Biden and Harris: More for the Cameras Than for Crisis Management

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, America’s President and Vice President, have recently embarked on a tour of the Southeast, hoping to witness the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Over his four-year tenure, Biden has hopped from disaster to disaster, becoming a known figure among tornado, wildfire, and tropical storm wreckage. Harris on the other hand, more often than not, finds herself not involved in such operations as part of her vice-presidential duties.

Biden and Harris decided to take to the Southeast full-throttle this Wednesday, trying their best to illustrate their alleged commitment towards the communities affected by Hurricane Helene. Biden charted his route towards North and South Carolina, while Harris aimed her sights on Georgia. Their whirlwind tour, however, seems to lack depth, merely encapsulating the notion of ‘seen to be doing’ rather than effective leadership.

Biden, eager to impress the media, regaled reporters with his plans of visiting various disaster-hit states. However, one must question the efficacy of such visits. Are they really beneficial, or are they just providing photo opportunities for the President? He took the opportunity to shed light on a dockworkers strike currently in progress – feigning concern over how it might hinder the supply of disaster relief.

He acknowledged the calamitous outcomes of natural disasters, all the while hinting at the dockworkers strike as a ‘man-made disaster’. Seems like a clever way to shift focus from the central disaster management question. Instead of addressing measures being taken to assist victims, he engaged himself in berating port owners, who he believes are profiting off the scenario.

The White House made it a point to convey that around 1,000 active-duty soldiers would be dispatched for disaster relief efforts. An Infantry Battalion Task Force from Fort Liberty, North Carolina, has been appointed for the task to aid with supplies. Despite this, it still seems insufficient given the traditional underperformance of such aid operations under the current administration.

The death toll due to the hurricane has sadly risen to 178 people, with several areas still deprived of power and cellular service. The dire need for aid and an efficient administrative response seems to be more pronounced now than ever. However, Biden’s vague reassurance of ‘doing everything possible’ leaves much room for improvement.

Biden’s so-called mobilization of the ‘entire federal government’ only seems to be lip service, given the grave circumstances at hand. He pulls at heartstrings with his rhetoric about saving lives but whether real, substantial aid will be delivered by the administration remains doubtful.

Striking a chord with panic-stricken citizens, Biden stated, ‘People are scared to death. This is urgent.’ However, these words do little to alleviate fear and anxiety. It only feeds into the chaotic atmosphere and the lack of meaningful action can potentially exacerbate people’s worries.

True to his style, Biden chose to survey the damage caused by the storm from the safe confines of an airplane. Greenville, South Carolina, was his first stop, where he glanced at the storm-damaged infrastructure from the air. However, roads and highways remained largely non-navigable. Again, it raises questions about the usefulness of such a bird’s-eye perspective.

To round off his trip, Biden was scheduled to visit Raleigh, North Carolina. Though he’s expected to be briefed there, the aftermath of these disaster tours has generally shown minimal impact. Therefore, where the credibility of such visits lies, remains uncertain.

Harris’ role in such crisis management also remains questionable. Often absent in the wake of disasters, her lean into the relief efforts for Hurricane Helene seems forced. Particularly given her track record, it doesn’t instill much confidence.

Overall, the approach of the Biden-Harris administration continues to raise doubts. Their crisis management during severe disasters seems to be more about optics and less about providing actual assistance to the affected communities.

The Southeast tour serves as another example of this trend. More attention appears to be provided to creating the right narrative than to actual, concrete disaster management. Caricatured statements, distant observations, and little effective action are becoming hallmarks of their administration.

There’s no denying the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene. But the administration’s actions and statements seem to hint at diversion tactics, moving the focus from the active hurricane relief to other less immediate issues. Such a tactic seems to be more about image preservation than ensuring the welfare of the citizens.

To summarize, Biden and Harris’ tour of the hurricane-ravaged Southeast seems more like a PR plot than a sincere attempt to grapple with the crisis. The Southeast needs united financial and emotional support. Whether the Biden-Harris administration can rise to that demand and exhibit genuine leadership, is something that remains to be seen.