Staff Reports
Former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard has taken to the airwaves once again, weighing in on the upcoming debate featuring Vice President Kamala Harris. Gabbard, who famously parted ways with the Democratic Party after a failed bid for the presidency in 2020, believes Harris’s ability to handle unscripted moments will be a true test of her capabilities. In a world where flashy soundbites often overshadow substance, the stakes couldn’t be higher for Harris, who is still trying to find her footing after several years in the vice presidency.
Flashback to 2020: Gabbard delivered a punishing blow to Harris’s campaign during a primary debate that left many wondering how the California senator had been deemed a formidable candidate in the first place. It was an unforgettable exchange, where Gabbard called out Harris on her spotty prosecutorial record and her habit of flipping positions faster than a pancake. Harris stuttered and fumbled, clearly caught off guard, much to the delight of viewers eager for a taste of political drama.
🚨 FLASHBACK: Tulsi Gabbard absolutely DEMOLISHES Kamala Harris in the 2019 Democratic Presidential debate.
The clip that ended Kamala’s first Presidential campaign.
Share this far and wide! pic.twitter.com/i9AyAfl7Tg
— Proud Elephant 🇺🇸🦅 (@ProudElephantUS) July 23, 2024
Since then, Harris has made quite a name for herself—though skeptics might say it’s more of a spectacle than a legacy. She’s been at the White House picnic table for a while now, yet many believe she’s still running away from her record instead of standing firm. The Democrats, known for their grand speeches and grander illusions, are going to have a difficult time when it comes to defending the real outcomes of their policies.
In a twist that practically seems plucked from a political satire, Gabbard predicted that Harris would face challenges in the chaotic moments that come with unscripted debate interactions. Critics often cite her as a puppet dancing on the strings of the Democratic establishment, and if her past performances are any indication, those strings might get tangled. The stakes are escalating, with Gabbard suggesting that viewers will see Harris grapple with those uncomfortable truths that she seems so adept at avoiding.
Debate prep is a serious affair, and, reportedly, Harris has been rehearsing with a Donald Trump impersonator. Yes, you read that right. The same kind of prep that helped Hillary Clinton try to navigate the labyrinth of Trump-era politics is being resurrected. Gabbard humorously highlighted this quirky tactic, pointing out that mere memorization of lines won’t suffice when faced with Trump’s blunt, truth-telling style. Those bated breath moments, where facts clash with Harris’s carefully curated responses, could be the highlight of the evening.
The backdrop to all of this is the potential bias from the moderators, who have openly aligned against Trump in past performances. With connections to the Democratic establishment practically sewn into their fabric, the moderators’ assistance to Harris could help cushion her from the rough-and-tumble nature of direct confrontation. Still, Gabbard argues that even that won’t save her from the hard questions about why the issues Harris now critiques were allowed to fester under her watch.
The debate is poised to be a fascinating clash of ideologies and personalities. Gabbard holds expectations that Trump will stick to his guns, focusing on the substantive issues that Americans genuinely care about rather than getting drawn into personal jabs. This strategy worked well in the past. With a backdrop of intense political theater, viewers are set to witness whether Harris can shine in the spotlight or whether she becomes a casualty of her missteps and the ever-watchful gaze of her opponent.
