The Democratic Party seems to be waking up to the reality that hiding their key figures, like Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, from the public eye is no longer a viable strategy. The days of safe and curated soundbites may be behind them, as they're being forced to step into the spotlight for interviews. Even then, it appears they're playing it safe, choosing media outlets that traditionally lean in their favor, but cracks in that strategy are starting to show.
Take Tim Walz, for instance, who recently faced the firing line with Fox News anchor Shannon Bream. Walz probably hoped to navigate the interview smoothly, but instead, it turned into a minefield of uncomfortable questions that left him grasping at straws. Bream pressed him on his track record, putting him on the defensive to the point where he resorted to misstatements in an attempt to wriggle out of tight spots. The interview was not a good look for Walz, as Bream methodically exposed his left-leaning positions, laying bare the ideological distance between him and mainstream voters.
The Democrats' strategy clearly involves shielding Kamala Harris from these kinds of confrontations. Walz was the one chosen to face Fox, sparing Harris from what could have been an even harsher reality check. Yet, even when Harris did appear on more sympathetic platforms like "60 Minutes," her performance was less than convincing.
KAMALA on ISRAEL: Well, Bill ... the work that we have done has resulted in a number of movements in that region by Israel that were very much prompted by or a result of many things including our advocacy for what needs to happen in the region.
WHAT? 😳 pic.twitter.com/7PWQ0JcLAr
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) October 6, 2024
During her interview with Bill Whitaker on "60 Minutes," Harris was asked about the ongoing conflict involving Israel and the resistance of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the administration's pressure for a ceasefire. Whitaker's pointed question about why Netanyahu wasn't heeding U.S. calls seemed to throw Harris off balance, prompting her to fall back on the administration's talking points about humanitarian aid and regional diplomacy. The answer felt like a deflection, ignoring the complex realities on the ground in favor of vague statements that didn't offer much substance.
What was more revealing was Harris's reaction when Whitaker pressed her on Netanyahu’s refusal to listen. Her response turned into a confusing tangle of words that lacked clarity or direction. It was a classic example of political "word salad," a jumble of phrases designed to sound meaningful but ultimately signifying very little. One can't help but wonder how Harris would handle tougher foreign leaders if she's stumbling over softball questions in friendly media settings.
When Whitaker tried to gauge the U.S.-Israel relationship by asking whether Netanyahu was a true ally, Harris took another evasive route. She pivoted to a broad declaration about the "alliance between the American people and Israeli people" instead of giving a direct answer. Her reluctance to straightforwardly affirm Israel's status as a key ally sends a mixed signal, not just to Israel but also to American voters who value strong international partnerships, especially with nations in volatile regions.
Kamala -- in a pathetic attempt to not piss off her pro-Hamas base -- refuses to answer if Netanyahu is an ally:
"I think the better question is do we have an important alliance between the American people and Israeli people. The answer to that question is yes." pic.twitter.com/9nzUrXnbbs
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) October 6, 2024
The broader concern for the Biden-Harris team is how these inconsistent and awkward media appearances are affecting their credibility. Harris’s attempt to straddle both sides of a delicate issue has led to a diminishing trust from both Muslim and Jewish communities. This balancing act is clearly not resonating, and it's becoming increasingly evident that their strategy is backfiring. The administration's pressure on Israel to cease its military actions, despite the continued threat from terrorist groups, strikes many as a bizarre position, particularly given that American lives were lost in the October 7 attacks.
In a notable parallel, former President Donald Trump reportedly declined to engage with "60 Minutes" unless they issued an apology for their treatment of him during the 2020 interview with Lesley Stahl. Trump felt they unfairly dismissed the Hunter Biden laptop story as "Russian disinformation," showing a double standard in how different political figures are handled by the media.