Vice President Kamala Harris has faced ridicule for her recent articulation during a TV interview, where she remarked, “this is the most election of our lifetime.” Her comments, made on MSNBC’s “The Last Word” with Lawrence O’Donnell, involved criticism of former President Donald Trump’s assertion that migrants were “poisoning the blood of our country.”
However, as she transitioned her remarks to the topic of the 2024 presidential election, Harris encountered difficulties and stumbled over her words. This latest episode has prompted further scrutiny and humor at the vice president’s expense for what some perceive as a challenging and convoluted communication style.
“You know, every election cycle we talk about this is the most election of our lifetime,” Harris said, without correcting herself.
“Lawrence, this one is, this one is,” she told the host.
“We are literally talking about people who are attempting to divide our country in the most crude, frankly, and profound way,” she said. “We are talking about those who are intent and purposeful to, to attack fundamental freedoms.”
She continued: “The freedom to be free from fear of violence and hate … the freedom to just … be. The freedom to just be.”
In various segments of the extensive interview, Harris continued with her stream of consciousness. It’s worth noting that the interview, originally intended to be conducted in person, had to be altered to a remote format after Lawrence O’Donnell tested positive for COVID.
“I have been fortunate and blessed during the course of being vice president to have many situations where it becomes too clear me that there are people … of every age and gender, by the way, who see something about being the first that lets them know they don’t need to be, um, limited by other people’s limited, um, understanding of who can do what,” she rambled.
She also asserted that people have “rightfully” drawn parallels between Trump’s words and the language used by Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler.
Footage of the interview quickly circulated online, eliciting a range of reactions. One individual commented, “Kamala Harris goes full Xanax and weed with her word salad.” Another expressed bewilderment, stating, “Lawrence nods and agrees to WHAT, What, whaatt?????” A third person, upon watching the clip, remarked with a frowning green emoji, “Sorry, I tried listening but my stomach churned.” There was even a comparison to President Biden’s speaking style, with someone noting, “She might be worse at speaking than Biden,” referencing the president’s known tendency for verbal gaffes.
In a previous instance in July, Harris made headlines for another word salad during a music festival in New Orleans. Attempting to define “culture,” she offered a repetitive explanation before breaking into her trademark cackle.
Harris has had other perplexing moments, such as addressing an abortion rights rally in April, where she delivered a convoluted statement about understanding the historical context and Women’s History Month at a White House event, where she used the phrase “what can be, unburdened by what has been.” These instances have contributed to a growing perception of her communication style as complex and challenging to follow.
