U.S. — Ahead of the presidential debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump on September 10, the Harris campaign has asked if their candidate’s mic could “please” be muted for the duration of the debate.
“It’d help us out a lot,” said a spokesperson for Kamala Harris.
Trump campaign senior advisor Jason Miller said in a statement, “There is literally no point in debate if one person isn’t going to speak. Is she going to respond via interpretive dance or something?”
A debate of any kind, not just among presidential candidates, in which one person doesn’t speak at all, has never happened before. But Kamala Harris says she’s proven she can break barriers. “I’m not only the first female vice president but the first person of color also. I’m a pioneer,” Harris told reporters. “You know? Pioneers. They traveled across the country to find a new life for themselves like I’m going to find new life in muting my mic. [Laughter] So that I don’t talk. And why should I talk? Right? I mean why? Because a picture is worth a thousand words and I’m like a picture. A real, moving, talking picture. Well, not the talking part. [Laughter] So what I’m saying is that I’ve already won the debate just by showing up and people need to realize that.”
Trump is reportedly considering the change in terms in spite of warnings by his campaign to stay the course. “Women should be neither seen, nor heard! Am I right, fellas? I HAVE A LOT TO SAY!” he said in a post on Truth Social.
Go here to read the rest.
I am rather afraid that the strategy of hiding Harris will work and that we will be burdened by a Harris who will never afterwards shut up.
This contest threatens to be decided by middle of the road voters in the swing states, again. Voters who might be characterized as so disengaged that they only pay attention during election season. With no smoking gun to show that Harris is a flaming socialist automaton, they may well swallow the hope and change tripe.
Win, lose or messy conflict following, may God have mercy on us all!
Is this idea stupid?
All mail in ballots must be postmarked by Sept. 25th. All ballot tabulation and proper vetting of ballots must be completed by October 25th.
This might be helpful come Election day.
(Popular vote.)
btw, I realize that it or an idea similar to it couldn’t be made into formal rule this cycle, but possibly in future ones?