Staff Reports
Vice President Kamala Harris is gearing up to pull a fast one on the American public this Friday, attempting to redirect the blame for rising inflation—not at the feet of the Biden administration she is a part of, but at the greedy private sector. Rather than owning up to the economic train wreck that is Bidenomics, Harris is pivoting to a narrative that casts the federal government as the virtuous protector, shielding hardworking Americans from corporate villainy. It’s a classic case of misdirection, allowing her to sidestep the grim reality that inflation under her watch has been living large at a whopping 41-year high.
This maneuver comes just as signs hint that inflation may finally be showing some signs of cooling off, which is quite a relief given the economic chaos that has unfolded since Biden took office. Meanwhile, widespread concern about the drastic rise in living costs compared to the economically stable days of former President Donald Trump underscores the stakes for Democrats this election season. Harris seems all too aware that voters aren’t lining up to cheer for how much more they’re shelling out for their groceries these days.
In an amusing twist, Trump recently appeared in New Jersey, standing next to everyday grocery items that have skyrocketed in price under the Biden-Harris regime. With his typical flair, he reminded everyone that Harris has been promising to address high prices since her first day in office—and yet here we are, years later without substantial action. His punchline hit home: “Where has she been?” Those rhetorical shots from Trump and allies, such as Sen. J.D. Vance, remind voters that while Democrats have been busy playing the blame game, they have been sitting on promises unfulfilled.
What points are being scored in this ongoing debate? The duo of Harris and Biden argue the feds can curb inflation by curtailing price increases, throwing money at subsidies, and punishing “greedy” businesses. Meanwhile, Republicans put the spotlight on the fiscal free-for-all that sprung from the American Rescue Plan and a bloated federal budget. Harris was right there to break the tie and fuel spending that has left Americans gasping for air—and for relief at the grocery store. It’s like they lit the fuse on a fireworks display and then want to blame the sputtering embers for burning their hands.
Vice President @KamalaHarris will try Friday to shift blame for inflation from a federal government headed by her and President @JoeBiden to a greedy private sector. https://t.co/50FaPEfT7a
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) August 16, 2024
In economic terms, the basics are quite clear: inflation stems from too many dollars in an economy trying to catch up with supply. But Harris and Team Biden have opted for a strategy that paints corporations as the bad guys, allowing Democrats to feign a solution that targets portions over principles. This clever sleight of hand hopes to shield the administration from blame while enlisting the support of voters who, understandably, are too focused on rising prices to examine the depths of federal mismanagement.
The stakes couldn’t be higher for Harris as she attempts to shore up her standing within a stumbling administration. The courageous endeavor of reshaping her image as a “different kind of Democrat” might win a few hearts, but the hard truth remains that distancing herself from Biden on inflation may not change the math on how voters feel about their ever-increasing grocery and gas bills. Thus, as Harris makes her pitch in Raleigh, Americans can only wait to see if her efforts at channeling the woes of inflation into a deflection tactic hold water—or simply drown in the facts of a disastrous economic legacy.
