Just Be Quiet\u2019: Republicans Calling For Biden Resignation Could Be Making Big Electoral Mistake, Strategists Say\">political strategists warn<\/a> a shift towards the GOP is taking place among the Indian American voting block.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;In the far left circles, there&rsquo;s a hierarchy in what you would call woke politics of religion,&rdquo; Anang Mittal, former head of digital communications for House Speaker Mike Johnson, <a href=\"https:\/\/religionnews.com\/2024\/07\/18\/as-usha-vance-dazzles-hindu-americans-leaning-further-right-than-ever\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>told<\/a> <em>Religious News Service<\/em> earlier this month.&nbsp; &ldquo;Because a lot of people on the left are opposed to Modi and opposed to Modi&rsquo;s sort of version of Hindu nationalism, they have decided that any expression of Hinduism is essentially related to Hindu nationalism. That&rsquo;s going to be very hard to move away from because the diaspora and India are linked.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Trump&rsquo;s presidency oversaw a strengthening of relations with India. The MAGA champion praised the country&rsquo;s leader as &ldquo;a great guy&rdquo; even holding a Texas event for Modi in 2019. The next year, the two held a joint rally in India, attended by more than 110,000 people.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>When President Joe Biden took office, the relationship shifted. The Democrat&rsquo;s White House expressed disappointment over Modi&rsquo;s nationalistic policies, criticizing India&rsquo;s Citizenship Amendment Act as &ldquo;xenophobic,&rdquo; and voicing concern about the repeal of Article 370.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;They don&rsquo;t want immigrants,&rdquo; Biden criticized India this year, referencing the CAA.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Earlier this month, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.advancingjustice-aajc.org\/publication\/2024-asian-american-voter-survey\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>survey<\/a> of Asian American voters discovered that Democratic identification among Indian American voters dropped to 46% from 54% in 2020. Republican affiliation increased from 16% to 23%.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The polling comes as a practicing Indian-American Hindu has gained close proximity to the top of the Republican ticket as well. Usha Vance is the wife of Trump&rsquo;s running mate, Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH).&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Republican vice presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance and his wife Usha Vance arrive at a campaign rally Monday, July 22, 2024, in Middletown, Ohio. (AP Photo\/Julia Nikhinson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>As Harris races to defeat Vance&rsquo;s boss to become the first Indian-American president of the United States, she has faced criticism over her bi-racial identity.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Trump has openly speculated that Harris is wielding her multi-faceted racial identities to gain inroads with minority voters. While Harris&rsquo;s mother hails from Chennai, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/India\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>India<\/a>, her father is of mixed ethnicity. Donald J. Harris is a black Jamaican with paternal Irish roots.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>While speaking to the National Association of Black Journalists conference, Trump said Harris &ldquo;was always of Indian heritage, and she was only promoting Indian heritage. I didn&rsquo;t know she was black until a number of years ago when she happened to turn black, and now she wants to be known as black.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;So I don&rsquo;t know, is she Indian or is she black?&rdquo; the Republican presidential candidate questioned. Later, he posted a photo to social media that appeared to capture a much younger Harris in Indian garb.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Harris has characterized her racial background as &ldquo;complicated&rdquo; and indicated that growing up, her mother raised Harris and her sister as black because going by appearances, was the easiest thing to do.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Over a decade ago, Harris gave her perspective on her racial duality. <\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I was raised by a proud Indian mother as a proud African-American woman. That&rsquo;s how I was raised,&rdquo; Harris <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=1JhiSDgCc-g&amp;t=1s\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>explained<\/a> to journalist Farai Chideya in 2012.&nbsp;&rdquo;Because my mother was acutely aware of the environment in which she gave birth to and was raising her children.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I am proud of my Indian culture and heritage,&rdquo; Harris added while noting &ldquo;it&rsquo;s a complicated subject.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/?d\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>As Harris campaigns on her bi-racial and pluralistic religious identity, voters represent an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/three-things-that-could-cost-republicans-the-house-in-2024\/\" title=\"1. Lack of voter enthusiasm: Republicans may face a challenge in generating sufficient voter enthusiasm in 2024, potentially leading to lower turnout and decreased support for their House candidates.\n\n2. Policy disagreements: Internal divisions within the Republican Party over key policy issues could hinder their ability to present a unified front, potentially alienating voters and costing them seats in the House.\n\n3. Changing demographics: Shifting demographics across the country may pose a challenge for Republicans, as they may struggle to appeal to an increasingly diverse electorate, potentially resulting in losses in the House.