Based on recent events, one can’t help but notice that Vice President Kamala Harris, finalized as the Democratic nominee for presidency, has successfully skirted traditional press inquiries for over 54 days. She had the privilege of meeting former President Trump in a recent debate at ABC News, yet maintained an aloof stance towards the media.
Harris, who had been repeatedly urged to appear for a detailed interaction, ultimately ended her prolonged interview hiatus a month back. However, her interaction, where she was accompanied by Tim Walz, her running mate, on popular network CNN hosted by Dana Bash in Georgia, somewhat fell short of a genuine press conference.
This unconventional interview left many wondering why she continues to avoid traditional press meetings. The duo, Harris and Trump, squared off at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia on the 10th of September, 2024, further highlighting this trend.
Besides this, Harris also appeared for two pre-recorded radio interactions last week, aired on Friday and Monday. While everyone seems to be waiting for a formal press gathering with her, prominent conservative Radio Libre host, Jorge Bonilla, believes it’s near irrelevant.
Bonilla pointed out that there’s a strong chance Harris would not appear in a press conference considering the media continues to condone her strangely elusive strategy. He explained this strategy as a ‘plexiglass basement’ tactic, a way for her to create a façade of connectivity while remaining entirely beyond press reach. Ergo, ensuring unaccountability.
This approach doesn’t sit well with many, like Meaike, who views it as downright disrespectful to American citizens. He shared that in his experience as a businessman, it is unimaginable to just stop communicating if the company begins to fail. He compared this to Harris’s silence, underlining the concern that not taking any queries is a disturbing move for any leader.
Meaike pressed on, indicating his lack of trust in the prospect of Harris participating in a direct press seminar where questions could veer away from the typical innocuous ones. He expressed his expectation for Harris to continue shying away from situations that may lead to any sort of controversy.
Contrary to Harris’s strategy, former President Trump has been frequently present in the media, appearing in numerous comprehensive interviews recently and also held two press conferences in the last month. His actions provide a stark contrast to her media avoidant approach.
Harris’s briefs with Bash have brought a mixed bag of responses, since most of the weighty topics were handled by her, despite having Walz present for moral support. This raised more suspicions about whether her scarce engagement with media is sufficient for a presidential campaign.
Houck, another observer, voiced a similar concern. With Bash falling short of journalists like CBS’s Steve Kroft or NPR’s Steve Inskeep, who were eager for a Barack Obama interview, the liberal media might consider this minimum interviewer interaction and the ABC debate are enough for her campaign.
It’s of paramount importance that presidential nominees are transparent, available, and accountable. Harris’s avoidance of the press leaves us wondering about her commitment to these values.
The ‘plexiglass basement’ strategy might work in the interim, but it puts at risk the public’s trust in the system and its elected officials. Harris’s unachievable balancing act of projecting an image of being accessible while retreating from media scrutiny is deeply problematic.
While the media seems to be overlooking this strategy for now, it may not stay this way. As the public continues to demand transparency and accountability, the avoidance can only last for so long.
Although her strategy seems to be working with the media’s continued preferential treatment, it’s quite clear that the lack of engagement with the press can’t be overlooked. An endeavour towards transparency and openness will benefit both her and the citizens demanding answers.
The American democracy relies on close scrutiny of its leadership. Avoidance on the part of those elected doesn’t bode well for this system, making Harris’s media-avoidance strategy a cause for concern.
Ultimately, only time will tell whether Harris’s media avoidance will be her downfall or if it’s simply a new tactic in modern politics that she has been cleverly able to pull off, regardless of the countless concerns it raises about her campaign’s openness and Accountability.