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It is no state secret that Harris has radically shifted numerous political positions in the last few months. She was for banning fracking and now she is for fracking. She wanted a mandatory gun buyback and now is touting her supposed Glock ownership. She wanted to ban private health insurance and now believes in it. She thought the wall was racist and wanted to ban ICE; now not so much.
What I found interesting was how she talked about why she changed (assuming for a second she actually changed). She said that as VP she has been traveling the country and listening to people. And she really wanted to form a consensus.
Of course, every presidential candidate wants to “unify.” But in explaining how Harris derives her views (assuming in earnest) she goes to consensus. I don’t think anyone has commented on this but this shows the difference between male decision making and female decision making. Male decision making often tries to figure out what he thinks is true whereas female decision making tries to figure out what belief is most popular. As a male I find the first great and shudder at the latter. Of course maybe there is some wisdom in the wisdom of crowds (though perhaps you need some of that male thinking for wisdom of crowds to work!)
It may in part explain the gender difference that is emerging in the polls. It isn’t that men hate women; they shudder at consensus decision making by a leader.
In every one of those situations she's moving away from her base.
My guess is that the word "consensus" tested well with the base as the thing to say to justify the change.
So yes, that base is women but otherwise "consensus" has nothing to do with the actual decision making process.
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