Why Kamala Harris’s Gaffes are Misunderstood in the Context of Vice Presidency
Kamala Harris has been the target of repeated scrutiny and criticism since taking on the role of Vice President of the United States. Her verbal gaffes, moments of confusion, and even intentional puns have come under fire from both the media and the public. However, a closer look at the history and expectations of the Vice Presidency reveals that this kind of treatment is not unusual. In fact, many Vice Presidents throughout history have been subject to similar ridicule and scrutiny. This article aims to explore the role of the Vice President, the challenges faced by those in the position, and the ways in which Kamala Harris’s experience fits into this broader context.
The Vice Presidency: An Abject Position of Power
The Vice Presidency is, in many ways, a position of great power and influence. However, it is also an inherently powerless and subordinate role. The Vice President has very little real authority or responsibility, and is often relegated to handling intractable issues or appearing at public events to represent the administration. This creates a challenging dynamic for the person in the role, as they must balance the need to project an image of competence, strength, and authority with the knowledge that they are ultimately subservient to the President.
This dynamic has been the subject of numerous caricatures and jokes throughout history. Vice Presidents have often been portrayed as hapless, bumbling figures who are constantly upstaged by their more powerful colleagues. This caricature was exemplified by Dan Quayle, who was widely mocked for his gaffes and missteps during his time as Vice President under George H.W. Bush. Other Vice Presidents, including Al Gore, Joe Biden, and Mike Pence, have also faced their fair share of criticism and ridicule.
Kamala Harris: A Work in Progress
Kamala Harris’s experience as Vice President has been marked by numerous verbal gaffes and moments of confusion. However, many of these incidents, upon closer inspection, are more complex than they initially appear. Some of the clips that have been used to criticize Harris are actually intentional puns or slips of the tongue, while others are simply the kind of verbal vomit that would not register as newsworthy if she were not in the public eye.
Despite this, Harris has been repeatedly criticized for these incidents, with some even questioning her competence and suitability for the role of Vice President. However, it is important to remember that the Vice Presidency is an incredibly challenging and complex role, and that the expectations placed on those in the position are often unrealistic or unfair.
Harris’s experience as Vice President can be seen as a work in progress, rather than a finished product. While she has faced criticism for her gaffes and missteps, she has also taken steps to improve her performance and image. For example, she has worked to project a more relatable and personable image, and has taken steps to connect with different communities and constituencies.
Expanding on the Topic: The Importance of Kicking Against Unfair Expectations
The treatment of Kamala Harris provides a striking example of the unfair expectations and scrutiny faced by women and people of color in positions of power. Women and people of color are often held to higher standards of performance, and are more likely to face criticism and scrutiny for even minor mistakes or missteps. This can create a challenging and even hostile environment that can be difficult to navigate, particularly for those who are new to positions of power or influence.
However, it is crucial that we resist these unfair expectations and hold those in power to a more reasonable standard of performance. This means recognizing that everyone makes mistakes, and that even those in positions of power are only human. It also means pushing back against harmful stereotypes and caricatures that can limit our ability to recognize the true potential and value of those in positions of power.
One way to do this is to actively seek out and highlight positive examples of leadership and performance, particularly among marginalized groups. By elevating the stories and experiences of women and people of color who have succeeded in positions of power, we can challenge harmful stereotypes and create a more supportive and inclusive environment for everyone.
Summary
Kamala Harris’s experience as Vice President of the United States has been marked by repeated criticism and scrutiny over her verbal gaffes and missteps. However, a closer look at the history and expectations of the Vice Presidency reveals that this kind of treatment is not unusual. The Vice Presidency is a position of great power and influence, but it is also inherently powerless and subordinate, creating a challenging dynamic for those in the role. Kamala Harris’s experience can be seen as a work in progress, as she navigates the complexities and expectations of this challenging position. It is important to resist unfair expectations and harmful stereotypes that can limit our ability to recognize the true potential of those in positions of power, particularly women and people of color.
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Other videos tell a more complicated story. Some of the clips in Harris’s catalog of alleged gaffes are, in fact, intentional puns, or momentary slips of the tongue, or the kind of verbal vomit that, if you weren’t in the business of adding evidence of his alleged incompetence, would not register as newsworthy. Consider these lines of march:: “During Women’s History Month, we celebrate and honor the women who made history, throughout history, who saw what could be, without the burden of what had been.” (Printed, uncharitably punctuated, this could raises an eyebrow, but Harris’s pauses make his intentions clear.) In another mocked clip, Harris’s only mistake appears to have been repeating the word “gumbo” more than you might expect in a gumbo conversation. She received criticism last year for describing herself, at the beginning of a meeting, as “a woman sitting at a table in a blue suit”, which seems less strange once you find out she was talking about the anniversary of the meeting. American signature. With Disabilities Law and that seek to accommodate people with visual disabilities.
That supporters pick their opponents’ public appearances in search of embarrassing moments is hardly a revelation. What’s fascinating about the particular shaming attached to Harris is how much it resembles the recurring story of the office itself. A vice president makes countless public appearances that will mostly be ignored unless something humiliating happens, something that makes him look like the hapless lightweight who symbolizes the ineptitude of an entire administration. George HW Bush’s young vice president, Dan Quayle is remembered for misspelling “potato” on camera. Joe Biden’s reputation as a fool prone to making mistakes fully matured into a personality under Barack Obama. Mike Pence, whom Donald Trump once described as “straight from the core cast” for vice presidents, spent much of his tenure cast as a self-deprecating lackey; Al Gore was called a buzzing fool. The major recent exception to the comedic-VP arrangement simply reversed the tables: George W. Bush, with his own bad intentions, could be seen as childish in part because he imagined Dick Cheney as the menacing puppeteer who was actually running things. This is the caricature of the office: an abject position whose proximity to power can only disit empowers its occupant, who must defer to the president on all substantive issues while handling a portfolio of intractable issues like, in Harris’ case, the Central American migration crisis.
If Harris is looking for an inspiring vice president story, she doesn’t need to look far. Biden’s time in office actually helped polish a goofy charm; he was seen not only as folksy or paternal but, in some corners, paradoxically Cold. (The Onion spent those years creating a satirical version of him as a guy who might be found on the White House stoop, shirtless, in jean shorts, wash a trans am.) This image surely made it more difficult, during his 2020 presidential run, to brand him a scary extremist; instead, he was called senile or weak, manipulated by radicals. The idea of him as a Machiavellian mastermind would actually thrive in the lefton the internet meme of “Dark Brandon” a president with laser eyes and underestimated reserves of power.
Harris, infamously described by Biden as a “work in progress,” seems unlikely to follow a similar path, though if you squint and know where to look, you might see glimpses. In some niche internet circles, the clown image of her has given rise to the obverse of her: a relatably confused figure of half-ironic adoration. This is the woman who is seen, in some clips, singing “Wheels on the Bus” in a campaign vehicle and then cackling loudly, or excited about Venn diagrams. One Twitter user racked up likes by claiming that his meandering sentences resemble the dense philosophy of Friedrich Hegel.
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