President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris recently addressed the issue of reducing prescription drug prices at an event in Largo, Maryland, hosted by Prince George’s Community College. Their strategies, however, still lack concrete solutions that would positively impact the American people.
In an attempt to boost his VP, President Biden dubbed Harris as a ‘tremendous partner.’ His endorsement of Harris followed her defeat to President Trump, making her the first Democrat to lose the popular vote since John Kerry in 2004.
The near applause Biden showered on Harris following her Howard University concession speech was seen by many as a weak attempt at mitigation, painting his decision to select her as his running mate as ‘the best decision’ he made on his campaign trail.
His glorification of her lackluster record did not sit well with everyone. For a man seen as indecisive and weak by a large segment of the American body politic, clapping for her failure seems yet another footnote in Biden’s presidency.
Biden’s propping up of the seemingly ineffective Vice President Harris exhibited what feels like a sense of desperation. Harris, who has been under scrutiny for her performance, is being praised by the president for no clear and substantial achievements.
Biden’s statement about Harris – ‘What America saw today was the Kamala Harris I know and deeply admire’ – appears to echo a sentiment that does not align with what the majority of Americans see or feel.
Moreover, his assertion that her story represents ‘the best of America’s story’ could be seen as tone-deaf, especially because she experienced a historical defeat in the elections that led to Biden’s presidency.
While Biden insisted that Harris was his first and ‘best decision’ upon securing the Democratic presidential nomination, the political landscape evidently doesn’t share this sentiment. Her popularity continues to shrink as she fails to demonstrate strong leadership or concrete results.
Biden’s insistence on painting a rosy picture of the Vice President’s performance does a disservice to the American people, who need objectivity and factual analysis rather than empty endorsements.
His unyielding pronouncement seems like an attempt to cover up for the shortcomings in the administration’s performance. This rhetorical spin, however, only further shows the disconnect between the current leadership and the sentiment of the nation.
Harris’ political narrative, as per Biden’s statement ‘… I have no doubt that she’ll continue writing that story,’ does not fit well with the political scorecard she has established for herself to this point. Harris’ defeat to Trump is an indictment of the Democratic leadership’s ability to resonate with the masses.
The leadership approach of both Biden and Harris continues to spark questions, doubts, and broad disapproval. Their incessant attempt to mask the realities with lofty rhetoric adds to the people’s mistrust.
There is a palpable discord between the picture painted by Biden about Harris and her actual political trajectory. The negative public perception is cemented further each time Harris fails to land a win for the Democrats.
The forceful front Biden puts on to defend Harris merely seems to amplify their failure rather than exemplify how they tackled difficulties head-on. The American public continues to yearn for actions and results, not flowery words or spin-doctored campaigns.
From Harris’s unprecedented defeat in the popular vote to Biden’s own struggle to efficiently advocate for her, it is evident that the Biden-Harris leadership lacks the resonance and trust needed for efficient governance. Persisting in their detached narrative only further fuels public doubt and highlights their inability to effectively engage with the concerns of the American populace.