Staff Reports
The latest episode of Kamala Harris’s political brilliance—or lack thereof—has made waves, and it’s not the good kind. During a campaign stop in La Crosse, Wisconsin, the Vice President found herself in the crosshairs of criticism after openly mocking two pro-life students shouting Christian affirmations. In a moment that could only be described as a textbook example of condescension, she redirected the students away from her rally as if they were lost puppies looking for the nearest petting zoo. The crowd cheered her on, but many are left wondering if this moment is going to backfire on the Democrats more substantially than anyone in the party anticipates.
Flashback to the 2008 presidential campaign when then-Senator Barack Obama set off alarm bells for his party with a cringe-worthy dismissal of “bitter” Americans who clung to their “guns and religion.” At that time, Hillary Clinton was quick to tackle him on his elitism, and the conventional wisdom of the media was that he was out of touch. Fast forward to now, and Harris seems hell-bent on repeating that very blunder. In an age dominated by social media presence, this incident has blossomed into a viral moment, and the more it spreads, the more it appears that Democrats have seriously misread their audience.
Kamala Harris’ condescending smear moment against Christians risks long repercussions for Dems https://t.co/g5Gycq5CRf
— Just the News (@JustTheNews) October 22, 2024
The Catholic Vote group made no secret of their feelings, denouncing Harris’s treatment of the pro-life students. The students themselves have reported receiving a chorus of hostility from the crowd after Harris’s callous dismissal. One of the students even described being pushed and heckled, and all they wanted to do was express their faith—a quaint notion that seems lost on Harris and her merry band of elites. It’s an ongoing trend: the Democrats seem wholly incapable of recognizing that America has a sizable and active faith community that they continuously alienate.
Not only did Harris poke the bear on this occasion, but her absence at the Al Smith Dinner, a notable Catholic charity event, has also raised eyebrows. Meanwhile, Donald Trump was there shaking hands and sharing laughs, leaving many to ponder whether the Vice President should have read the room a bit better. Her recent cavalier attitude toward people of faith might resonate within certain liberal circles, but among Midwest battleground voters? That’s a recipe for disaster.
Harris isn’t the only contender making waves, as Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer recently felt the heat over a viral skit that appeared to mock the Catholic sacrament of communion—using what many called a Dorito as a stand-in for the Eucharist. The backlash was swift, with the Michigan bishops rightfully calling out this mockery. This is more than mere insensitivity; it’s indicative of a wider pattern of Democrats showing contempt for traditions that many Americans hold dear. Conservative politicians are leveraging these moments for all they’re worth, rallying support from religious communities that traditionally might have thought twice about voting Republican.
With Christians making up about two-thirds of the U.S. population and a significant portion still identifying as Catholic, one has to imagine that the implications of Harris’s remarks coupled with Whitmer’s flubs could provide a significant edge for Republicans in the upcoming elections. The two recent events only deepen the divide that Democrats are fostering between themselves and faith communities, just as they gear up for yet another nail-biting presidential cycle. Eric Trump aptly highlighted the absurdity of Harris’s remarks, suggesting that perhaps it is she who is truly at the “wrong rally.”
It appears that while Harris and her Democratic peers may have a clear agenda, their lack of respect for the beliefs of millions of Americans may lead to unforeseen consequences as the election nears. With rhetoric like this, they may find out that just as faith is a rallying cry for many, condescension is not the winning ticket it once might have seemed.
