Kamala Harris's Fox News interview disaster shows how the media set her up to fail
By: Becket Adams, Opinion Contributor (The Hill)
Kamala Harris is a principal conspirator in a real political coverup. And it does not require twisting facts, nuanced editing, or political spin to make that claim stick. Joe Biden, himself, made the conspiracy quite evident; Bob Woodward wasn't needed.
But the pressing questions swirling around the political coverup aren't about Kamala Harris' complicit involvement. What the public really needs to know is why the unbiased liberal press has swept the entire conspiracy under the rug.
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
10/17/24 -- Vice President Kamala Harris had a bad night on Wednesday.
But more interesting than anything she said to Fox News anchor Bret Baier was what wasn't said — namely, that reporters hadn't bothered until this interview to ask her the most glaringly obvious question of 2024.
This is why she seemed so completely blindsided when Baier asked about the role she played in the sweeping, years-long conspiracy to hide President Biden's declining mental fitness from the public.
The media's failure to press her on this question until now goes beyond mere incuriosity or sloppiness. It's outright malpractice.
Harris fumbled through her roughly 26-minute conversation with Baier before slinking away on complaints that her host had been too aggressive in his questioning.
By any reasonable measure, the interview was a disaster. Don't take my word for it. The Democratic nominee and her team began the week hoping her appearance would help them make inroads with Fox's male and on-the-fence viewers. By the time the cameras had stopped rolling, however, her team had adopted a new line: The interview, they insisted, would go a long way toward rallying left-wingers and Democratic loyalists. Nothing says "that didn't go as planned" quite like a complete narrative switch-up.
To reasonable minds, Harris's gamble backfired. She came across as unprepared, tedious and poorly informed. She drew little contrast between herself and her GOP opponent — who, in fairness, likewise tends to be unprepared, tedious and poorly informed.
Though there were many head-scratchers and uncomfortable fumbles in the Baier interview, the critical moment came when Harris rope-a-doped herself with the claim that former President Donald Trump is "unfit" and too "unstable" to be president. This led to obvious follow-up questions regarding the White House's and her own earlier efforts to dismiss concerns surrounding Biden's mental and physical fitness.
"You told many interviewers that Joe Biden was on his game," Baier said, "that he ran around circles on his staff. When did you first notice that President Biden's mental faculties appeared diminished?"
Harris blanked. Then, after she had had a moment to recollect herself, she simply dodged the question.
"Joe Biden — I have watched from the Oval Office to the Situation Room, and he has the judgment and the experience to do exactly what he has done in making very important decisions on behalf of the American people," Harris said in her trademark word salad format.
Baier pressed, "There were no concerns raised?"
"Bret, Joe Biden is not on the ballot," said Harris, "and Donald Trump is."
Yes, but why isn't Biden on the ballot? This is the question, is it not? As it turns out, Harris knows something about it, even though she went along and played the fool until Biden was forced from his own ticket.
Recall that, following Biden's career-ending debate performance on June 27, Harris was one of the very first administration officials to go on television and reassure voters that all was well with the president.
"The Joe Biden that I worked with every day is someone who, as I have said, has performed in a way that has been about bringing people into the Oval Office, Republicans and Democrats, to compromise in a way that is extraordinary these days," she promised CNN viewers.
In February, she had said of her boss, "We have a very bold and vibrant president in Joe Biden." She also said that same month: "Our president is in good shape, in good health, and is ready to lead in our second term."
Even before then, she alleged, "Age is more than a chronological fact….Not only is [Biden] absolutely authoritative in rooms around the globe, but in the Oval Office."
When special counsel Robert Hur described Biden as a "sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory," Harris rushed to defend Biden's honor, all but accusing Hur of lying.
"So, the way that the president's demeanor in that report was characterized could not be more wrong on the facts and clearly politically motivated, gratuitous," she said.
Yet now, the mere fact of Harris's presidential candidacy explicitly refutes all of those earlier assurances and promises she offered.
