Staff Reports
There’s a new trend in the Biden administration, and it has nothing to do with their questionable policies on the economy, public safety, or foreign affairs. It’s the emerging practice of the “Invisible Vice President.” So, it was no surprise when CNN’s Jim Acosta decided to roll up his sleeves and take a crack at the elusive Kamala Harris during a recent broadcast. Acosta dared to question Michael Tyler, Harris’s communications director, about the vice president’s dramatic absence from the media spotlight.
Acosta didn’t hold back on his inquiry about Harris’s uncanny ability to dodge press conferences like they’re a plague. He pointed out that the Trump campaign is taking full advantage of her sound-proof cupboard situation. At this point, one has to wonder if Harris is trying out for a part in an escapism reality show, where the grand prize is not answering questions at a press conference. Rather than confronting the awkwardness of her absence, Tyler fell back on the classic political move of deflection, citing massive crowds at campaign rallies. Apparently, the sheer size of the circus reflects the quality of the show. If a vice presidential rally attracts 10,000 people, does that make her any more relevant in the news? Spoiler alert: it does not.
.@timcast on Jim Acosta confronting a spokesperson for Kamala's campaign over her dodging the media:
"She can't handle the questions. You answered your own question!" pic.twitter.com/nAfPzuu4MA
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) August 15, 2024
Acosta remained undeterred, pointing out the obvious. Campaign rallies and press conferences are not interchangeable events—unless, of course, one is trying to pull a fast one on the American public. Given the jovial atmosphere of a campaign rally, the notion that one can simply transform it into a rigorous question-and-answer session is about as plausible as a vegan barbecue. Harris may be film-worthy in her appearances, but without press accountability, those rallies are more akin to a political pep rally than a serious discussion of national issues.
In what seemed to be a desperate attempt to pacify Acosta, Tyler promised that a press conference was on the horizon, possibly arriving by the end of the month—somewhere between the next eclipse and the release of that long-awaited sequel to a movie no one cares about. Harris may indeed be preparing for a sit-down interview, but for the skeptical voters out there, one has to ask: Is this really a promise, or just another talking point meant to mislead?
Tyler wrapped up the discussion with vague assurances that they would engage voters using all the tools available, including digital assets and press conferences. However, it’s easy to worry about LeBron James becoming the next concept artist before anyone sees a flipping press conference. The Biden-Harris administration may have tapped into a whole new political strategy: The “sneak out the back door” approach, where they hope to maintain a grip on power by avoiding accountability and letting the voter base grow foggier with every passing day. It’s a bold move—just not a wise one—and certainly one that would make any self-respecting conservative chuckle at the absurdity.
