Staff Reports
The critique of Vice President Kamala Harris during her recent town hall has caused quite a stir, even extending beyond hardline conservative circles and reaching into the ranks of liberal commentators. Van Jones, a former adviser to President Obama, has openly voiced his irritation over Harris’s tendency to dodge questions, leaving audiences with even more confusion than clarity. And who wouldn’t be baffled by her notorious “word salad”? It’s like trying to decipher a cipher while blindfolded.
Jones caught glimpses of the Vice President’s human side that evening, claiming that at times she appeared as the true public servant she aspires to be. He pointed out that in the back of her mind, she’s wrestling with how to approach the issues that matter to “real people.” However, the left-hand side of the brain seemed to dominate, as she often skipped directly to problem-solving modes, leaving it unclear if she was even aware that she was engaging with a live audience. It’s as if she forgot that a little empathy can go a long way, especially in a setting meant for public discourse.
She is a word salad CLOWN AND WILL BE REMEMBERED AS THE DUMBEST BITCH THAT EVER RAN FOR POTUS! @elonmusk @JesseBWatters https://t.co/cnCQOLwApC
— LCB (@lenacbritt) October 24, 2024
While Jones acknowledges that Harris is undoubtedly trying to advocate for everyday Americans, his observations about her lacking communication skills seem to resonate. After all, nobody wants to hear a mix of buzzwords and vague promises. It’s akin to ordering a delicious cheeseburger and receiving what appears to be an advanced molecular gastronomy dish that sounds clever but leaves diners unimpressed and hungry for substance. Jones put it bluntly when addressing how the “word salad stuff” gets under his skin—a sentiment likely shared by anyone trying to get a straight answer out of this administration.
Interestingly, he later pointed out a perceived double standard when comparing Harris with her Republican counterpart, Donald Trump. Apparently, the yardstick used to measure their performance is remarkably skewed. While Harris flounders her way through policy discussion, Trump remains unapologetically unconcerned with policy articulation. Many in the conservative camp would argue that an articulate policy is better than a fumbling one, regardless of the speaker’s party affiliation. After all, confusion does little to inspire trust in leadership.
In the larger context, Harris may have left viewers scratching their heads, but if her intention is to prove her commitment to the American people, perhaps it’s time she took some lessons from her opponent in clarity. As her words grow ever more perplexing, conservative thinkers can only hope she steps up her game before 2024 arrives. If there’s one thing fundamental Americans appreciate, it’s a leader who knows how to communicate without a heap of convoluted jargon. It seems there are still questions aplenty to be answered by this Vice President, and that’s something even Jones would likely agree on.
