You may recall an instance when Kamala Harris, then the vice president, found herself at the end of an unanticipated slight. While she was swearing in GOP Sen. Deb Fischer, Harris went in for a handshake with Fischer’s husband, Bruce, and found her gesture ignored. Bruce Fischer, a spouse of a Republican senator, dismissed the VP’s attempt to shake hands, refusing even to meet her eye.
While this incident may have swiftly faded from the public eye, CNN revealed a tit-for-tat that unfolded behind the scenes. Vice President Kamala Harris’s husband, Doug Emhoff, stood up for his wife in an unanticipated turn of events during the inauguration ceremony.
Emhoff was approached by Fischer at the ceremonial tea at the White House on Inauguration Day, presumably to extend a similar greeting. In a clear mirroring of the previous incident, Emhoff declined to shake Fischer’s extended hand. Since you couldn’t respectfully interact with my wife, why would I engage with you? Emhoff supposedly inquired of Fischer.
Apparently, this unexpected rejection led to a confrontational dialogue between the two men. It seems that after this sharp exchange, Fischer quickly changed his approach, seeking out Emhoff and offering an apology for his inappropriate behavior.
Interestingly, the rest of the event saw a drastic shift in relations. Eventually, according to a source quoted by CNN, Fischer and Emhoff went from cold interaction to warm discussion, finding common ground on topics like golf.
This incident drew considerable attention on the internet, with a lot of people misguidedly fawning over Doug Emhoff’s assertiveness in standing up for his wife. His refusal to shake Fischer’s hand was lauded as a notable moment by his fans online.
There were numerous praises sung about Emhoff, with claims that he was just doing what any great husband would do. Some even suggested that his actions when faced with disrespect for his wife warrant a special badge of honor for him.
Interestingly enough, an online user expressed what seemed to be a sentiment shared by many on the internet. Apparently, this person was under the illusion that Kamala Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff would be missed. This reveals the misguided admiration shown by some towards the vice-president and her husband.
However, one could ask if such sentiments are widespread, or if they are shared only by a passionate yet small portion of the population. It has become obvious that the media often highlights showy actions, whereas, in-depth scrutiny of policies and decisions that truly impact the American public are often skimmed over.
One could argue that Exchanges like Emhoff’s refusal to shake Fisher’s hand, while massively shared and promoted on the internet, do not really contribute much to figuring out how well government officials are doing their jobs.
Public admiration should be directed at actions that benefit the American citizens as a whole, not the public image of officials or their asides. Hence, mentioning the casual dismissal of Kamala Harris or the respect shown by Emhoff does not indicate their effectiveness in offices.
Though attempts to depict Kamala and her husband Emhoff as models are remarkably fabricated, they distort the vision of many about the usefulness and impact of their political stature on American society, which seems limited.
Real change, and what should capture the attention and approval of Americans, is delivered through committed, consistent action. Yet it’s actions like these handshake exchanges that make headlines, while important policy discussions often get overshadowed.
To some, these instances may be entertaining, but the true worth of office holders should be measured by the policies they implement and their impact on the country, not by how they respond to being ignored, or how they stood up for their spouse.
While a part of the internet may fawn over such trivial instances, the true focus should be on the politicians’ actions within their public office. Scrutinizing Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff for their contribution to the American society should be our focus, rather than admiring or missing them for their personal interactions.