The media is always there to cushion the blow for their favorites, and no one benefits more from this safety net than Kamala Harris. After a lackluster debate performance, outlets scrambled to spin her dodged questions into something resembling competence. Headlines called it “strategic,” commentators labeled her avoidance “tactful,” and some even praised her for “keeping focus.”
But the public isn’t buying it. Americans have grown weary of a media that handholds political figures, especially when it’s clear they fumbled the ball.
Trust in the press is at an all-time low. According to Gallup, most Americans don’t trust the mainstream media, and this type of sugarcoating doesn’t help. When voters see Harris dodging questions about the economy, the border, or foreign policy, and the media spins it as a “measured approach,” it feels like a slap in the face. At this point, it’s less about Harris and more about how the media tries to cover her tracks, shielding her from scrutiny. That’s the real story.
CNN host Jake Tapper shocked pundits on social media as he slammed Vice President Kamala Harris for dodging multiple questions during her debate with President Trump on Tuesday night in Philadelphia…
Tapper noted, “It went on from there. Despite the economy being the number one issue facing the country, the sitting vice president generally reverted to talking points about a few of her policy proposals.” [Source: The Post Millennial]
CNN's Jake Tapper, in a shocking moment of journalism, SLAMS Kamala for dodging multiple debate questions:
"Vice President Harris began the debate by punting the first question on the economy…"
"On the border, another vulnerable issue for Harris, she also dodged…"
"When… pic.twitter.com/EUZm851EqL
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) September 11, 2024
But even the liberal media couldn’t stay silent after Tuesday night’s disaster. CNN’s Jake Tapper shocked both viewers and pundits by criticizing Harris for avoiding direct answers in her debate with Donald Trump. For a network that often bends over backward to protect its Democratic darlings, this was a surprise.
Tapper noted that Harris punted on the very first question about the economy, where she dodged whether Americans are better off now than four years ago.
Instead of addressing the core issue, Harris went on a tangent about her middle-class upbringing and launched into her usual talking points. Tapper, uncharacteristically critical, said it best: “That wasn’t the question.” He wasn’t done there. Tapper also pointed out how Harris dodged questions about the border and the Israel-Hamas conflict, offering generic platitudes rather than solutions.
Conservatives were stunned. Charlie Kirk, a prominent pro-Trump voice, called Tapper’s critique “a shocking moment of journalism.” After years of what they see as relentless bias from CNN, this moment of honesty felt like a bolt from the blue. For pro-Trump voters who often accuse the mainstream media of being in the tank for the Democrats, this was a rare instance where even a liberal network couldn’t ignore Harris’ poor performance.
So, is this the start of a media shift? Unlikely. But for now, Tapper’s honesty stood out in a sea of spin.
Author: Bo Dogan