A cleverer or better-prepared politician might have expected such an obvious question in response to playing the "fitness" and "instability" cards against Trump. But Harris is not cleverer or better-prepared. She invited the natural response regarding her own attempt to push an unfit presidential candidate on the nation — and she was utterly unprepared for the moment.
For this, she can blame her own all-too-chummy relationship with what should be a much more aggressive and adversarial media.
"You met with [Biden] at least once a week for three-and-a-half years," Baier pressed on Wednesday evening. "You didn't have any concerns?"
"I think the American people have a concern about Donald Trump," the vice president deflected, "which is why the people who know him best, including leaders of our national security community have all spoken out, even people who worked for him in the Oval Office, worked with him in the Situation Room and have said he is unfit and dangerous and should never be President of the United States again, including his former vice president, which is why the job was open for him to choose another running mate. So that is a fact. That is a fact."
This was the moment that stood above all others Wednesday for its implications. It is newsworthy that Harris froze. It is newsworthy that she declined to address his point directly. But the most newsworthy fact is that she had no good answers to the Biden question because, until Wednesday, nobody had ever made her answer it.
It was the only question that needed asking, yet for her, it was uncharted territory.
How is it possible that Baier is one of the only people in this business who has bothered to ask the Democratic nominee about her role in a plot that ended with the current commander in chief being jettisoned from his own re-election campaign, making way for her own unlikely accession?
For an industry addicted to the word "unprecedented," and as we're currently living through times where the word really does apply, it is baffling that journalists aren't more curious about what Harris knew regarding Biden's declining mental acuity when she promised repeatedly that he was fit as a fiddle.
Is the U.S. president quitting in the middle of a race and the nomination of his vice president —who didn't even make it to the Iowa caucuses when she ran for president in 2020 — not "unprecedented" enough for our media?
If the vice president's involvement in a White House-wide conspiracy doesn't clear the bar for "public interest," nothing does.
It was a lousy night for Harris, sure. It was also a bad night for the all-too-friendly political press, whose kid-glove treatment of the Democratic vice president has left her unprepared to answer even the most basic question about policy or the events that secured her own nomination.
Becket Adamsis program director of the National Journalism Center.
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Kamala Harris is a proven liar. And Joe Biden provided the proof. That's the political conspiracy we're not supposed to talk about.
So, who are we supposed to believe? Biden? Harris? The press? Or, should we suspend our belief and trust our own eyes for a change?
Coming from a supporter of the biggest fucking liar on the planet makes that statement beyond hilarious.
What the fuck are you talking about? Let me guess, it's something about the fantasy 'deep state' and other random Qanon bullshit conspiracy theories that have warped many gullible minds.
I don't know about you, but I've always only trusted in my own eyes and ears and from what I've seen and heard, Harris did fine in the Fox interview and Trump is a fucking lying piece of shit and a clear and present danger to our nation and constitution and did in fact inspire an attempted insurrection January 6th, 2021. I don't need any politicians or media to tell me what I can see for myself.
Kamala Harris lied. Pointing fingers at Trump, Vlad the Impaler, or Attila the Hun won't change the fact that Kamala Harris is a principal conspirator in a political cover up.
I'm talking about the conspiracy to hide Joe Biden's debilitating impairment from the public. Trump did not force Kamala Harris to lie to the public. The question is whether or not entrenched partisan bureaucrats forced Kamala Harris to lie to the public. Did the party bosses force Harris to lie to the public? Did the unbiased liberal press force Harris to lie to the publiic?
Where was Bob Woodward to inform the public what talking points to check off the list? Kamala Harris covered up that an impaired President was wasn't really in charge. The United States has been essentially leaderless. But Trump ...
Kamala Harris is a principal conspirator in a real political coverup.
It's bizarre how they spent years manufacturing a conspiracy about Trump conspiring with Russia, and completely ignored the conspiracy to hide the disability of the President until it hurt too much politically.
but I since the MSM participated in the conspiracy, they don't want to talk about Harris's role. They'll just flush it down the memory hole until somebody cashes in 15 years with a tell all and all the stories come out.
