Let me put this on the record: If I’m ever innocent of a crime, I want Sidney Powell to be my lawyer. If I’m guilty, get me Democratic lawyer Richard Goodstein. You’ve seen him on Fox News. He’s so slippery his sweat is used to grease engine pistons. He flips questions the way a short order cook at Denny’s flips pancakes. He spins so fast he could be a ride at Six Flags. He’s got the same twinkle in his eye as the mob lawyer who just convinced a jury the chopped up bodies in his client’s basement were accidentally delivered there by Amazon Prime.

Which gets us to Kamala Harris.

Tuesday night, Goodstein was on Tucker Carlson with the simple task of celebrating the selection of Harris as Joe Biden’s VP pick. You’d think with talking points distributed, and being as skilled as he is, whatever questions Tucker tossed at him he’d turn into the highest praise of Kamala Harris. At the very least, he’d echo National Review writer Jim Geraghty on how her pick signifies the wonder of America. Geraghty writes, “it’s pretty amazing and awesome that immigrants can come to the U.S., meet, marry, have a child, and their daughter can grow up to be a DA, state attorney general, U.S. Senator, and on a presidential ticket.” It was definitely a tale to tout, especially in those first crucial hours after her selection.

You know, whatever else you think of Kamala Harris, it’s pretty amazing and awesome that immigrants can come to the U.S., meet, marry, have a child, and their daughter can grow up to be DA, state attorney general, U.S. Senator, and on a presidential ticket. pic.twitter.com/cTRW8c0tyf

— Jim Geraghty (@jimgeraghty) August 11, 2020

But to my surprise, Goodstein never actually said anything really nice about Harris. His first tack was to criticize Carlson for how he pronounced her name. (Giving the media plenty to write about other than Tucker’s questions about Harris. Funny thing, Biden yesterday pronounced it the same way Carlson did.) Then Goodstein kept pivoting to what a horrible person Trump is. Bobbing and weaving, jabbing. But never really raising the Harris flag.

He was not an advocate defending the innocent. He was a shyster trying to get off the guilty by befuddling the jury. Why? The same reason a crime boss wants his muscle sprung from the joint.

They Didn’t Want a Leader, They Wanted an Assassin

Harris’ selection is not about what she could do for the country. It’s what the Democrats think she can do to Trump. They didn’t seek someone who could step into the Oval Office day one. They want someone who can stomp on the current occupant for the next three months. The Democratic mob didn’t want a leader. They wanted an assassin.

Harris showed it in her first appearance with Biden Wednesday, “Trump is also the reason millions of Americans are unemployed,” she said, blaming Trump for the Wuhan virus. He’s responsible for a “crisis of poverty, of homeless … afflicting Black, brown and indigenous people the most.” (In other words, “he’s a racist.”) She even ripped Trump for paving his way to power through his family’s wealth. On and on. “Kamala Harris just showed why Biden chose her as his running mate,” crowed CNN. 

She doesn’t care about the blood in the streets. The Antifa/BLM rioters to her are what she called yesterday “a new coalition of conscience.” It’s all about the blood she can draw on the campaign trail.

Many of her rivals in congratulating Harris used words like “tenacious” and “fierce.” The Washington Post described the Biden-Harris ticket as a “ferocious team.” Remember one of Harris’ main campaign pitches, “I will prosecute the case against Donald Trump.” She used a similar line yesterday. 

Remember how she was lauded for her vicious assault on then-Judge Brett Kavanaugh. She was, as Mollie Hemingway noted in her column Tuesday, “the ringleader in Brett Kavanaugh Character Assassination Attempt.” Heck, her only spike in the polls came when she brutally painted Joe Biden as a racist.

Good for Joe he doesn’t hold grudges against Harris. (Even as some close to him, like Sen. Chris Dodd do.) He got his hired gun. But did he bother to check her aim? Judge Kavanaugh is now Justice Kavanaugh. And Joe “Racist Policies” Biden strolled to the nomination. 

But Does America Want an Unlikable Leader?

Let’s assume Harris does spend the next 81 days shredding Trump. The anti-Trump crowd will enjoy it, but who else will? Although the media gave her rave reviews yesterday, historically Kamala Harris wears on people. As a Democratic insider told Ben Domenech of The Federalist, “You love her on the first date, you like her on the second, on the third you’re done.” The primaries showed that. She went from being a front runner after attacking Biden to a meager 2% before quitting the race. (Then blamed racism and sexism for her collapse.)

Besides, does America really need more negativity in the air? 

One of the advantages Democrats have with moderates, independents and even some Republicans is, “Donald Trump is a nasty human being. Even if I agree with him on issues, he’s such an amoral bully!” If, thanks to Harris, Trump is no longer the nastiest person in the race, where’s that advantage go?

Imagine the gut reaction of swing voters if Harris takes a chainsaw to the amiable Mike Pence in their debate. Pence, regardless of what you think of his politics, is a gentleman. He makes Mr. Rogers look like a member of Motley Crue. Now, Pence can handle her. He’s actually a cagey fellow. But a legitimate reaction will be, “Ugh. Could I put up with that for four years?”

Before you object: Trump gets away with it for three reasons: First, he’s a construction guy from Queens, not a California liberal. Two, it’s been his brand for years. People didn’t watch The Apprentice because of the business tips. Third, there is very rarely actual malice in what Trump says. That’s why so many who were the target of his barbs in 2016 are cabinet members or golfing buddies today. And don’t say, “It’s because Trump’s a male and Harris is female, you sexist pig.” Unless you want to call 98% of the Democratic primary voters sexist.

Harris’ penchant for Nasty and talent for eventually rubbing people the wrong way is especially important given she’s running with Joe Biden. Vice Presidents normally are like fire extinguishers. Stuck quietly in a corner, only pulled out in emergencies. But with 59% of Americans convinced Biden wouldn’t be able to serve out his full term, Harris gets extra scrutiny. Voters must assess: What would she be like as president? What would it be like having her headlining the Big Show, day after day, night after night, year after year?

Joe Biden’s First Decision

This was Joe Biden’s first major decision as the Democratic nominee. He says one of the reasons he went with Harris is because his late son Beau had such respect for her. Beau had been Attorney General in Delaware while Kamala filled the same role in California. That’s a pretty sentimental reason for picking potentially the most powerful person in the world. One from the heart, but without much consideration for the heartland. (Plus, with all due respect, it’s fair to assume Beau Biden’s feelings for Harris would have changed once she accused his old man of being racist.)

Joe Biden repeatedly insists he wants to unify the country. Yet his first hire is tasked with a search and destroy mission. The only way she reaches across the aisle is with a switchblade.

In this year of lockdowns, we don’t need someone who specializes in beat downs. We needed someone who could help lift us up. On that criteria alone, Joe Biden’s first decision fails.

Harris wants to prosecute the case against Trump. But right now, with our country on the line, she’s the one on trial. And even Richard Goodstein couldn’t get her off. 

WATCH: Kamala Harris jokes about killing President Trump and Mike Pence. pic.twitter.com/nFZP9yfxNU

— Trump War Room – Text TRUMP to 88022 (@TrumpWarRoom) August 13, 2020

Al Perrotta is the Managing Editor of The Stream and co-author, with @JZmirak, of The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration. You can follow him at @StreamingAl. And if you aren’t already, please follow The Stream at @Streamdotorg.