There is an evident attempt by Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign to regain the lost trust among voters residing in Muslim-dominant neighborhoods around Detroit. Her campaign has recently launched digital ads with a sudden focus on her statements expressing empathy for Gaza’s suffering. Highlighting her stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict, these recent attempts appear as a strategic move to appease and resonate with critics of the administration’s handling of this conflict.
Through Snapchat and Google platforms, the advertisements were launched with an ironic emphasis on Harris’ newfound concern for Gaza. Previous records have indicated that the vice president was silent about Gaza’s issues, and her sudden change of stance appears to be an attempt to misguide the citizens of this area.
The ads are a new phase in a microtargeted political game being played around how the Biden administration is dealing with the Israel war with Hamas in Gaza. This comes after a similar series of digital ads were hosted by a GOP-aligned group, stressing the vice president’s support for Israel and casting doubts on her loyalty towards the American citizens.
Interestingly, Future Coalition PAC ran ads that accentuated the Jewish faith of Doug Emhoff, Harris’ husband. This insidiously leans on disconcerting ‘double loyalty’ rumors among Jewish Americans, fueling a concern for national integrity and loyalty. If the focus was genuine concern for foreign affairs, one wonders about the need for religious undertones in the campaign.
These ads constitute Harris’ campaign’s earliest attempts at paid advertising related to the Gaza situation. They seem a likely strategy to subdue persistent critics of the administration on the war issue, painting a misleading picture of empathy for the affected people in Gaza.
The first couple of clips were sourced from Harris’ comments following her meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in July. Through selective editing, her statement ‘I will not be silent’ is followed by a line about the unpleasant humanitarian situation in Gaza. But what was conveniently left out from these ads was her staunch support for Israel’s right to defend itself.
Another video from Harris’ campaign emphasizes her saying, ‘Our common humanity compels us to act.’ Quite surprising when considering her previously disregarded sentiments on the matter. One would question this sudden humanitarian concern from a vice president who demonstrated a similarly detached approach towards crises within American borders.
Another strategically targeted ad speaks a similar tone, with a clip from Harris’ July address stating, ‘What has happened in Gaza over the past nine months is devastating.’ The ad tries to paint an image of a compassionate Harris, who is now apparently voicing against indifference towards Gaza’s suffering.
The campaign has primarily targeted the ZIP codes around Detroit, including Dearborn, known for its considerable Middle Eastern or North African descent population. Local Muslim and Arab American political leaders have previously expressed their dissatisfaction with Israel’s approach towards the war. They, along with most citizens, have been unmistakably critical of the Biden administration’s actions and funding towards Israel.
In line with the discontent, the local leaders drove an initiative to have Democrats vote ‘uncommitted’ on the presidential primary ballot, expressing their stark disapproval of the administration’s handling of the Israel-Hamas war. These ZIP codes, currently under the campaign’s crosshairs, are primarily represented in Congress by Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib.
Rep. Rashida Tlaib, a Palestinian American, endorsed this protest vote earlier this year. However, there has been no clear indication of her stance towards Harris in the general election. More recently, a small number of delegates to the Democratic National Convention won by the ‘uncommitted’ supporters tried to make their voice heard on the issue, but to no avail.
The Harris campaign has maintained a predictable silence regarding its ad strategy. While Biden and Harris regularly stress their support for Israel’s right to defend itself following the attack, there appears to be a noticeable disconnect between the two when it comes to Israel and Gaza.
White House National Security Council officials reported having to moderate parts of a Harris speech in March that discussed the need for peace and a cease-fire. She had publicly expressed concern about civilian deaths in Gaza in speeches that were later referred to in the misleading ads.
In her recent discussion with the National Association of Black Journalists, Harris expressed, ‘I absolutely believe that this war has to end, and it has to end as soon as possible.’ However, one can’t help but question the authenticity of her statements and if they truly reflect sincere concern for world peace or just another political play.
Regardless, these recent endeavors by Harris’s campaign set an intriguing example of how the administration attempts to handle criticism by presenting a face of empathy. It remains to be seen whether voters, who have criticized the administration’s actions, will buy into this contrived narrative.