Trump asked Russia to hack Hillarys computer system, after already having been told that Russia hacked the DNC.
Trumps son and son in law met with a person they thought was representing the Russian government for the purpose of obtaining "dirt" on Hillary Clinton.
Trumps campaign manager was providing polling information to a Russian spy.
Trumps friend Roger Stone was attempting to coordinate the release of the Russian fed stolen emails in conjunction with Julian Assange.
All that was more than enough to be suspicious of Trump. There was no hoax.
Just goes to show that no matter what, Trump supporters would call her performance a disaster. Pathetic.
The real pathetic thing here are all the Harris supporters who gaslight everything Harris.
It's gone from " Biden is fine" to "Harris did great"
The word you are looking for is shameless.
In this election, we have a normal team (Harris-Walz) that is presidential, youthful, energetic, positive and is focused on doing what they believe is best for the nation. In contrast, we have Trump who is the only PotUS in our history to engage in fraud, coercion, lying, and incitement in an attempt to steal a presidential election. A traitor who is the only PotUS who violated the peaceful transfer of power and who violated the CotUS in an attempt to disenfranchise voters.
A nutcase who thinks that he can improve the GDP (which is currently great!) by imposing utterly absurd levels of tariffs. Apparently the guy has no concept that a tariff increases supply chain costs and ultimately triggers inflation. Or no concept that aggressive abuse of tariff muscle will turn around and bite the USA as we lose suppliers and increase animosity with our trading partners.
A vindictive prick who believes that it is right to use the force of the military against fellow countryman (like Schiff who he mentioned) who merely oppose him politically.
Trump is the oldest presidential nominee in US history, a curmudgeon, who routinely rambles and talks down the USA claiming we are a third world nation, replete with crime, suffering under a horrible economy, and will be in a WWIII if he is not elected.
We have the choice of a normal presidential team on the D side. Yes, they will lean left. That is what the Ds do. But on the R side we have someone who has proven repeatedly that he does not have the character or rationality to be PotUS.
And Trump supporters cannot honestly deny the reality of what I just wrote. All they ever do is attack the Ds. What kind of irrational thought process would bring someone to think that giving a vindictive narcissist like Trump the power of the presidency in 2024 rather than a normal candidate (Harris) is best for our nation?
Character, intelligence, rationality, and intent all matter.
What “they” believe is best for the country? Opinions on this vary greatly. No point debating that fact with the triggered minority.
None at all
Yes, or do you think it is better that a PotUS NOT try to do what he or she believes is best for the nation?
Trump will do what he thinks is best for Trump. I prefer a PotUS who is trying to do what he or she thinks is best for the nation.
Bullshit, that’s a triggered response.
Trump does what he believes is best for Trump. It is amazing that some do not see that.
See 3.1.6 ….. lather, rinse and repeat as necessary.
I knew deep down that Baier was guilty of sometimes reporting false stories, something about a fabrication of a new FBI investigation he ran with against HRC. His tone and demeanor was like the spider that had the fly just where he wanted it. His objectivity has slipped little by little, like the frog slowly being boiled.
It was on full display yesterday. I think Harris held her own. I wish she would have managed yesterday what she managed to say today, that a future Harris Administration will not be an extension of the Biden Administration.
We knew that, but now with 20 days to go she finally said it.
That seems strange considering she just said she wouldn't have done anything different than Joe did.
Perhaps not a extension, more like a continuation of it. Her dismal hard core leftist history can't be denied or covered up, and there is zero evidence that she has changed her views.
One more time Greg, it's a democracy, not a dictatorship.
Everyone in Congress and the WH has to compromise at some point.
Wild liberal ideas won't fly without Republican support.
But it was a total disaster for her.
Only the most deluded sycophantic supporters of Harris/Walz think likewise.
