Kamala Harris proved once again that public speaking is not her forte during a recent interview with the National Association of Black Journalists. The Vice President managed to turn what should have been a straightforward Q&A into a perplexing exercise in word salad, leaving both the audience and the moderators scratching their heads. Oprah Winfrey might have given her some grace in their joint appearance, but the NABJ team wasn’t so forgiving, and made it clear that Kamala’s spiel didn’t cut the mustard.
The interview was notable for its lack of fervor; it didn’t resemble the high-stakes, combative style of a Donald Trump showdown, but rather felt like everyone involved was trying to avoid any awkward situations. Harris stuck to her talking points like glue, especially when confronting difficult topics such as the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Instead of engaging directly with challenging questions, she danced around them with the grace of a wobbly giraffe. This just went to show that even when pressed on vital issues, Kamala seems more interested in scripted diplomacy than providing substantial answers.
Yeah, Kamala couldn’t get away from the Black Journalist quick enough. Look how she leaves frowning. Kamala thought she could just go there and asked stupid questions because they support her. pic.twitter.com/Bbiavbl9h3
— Johnny Midnight ⚡️ (@its_The_Dr) September 19, 2024
The moderators—Eugene Daniels, Tonya Mosley, and Gerren Keith Gaynor—attempted to steer Harris back to crucial subjects like reparations and gun control. The collective eye-rolls from the panelists were practically audible as they interrupted her meandering responses, which rarely ventured beyond her pre-rehearsed phrases. At one point, when questioned about gun control, instead of giving a definitive answer, Harris deflected with laughter, which is a sure sign of someone who knows they’re skating on thin ice.
Audience members voiced their displeasure as she tactfully sidestepped a pivotal question regarding executive orders for reparations, offering a deflated response that inevitably left many feeling unsatisfied. There’s nothing quite like watching a Vice President dodge big issues and revert to political platitudes, but Harris appears to have perfected this art. This tactic might not fly with voters who are eagerly looking for well thought-out policies rather than a flurry of vague promises.
If one thing was clear by the time the interview closed, it was that Harris couldn’t escape fast enough. The camera panned to the moderators after her exit, and their expressions told a tale of discomfort and disbelief—almost as if they had just witnessed a train wreck they couldn’t look away from. With polling numbers hovering on the brink of danger, it’s becoming evident that her candidacy is more about name recognition than the solid platform that is desperately needed to win over skeptics. Democrats must surely cringe at the thought of the potential Trump comeback, as Harris finds herself trapped within the margin of error. It’s a tough place to be for someone attempting to rally the party faithful as they eye another presidential election.