Staff Reports
In a development that should surprise absolutely no one, Vice President Kamala Harris has once again managed to evade any real direct engagement with the American public. It has now been a whopping 35 days since President Joe Biden dramatically vacated the 2024 race, endorsing Harris as his successor. Yet, in a true display of leadership, she has steadfastly refused to hold a formal press conference or address the nation without the comforting crutch of a teleprompter. Surely, this is the kind of boldness America has come to expect from its highest office.
With a mere three months until the November election, Harris appears to think it’s wise to ignore not just the mainstream media, but practically everyone clamoring for a sit-down conversation. It’s as if she believes ducking for cover is an effective strategy. Fox News’ Peter Doocey finally managed to pose a vital question to Harris during the Democratic National Convention: whether she was prepared to sit for an interview with Fox. Her trademark cackle was, unsurprisingly, her only answer as she flippantly remarked that she is “working towards it”—before sauntering away like it was a casual stroll in the park.
It's Been 35 Days Since Biden Endorsed Harris, and 35 Days of Avoiding Unscripted Press Conference https://t.co/OGWJcZvlcJ
— Billy Dee (@BillyDeeffmc) August 26, 2024
The attempt at engagement didn’t end there. When her campaign manager was grilled about Harris’s conspicuous absence from the press briefing room, the response was downright comical. Julie Chavez Rodriguez hurried away, leaving the thunderously silent absence of answers echoing in her wake. The question effectively fell flat—an apt metaphor for the Democratic approach to transparency.
Adding to the embarrassment was the assurance from Harris’s campaign spokesperson, Michael Tyler, who confidently proclaimed that the vice president would eventually grace the media with her presence—by the end of the month! However, with August drawing to a close and any such engagements glaringly absent from the calendar, one can only wonder if another Democratic promise is set to join the pile of failed commitments.
While Harris has encountered a few audiences at scripted rallies—those gatherings where the teleprompter rules supreme—her last genuine interaction at a press conference took place eight months ago in December 2023. This absence starkly calls into question her capability to engage with voters directly. CNN’s Jim Acosta might point out that rallying the party faithful isn’t the same as facing tough questions from journalists. Yet, for Harris, perhaps avoiding real dialogue is the best way to keep the reality of her administration at bay. As the election looms, the urgency for her to step into the light becomes ever clearer, though the Vice President seems wholly unprepared to do so.