\">increasingly diverse electorate<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Nearly 4 in 10 Americans <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pewresearch.org\/short-reads\/2015\/06\/02\/interfaith-marriage\/#:~:text=Our%20Religious%20Landscape%20Study%20found,being%20in%20a%20religious%20intermarriage.\">married<\/a> since 2010 have a spouse who is in a different religious group. Additionally, 20% of marriages in the U.S. are interracial, up from 3% nearly six decades ago, according to the Pew Research Center.<\/p>\n<p> <script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1722157\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1722157\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>**Black, Jewish, Indian, Hindu: The Impact of Harris&#8217;s Religious Connections and Identities on Policy**<\/p>\n<p>Vice President Kamala Harris is making a groundbreaking attempt to become the first female, Black, and Indian President of the United States, influenced by her Hindu, Jewish, and Protestant backgrounds. As she guides the Democratic Party into the presidential race, it remains to be seen whether her diverse heritage can bring unity or further divide party factions. Some Democrats view Harris&#8217;s multicultural identity as a significant asset. Glynda Carr, CEO of Higher Heights for America\u2014a group dedicated to supporting Black women\u2014stated that &#8220;her multiple identities are actually her superpower in this moment,&#8221; according to CNN.<\/p>\n<p>Harris entered the Jewish community when she married Doug Emhoff in 2014. As America&#8217;s first Jewish spouse of a vice president, Emhoff has led Passover celebrations at the White House and expressed support for Israel. However, tensions have arisen between Harris\u2019s connections to Judaism\u2014a community traditionally aligned with Democrats\u2014and an increasing pro-Palestinian faction within her party. This conflict has even reached her family; she is stepmother to a daughter who has shown support for UNRWA (the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees), which some allege has ties to Hamas\u2014the terrorist organization responsible for attacks on Israel that resulted in over 1,200 civilian deaths.<\/p>\n<p>Following events on October 7th involving Hamas&#8217;s actions against Israel, Harris\u2019s statements indicate she is considering pro-Palestinian sentiments while adjusting her stance on Israel. In 2017 she praised Israeli innovation during remarks at an AIPAC Policy Conference but later condemned Hamas as &#8220;appalling&#8221; after their October 2023 invasion.<\/p>\n<p>As anti-Israel activists gathered in Washington D.C., some characterized Hamas&#8217;s actions as responses to Israeli apartheid policies\u2014forcing Democrats like Harris to navigate complex internal divisions regarding views on Israeli &#8220;colonization.&#8221; In recent interactions with pro-Palestinian advocates and during meetings with Israeli leaders like Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this month\u2014where Republicans criticized her approach\u2014Harris emphasized calls for ceasefire agreements aimed at alleviating Palestinian suffering.<\/p>\n<p>While many Jews continue supporting Harris\u2014including backing from organizations like the Jewish Democratic Council of America (JDCA)\u2014the divide over Israel among Democrats becomes more pronounced as she considers potential running mates such as Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro\u2014a practicing Jew facing scrutiny from pro-Palestinian members within his party.<\/p>\n<p>As Harris seeks support from Black voters who largely favor Palestine while also appealing not alienate centrist Jews within the Democratic Party\u201468% supported an immediate ceasefire according to one survey\u2014it presents a challenge given that only 39% of voters overall back such measures.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally influencing voter dynamics could be Harris\u2019s South Asian Hindu background; raised by an Indian mother steeped in Hindu traditions who frequently took them back home during their childhoods may resonate positively among certain demographics seeking representation in public service roles.<\/p>\n<p>Despite navigating these complexities surrounding religious identities without explicitly stating how they might influence foreign policy decisions directly\u2014as noted by civic engagement leaders\u2014the political landscape continues shifting amid changing allegiances among various ethnic groups including Indian Americans whose identification with Democrats appears waning based recent polling data showing increased Republican affiliation since Biden took office compared previous years under Trump administration where relations were notably strengthened through high-profile events showcasing Modi alongside him publicly celebrated across both nations\u2019 leaderships alike despite current criticisms levied against India\u2019s nationalistic policies under Biden administration now perceived less favorably than before due ongoing geopolitical tensions arising globally today impacting domestic electoral strategies moving forward into future elections ahead!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3142,"featured_media":2318925,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Kamala-Harris-Shyamala-Gopalan-Harris.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[4212,13989,6906],"class_list":["post-2318924","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-black","tag-indian","tag-jewish"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Kamala-Harris-Shyamala-Gopalan-Harris.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2318924","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3142"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2318924"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2318924\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2318925"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2318924"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2318924"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2318924"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}