To vote for them would be irrational, irresponsible, and unpatriotic.
But it wasn't
That's projection the likes of which has never been seen before
And the Univision Town Hall was a total disaster for Trump,
unless you are a deluded sycophantic supporter of Trump/Vance.
To vote for Trump is a gamble that he lives long enough with most of his remaining cognitive abilities long enough to keep Vance far, far away from the Oval office.
President Vance, a two year Senator with a history of failed ventures is scarier than any thing
Harris might envision.
Explain, specifically, how that interview was a disaster for Harris.
She went into the Lion's den and dealt with a series of gotcha questions that were designed to put her in awkward positions (e.g. trying to make her trash Biden) rather than prompt her to explain her policies.
She just demonstrated that she can deal with even that level of crap and come right back with sound rebuttals and rejoinders.
So give it a shot. Let's hear your 'argument' for how this interview was a disaster.
So what were some of those sound rebuttals and rejoinders.??
This is the challenge I gave you:
Instead of making an argument you deflect by asking questions.
I conclude you have no argument.
Turmp is a known asshole. We know that Harris is a far left radical asshole---what we don't know how much damage she would do to all aspects of representative republic way of life, our economy, and our national security.
"You told many interviewers that Joe Biden was on his game," Baier said, "that he ran around circles on his staff. When did you first notice that President Biden's mental faculties appeared diminished?"
"Joe Biden — I have watched from the Oval Office to the Situation Room, and he has the judgment and the experience to do exactly what he has done in making very important decisions on behalf of the American people," Harris said in her trademark word salad format.
Baier pressed, "There were no concerns raised?"
"Bret, Joe Biden is not on the ballot," said Harris, "and Donald Trump is."
Her lying to the American people in order to try to have a puppet regime in charge of the country could easily be construed as being a traitor to her oath. She is unfit to hold office.
Yet the media and the Trump haters give her a free pass.
First it is stupid to pretend that Biden is not performing the functions of PotUS. So you start with hyperbole and borderline conspiracy theory. Second, Biden would have to be in serious shape for Harris to act against him. Biden just gave a speech in Pennsylvania. If you saw that speech and thought that one could invoke the 25th amendment on this guy then your perception of reality is horribly skewed.
But you claim that Harris is unfit for office because she did not seek to remove Biden from office when he clearly was still capable of performing the duties of office.
On the other hand, Trump has illustrated in grand terms why he is unfit for office and continues to do so with insane notions like using the military against political opponents. Yet instead of arguing that Trump is unfit you pen a comment that tries (pathetically) to argue that it is Harris who is unfit.
Trump support ≠ rationality.
So why does half, or probably more, of the electorate support him? Are they stupid or misinformed? Or are you smarter than anyone else?
You should explain that. Let us know why you would choose a vindictive, narcissist traitor who is clearly losing his mind over a normal, intelligent, youthful, energetic, presidential candidate.
I think the answer is that she is a D and that you would rather put a traitor in office rather than allow another D PotUS.
There is no evidence to support this assertion.
First, it's not "half" or even close to half, millions more Americans support Harris than Trump and Trump has never won the popular vote and never will, he's a toxic piece of shit and the majority of Americans know it.
Second, yes, his supporters are either stupid or misinformed or some combination of the two. Many are also very likely bitter about seeing their preferred white conservative Christian society being eroded by diversity and inclusion and have jumped on the Trump bandwagon because they know he's a huge racist who supports their treasonous confederate loving white Christian nationalist fantasy.
As for being smarter than anyone else, no, it doesn't take 140 IQ to see through Trumps bullshit. Just about anyone can do it if they embrace facts, rationality and reason over racism, rhetoric and bullshit.
True, Donald Trump has never won the popular vote in national election or even ever polled above fifty percent among all voters...
Open your eyes just a crack. The evidence is replete and available daily.
MAGA be like, "I know Darth Vader belongs to the dark side and that he blew up a planet, but I just don’t know enough about Princess Leia"...