There was an instance that caught everyone’s attention when GOP Sen. Deb Fischer’s spouse, Bruce Fischer, interacted with Kamala Harris during her tenure as Vice President. In a public ceremony, Harris attempted to acknowledge Bruce Fischer with a handshake. However, Senator’s Fischer’s better half evidently ignored her attempt to engage.
Bruce Fischer firmly steered clear of any form of reciprocity with Vice President Kamala Harris that day. The refusal of a handshake from the spouse of a Republican Senator, an act of courtesy that should be natural, left many observers speechless.
This event, unsurprisingly, didn’t go unnoticed by a bastion of Democratic sympathies – CNN. The news channel reported on the response from Harris’s own spouse, Doug Emhoff. An unexpected interaction transpired between him and Bruce Fischer during Inauguration Day.
Aware of what had transpired between Fischer and his wife, Emhoff responded in kind to Fischer’s advances. At the ceremonial tea hosted at the White House, Emhoff reportedly gave Fischer a taste of his own cold shoulder. He retorted by asking Fischer why he would even attempt to engage him after snubbing his wife in a similar setup.
Perplexed by the scenario and having faced the harsh mirror of his own actions, Fischer reportedly sought Emhoff to clarify his intentions and apologize. The moment of tension would ease later, but it left an indelible mark on the proceedings.
By the culmination of the event, however, they seemed to strike up an amicable conversation centered around topics as mundane as golf, stated an unidentified source to CNN. A stark contrast to their initial standoff, nevertheless a subtle victory for Emhoff.
In response to this event, a slew of internet users came forward celebrating Emhoff’s defense of Harris. The narrative spun by some could be interpreted as casting Emhoff in the heroic role of the supportive spouse.
Amongst certain circles, there were high praises sung for Emhoff, with some proclaiming him as a model for patiency and gallantry. His interpretive actions, however, seem partially motivated by a desire for public approval as is often the case with political figures.
One particular comment stood apart, expressing a sentiment that many might find overly sentimental. One netizen was quoted as saying, ‘I’m going to miss Kamala and Doug, a lot.’, a notion that might seem more appropriate for reality television stars than political figures.
Yet this sentiment seems unsettlingly common and calls into question what people value in public figures. More than being competent administrators, politicians are expected to perform in elaborate public rituals, much like actors on a stage.
What should be nothing more than common courtesy has become a platform for political posturing, and in this regard the game is well played by all the political actors involved. From Emhoff’s supposed gallantry to the supposed rebuke of Fischer, each played their part well.
Sadly, these grand gestures often distract from the meaningful discussions that require our attention. The critical issues plaguing our society become background noise to the spectacle of politics, while the performance becomes foregrounded.
It’s worrisome that such insignificant acts wind up defining not just political careers but also political climates. In the end, it is the people who bear the brunt of these meaningless debates and distractions.
We should perhaps remind ourselves that our elected representatives are more than mere performers. They are supposed to serve the people, work towards uplifting society and devote themselves to solving real-world problems.
So while some continue to gloat over Emhoff’s ‘gallantry’ or worry over a snubbed handshake, the rest of us can only hope that an unshakeable dedication to performing their political duties overshadows these matters of lesser substance.
In this political game of spectacle, grand gestures, and aloof indifference, we must not forget the larger purpose for which these figures occupy their positions. Our attention needs to be focused on the key issues that will shape our future.