When you think of a person in power who won't allow his subordinates to make eye contact, you might think of Egyptian pharaohs, Chinese emperors, or ancient rulers who called themselves gods. You probably wouldn't associate that kind of arrogance with a 2024 presidential candidate, but according to a lifelong Democrat and former public official, that's exactly what Kamala Harris demanded of her subordinates when she was California's attorney general.
That man, Terry McAteer, would know too: His son worked for Harris as an intern over the summer.
Hell's Boss
Coming from a Democratic family, Mr. McAteer has good reason to sympathize with Ms. Harris: His father, J. Eugene McAteer, was a Democratic San Francisco city supervisor, and Mr. McAteer later succeeded him as Nevada County superintendent of schools, elected to six four-year terms.
With that background, it's no surprise that his son, Gregory, developed a passion for politics: McAteer helped him land an unpaid summer internship in Harris' attorney general's office, and it proved to be an unforgettable experience for the young man.
It's worth noting that McAteer told his son's story in a 2019 article published while Harris was still running for the Democratic presidential nomination. In his words, the article paints a “different side” of Harris. It's also important to note that McAteer treats Harris as kindly as possible, calling her a “great speaker” who has done “great things” in office (he didn't explain what those were). McAteer also said he had Gregory review the article for accuracy before it was published.
Below is the relevant part reported by The Union.
Senator Harris constantly uses the “F-word” and other foul language when scolding her staff and others. Her staff are completely terrified of her and she uses foul language all day long.
As Attorney General, Senator Harris instructed her entire staff to stand up and say, “Good morning, General” when she entered her office each morning.
During the month-long internship, Harris never once introduced herself to her son (because her son's office only had 20 paid employees), staff were too intimidated by her to introduce her son, and the only token of appreciation was a boilerplate “thank you” letter signed by Harris on her last day of work.
Mr Gregory was also instructed never to speak to or make eye contact with Mr Harris as this was a privilege reserved for senior staff members.
But Gregory's hell was soon over: A month after starting for Harris, he was transferred to the office of the late Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein, to the tune of, in McAteer's words, “ecstatic.”
McAteer's description of the situation is understated. He calls Harris's behavior “demeaning” and the work environment “hostile.” In fact, the refusal to make eye contact suggests a personality disorder. It's downright “bizarre,” to use the word the Harris campaign and its supporters are trying to brand (and, it seems, are projecting entirely) onto Republicans.
But Young Gregory is not alone, as a Monday Washington Times article about Vice President Harris' office makes clear (as published in American Thinker):
In a new report by watchdog group Open the Books, researchers quantified her personnel problems, finding in payroll records that staff turnover was 92 percent.
Half of the staff listed on public payroll records have left in the past year, according to the group's calculations.
…High turnover in the White House is nothing new, but Harris’s rate is higher than most.
During the same period, President Trump experienced a 72% change and President Biden experienced a 77% change.
Vice President Mike Pence hired 29 staffers in Trump's first year in the administration, but three years later only five are still on his staff, a turnover rate of 83%.
Harris hired 49 staff members, but three years later only four remained.
Former employees said the toxic and dysfunctional environment in the vice president's office appeared to be worsening as Harris' approval rating fell.
I would like to emphasize that Trump, who has been demonized for not “getting along well with others,” had a lower turnover rate than Harris, Biden, and even Pence, who offers prayers.
Part of a pattern
But Harris isn't the only politically evil witch (in her case, the White House). Former First Lady Hillary Clinton cursed at Secret Service agents and was reportedly a “nightmare to work with.” Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) pretends to be a “nice Minnesota person” but is a Minnesota thug to her staff. And Democrat Lori Lightfoot was reportedly as mean as a snake to her subordinates when she was mayor of Chicago.
Critic Andrea Widberg also says she's encountered such female bosses in the past and seems to understand to some extent what motivates them: “These women often hold high positions (that's why they were my bosses), but their success doesn't make them any less insecure,” she writes. “Instead, it only strengthens their narcissistic tendencies: they never accept responsibility, demand worshipful responses from those around them, manipulate people like chess pieces, and lash out in an attempt to cover up the black hole of emptiness inside them.”
As for Harris, it's not surprising that her lack of character also affected her behavior as a prosecutor. In fact, she was “the worst of both worlds,” civil rights lawyer Harmeet Dhillon wrote Monday. “A progressive prosecutor who was soft on crime and failed to keep her own city safe, yet turned a blind eye when it came to ethics and public integrity.”
Thus, a portrait of Harris emerges: a woman empty of anything except her desire for power, a woman who sees other people as objects and tramples on those who get in the way of her ambition.
