If honesty and competence were the benchmarks for winning an election, Donald Trump would waltz into the Oval Office with a landslide victory that would make even the biggest election wins look like a walk among the tulips. Unlike his opponents, who might quiver at the thought of a Q&A session, Trump revels in the spotlight, ready to tackle any question that comes his way. The contrast with Kamala Harris is stark; she seems to have pulled a Houdini act when it comes to facing the media.
Choosing Senator J.D. Vance of Ohio as his running mate underscores Trump’s commitment to transparency and willingness to confront challenges head-on. Vance’s media strategy of “anytime, anywhere” is the perfect antidote to the evasive tactics employed by many Democrats. His upcoming appearance on The New York Times’ “The Interview” podcast showcases his fearlessness, even if the Times’ penchant for liberal cheerleading raises eyebrows amongst Republican voters.
Report: JD Vance to Take on His Toughest Media Challenge Yet While Kamala Harris Does Anything She Can to Dodge Reporters via @WestJournalism https://t.co/X0hShzZuJB
— JB (@JBRawhide) September 4, 2024
The lineup of past guests on “The Interview” has largely reinforced the mainstream media’s love affair with establishment figures, featuring characters like Gretchen Whitmer and Pete Buttigieg. A Vance adviser claims his approach hinges on using these established media platforms to woo moderate voters. It’s an admirable goal, but one can’t help but chuckle at the notion that engaging with a publication that has been known to toss conservatives under the bus can somehow lead to persuading the “great middle.”
While Vance is up for a battle with established journalists, Harris and her partner in political crime, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, seem to be on a permanent vacation from the press. Their efforts to sidestep questions hit a low point recently during an interview with CNN’s Dana Bash, where an anxious Harris struggled to respond to basic inquiries. As if that wasn’t bad enough, Walz found himself in hot water over a scandal involving claims of stolen valor. It appears the media isn’t always so forgiving, but the duo’s media avoidance has grown absurdly exaggerated.
Harris has even set new records for canvas avoidance, with moments so awkward that it puts the average cringeworthy TikTok video to shame. Recently, she decided to wear earpieces—perhaps a strategic decision to appear overly engaged while dodging real interaction with reporters. Critics suggest it was a classic distraction technique, especially given the history of her dodging journalists’ questions.
With the current landscape leaning heavily towards a media that favors Democrats, it’s as if Harris has been handed a get-out-of-jail-free card. Meanwhile, Trump and Vance are left to fend for themselves. They gladly dive into conversations across almost any platform, armed with the comfort that their records and transparency can hold their own against media bias. They’re playing the long game, presenting themselves as the honest choice amid a sea of dodging and weaving from the opposition.
