The political arena recently witnessed Minnesota’s Governor Tim Walz buddying up on the national stage with Vice President Kamala Harris, in a rather unimpressive introduction that underscored the widening gap between Democratic leadership and ordinary Americans. The scene unfolded amidst an exuberant audience in Philadelphia, where Harris and Walz attempted – rather ineffectively – to paint an appealing picture of the Governor as a former schoolteacher and football coach who has allegedly benefitted his constituents.
The crux of Walz’s stage presence seemed to entail utilizing his platform to launch relentless criticisms toward former President Donald J. Trump and Senator JD Vance. Although these attempts at chipping away at the Republican opposition gave Walz his national ticket, the dismissive tone he used raised more questions than answers. ‘Trump sees the world a little differently,’ said Walz, proceeding to throw personal jabs at Trump’s commitment to service.
In one of his many jabs, Walz attempted to twist the narrative of the Trump Administration’s track record by falsely claiming that violent crime increased under Trump’s watch. Conveniently, he dismissed the more complex factors contributing to crime rates across the nation. This blatant disregard for contextual information seems to be a common trait among Democrats looking to push their narrative.
Walz’s attempts at national relevance have notably included utilizing a catchphrase to label Trump and Vance as ‘weird’. He even stooped so low as to label them ‘creepy and weird as hell’, a tactic that can only be seen as an attempt at influencing public perception rather than presenting concrete facts. The spectacle seems to have worked for now, winning him accolades from the progressively inclined sections of his party.
Amongst the discourse, Harris lauded several of Walz’s policies that conveniently line up with the Biden administration’s views. This political song and dance seems more intent on proving their alignment with each other’s policies, rather than focusing on what is best for the American people. Among the points of focus were Walz’s stance on abortion rights and the arguably unnecessary expansion of voting rights in Minnesota.
Displaying typical Democrat rhetoric, Walz masqueraded his support for abortion as a defense of personal freedom. This common appeal to emotion is standard operating procedure for the Democratic Party, as they continue to push their progressive agenda in the name of personal freedom. Walz tries to appeal to the neighborly respect of Minnesotans while telling opponents to ‘Mind your own damn business’, a strikingly unprofessional approach for a so-called national leader.
Walz also delved into personal territory by discussing his experiences with in vitro fertilization, an issue that has been on the conservative radar in some states. However, instead of using this as a platform for much-needed bipartisan dialogue on issues such as these, Walz weaponizes his personal experiences as political ammunition. It says a lot about Walz’s priorities that personal narratives are being weaponized for political gain.
The rally unfolded with an uncomfortably conspicuous endorsement of Walz by Pennsylvania Governor, Josh Shapiro – a figure who was a close runner-up to Harris on the Democratic ticket. Shapiro referred to Walz as a ‘great man’, ‘great patriot’, and a ‘dear friend’, dousing his speech with superlatives that perhaps reflect more on Shapiro’s eagerness for allies than on Walz’s leadership capabilities.
Continuing his theatrics, Shapiro admitted to committing himself to ensure the victory of Harris and Walz. Such subjective bias is questionable coming from an individual who is in a position of power. Interestingly, even Walz had to join the bandwagon by applauding Shapiro for managing an interstate highway reconstruction. The spontaneous bouts of self-appreciation within the Democratic leadership seem strikingly out of touch with the pressing significance of national interests.
In what can only be described as a spectacle of empty rhetoric, the fundraising rally for the Harris campaign pointedly became one of the most successful of the election cycle. Earning above $20 million following Walz’s announcement as a running mate presents a stark contrast to the Democratic leadership’s purported image of champions for the less fortunate. It raises the question of whether such gross capital could be used in more meaningful ways to genuinely benefit the American people.
With a rallying cry that was more a call for blind loyalty than an inspirational plea, Mr. Walz signaled the beginning of an exhausting three-month race to November. The astonishing nonchalance and detachment from reality were once again highlighted when he told his supporters, ‘We’ll sleep when we’re dead.’
Ending his speech, Walz pledged his unconditional support to Vice President Harris in the forthcoming days and assured his supporters he would have their backs. However, given the divisive undertone of the rally and the administration’s track record, it remains to be seen if these promises hold any real substantial value for those who need it the most.
Walz Puts on a Weak Display with Harris, Slams Former President Trump appeared first on Real News Now.
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