Kamala Harris’s Time as D.A.: Word Games, Political Tightropes, and the Fine Art of Pissing Everyone Off

5 min readSep 29, 2024

Kamala Harris, San Francisco’s District Attorney from 2004 to 2011, didn’t just step into office to tweak the system. No, she stirred the pot, shook things up, and in the process, sparked plenty of debate. Her time as D.A. was a whirlwind of reforms, controversies, and some pretty intense backlash. Let’s break down how it all went down.

Language Makeover: From “Prostitute” to “Exploited Youth”

One of Harris’s early moves was to update the language used by her office. “Teenage prostitute”? Nope. Harris decided that was too harsh and called them “exploited youth” instead. Sure, the kids didn’t exactly volunteer for the job, so maybe she was onto something. But let’s be real — it was a softening of language, a rebranding of an ugly truth. It’s like saying the Titanic didn’t sink — it just experienced a “buoyancy malfunction.” The reality is still there, it’s just dressed up in fancier words.

The Espinoza Case: Harris Says “No” to the Death Penalty, and Chaos Ensues

Now, if controversy is what you crave, look no further than the case of Officer Isaac Espinoza. A guy with an AK-47 killed a cop, and everyone expected Harris to go for the death penalty. But she didn’t. Despite immense pressure, she stuck to her campaign promise: no death penalty, even in this high-profile case. Instead, the shooter got life in prison without parole. Law enforcement was not happy. Even Senator Dianne Feinstein publicly criticized her at the officer’s funeral, which, to put it lightly, was pretty awkward.

But Harris didn’t budge. She stayed seated while cops cheered Feinstein on, committing to her stance despite it being about as popular as a soggy sandwich at a fancy picnic. It was clear — Harris was just getting started in her mission to piss off the right people.

Law Enforcement: Friends or Foes? (Spoiler: Mostly Foes)

This whole Espinoza situation left Harris with a rocky relationship with law enforcement, to say the least. Cops felt betrayed, and that tension didn’t go away overnight. But here’s the kicker: by the time Harris was running for re-election, she managed to win over some of the same law enforcement groups that had cursed her name. Politics, huh? Where enemies one day can be supporters the next, or at least the people reluctantly checking the box by your name.

“Back on Track” Program: Punish Them with Kindness

Harris didn’t just stir up controversy; she also launched the “Back on Track” program, which focused on helping first-time nonviolent offenders. Instead of locking them up, she gave them life skills, job training, and education — essentially telling them, “You screwed up, but let’s fix it.” It was like detention with Xbox privileges. And the program worked, lowering recidivism rates. But of course, critics jumped in, saying she was focusing too much on small fry while the bigger problems in the justice system were left untouched.

Truancy: Put Down That Controller and Get to School

Then there was the truancy initiative. Harris believed that kids skipping school were on a path to crime. Her solution? Go after the parents. She held parents accountable, sometimes fining them or even threatening jail time. It wasn’t a popular move, especially in low-income communities where parents were often working multiple jobs and genuinely struggling to get their kids to school. Absenteeism dropped, but critics pointed out that the policy disproportionately hurt poor families. Harris later admitted there were unintended consequences — classic case of good intentions colliding with harsh realities.

The Legacy: Love Her or Hate Her, You Definitely Noticed Her

So, what does all this mean for Kamala Harris’s legacy as D.A.? Well, she had a knack for annoying just about everyone. She angered cops by being too lenient and progressives by not being lenient enough. But she knew how to play the political game. Whether you saw her as a reformer or just another politician walking the tightrope of hypocrisy, one thing’s for sure: she knew how to make waves.

And that, folks, is how you work your way to the vice presidency.

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