Vice President Harris once held a sense of allure for the younger demographic, a fleeting phase that prompted her to allude to a popular meme during a recent talk with young community figures. Indeed, the enigma of Harris was one that resonated with the youth, so claimed the VP. But did it really? It seems more like a convenient narrative, rather than a reality-backed fact.
In 2023, during a speech that attained meme status, Harris echoed her mother’s words, ‘What’s wrong with you youngsters? Thinking you fell out of a coconut tree?’ The intent, apparently, was to convey that young people should be mindful of their past and context. Seems quite cliché for a person holding such an important position, trying to appeal to the youth through memes and Internet lingo.
While the coconut tree metaphor indeed turned into a digital battle cry for Democrats seeking fresh leadership in lieu of President Biden’s waning appeal, one must question the influence of such a meme-driven campaign. Internet trends don’t translate into votes, and Harris, unfortunately, learned this lesson the hard way.
As the race for votes continued, Harris’ standing with the youth started to wane, as indicated by the polls. The failsafe internet popularity didn’t seem to make a real difference, did it? The results were a stark reminder of the vast chasm that Democrats face with young voters.
She was an advocate for issues that mattered to the young population—the climate change crisis, the need for gun control, and the defense of reproductive rights. Yet, despite her efforts, it was President-elect Donald Trump who made a significant dent in her youth support.
Trump’s strategy of utilizing online platforms and engaging with widespread interviews seemed to yield results undermining Harris’ campaign. One has to wonder about the effectiveness of Harris’s methods in comparison.
Harris’ response in a recent address was less than favorable in the context of her fledgling performance with the younger voting demographic. She earnestly urged her followers to keep the faith, stating her tiredness, her resignation, and her lack of strength have been echoed by many others. But if the VP can’t show resilience, why would her followers?
She claimed that no one can afford to back down, insisting on the importance of remaining steadfast. But given her lacklustre performance in the polls among the youth, one must question the veracity of her words.
Reminiscing about the heydays of her campaign, when she rode the wave of an Internet frenzy, Harris revisited the much-debated coconut tree meme. Sounds a bit desperate clinging onto a moment of past internet fame, doesn’t it?
The VP’s reference to the meme elicited a mix of feelings among the internet savvy crowd she had once inspired. One commented how tragically poetic it was to acknowledge our own context while moving ahead into the future. Surely, it’s more poetic than a VP leaning on meme-culture to forge a bond with the youth.
The aforementioned meme, while garnering chuckles and granting a fleeting sense of unity and joy to some, seemed to miss out on driving real engagement and delivering tangible results. Who would’ve thought a humorous meme couldn’t translate into a successful political campaign?
Another individual found herself drawn to this self-conscious, humorous, and uplifting side of Harris. However, shouldn’t a vice president’s appeal be grounded in their policies and actions rather than how ‘relatable’ they seem through a meme?
Despite its initial appeal, Harris’ coconut tree metaphor quickly grew stale, along with the youth’s dwindling enthusiasm for her political platform. A meme-driven campaign won’t quite cut it in the world of tangible policies and real actions, will it?
Her attempt to blend humor, self-awareness, and inspiration was commendable, if not markedly detached from reality. A vice president should rely more on their commitment and actions than on internet appeal and self-promotion, shouldn’t they?
Harris’ acknowledgement of her past struggles juxtaposed with her plea for continued resilience gave away an unfortunate truth. Behind the self-aware and humorous exterior, there seems to be a real lack of understanding on how to connect with the youth on a meaningful level.