The mainstream media is working overtime to scrub Vice President Kamala Harris’ record and memory hole the findings heading into the November election. It could be the latest attempt by the establishment press to propel her to the top government position in the land. But the internet is forever. From her radical record in the Senate to her failed stint as border czar, social media inhabitants and the internet ecosystem’s consciousness may never forget.
‘Most Liberal’ Senator Kamala Harris
In 2019, GovTrack, an organization that monitors congressional voting records, ranked Kamala Harris the “most liberal” senator compared to her colleagues in the upper chamber, including Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA). However, the “government transparency website” confirmed to Fox News Digital that it eliminated the web page between July 10 and July 23 of this year. The reason? A policy change that resulted in removing single-year ratings of US lawmakers to focus primarily on congressional sessions.
Still, an existing “2020 report card” ranked the then-senator as the “most politically left compared to Senate Democrats.” The website also identified Harris as the “2nd most absent in votes compared to All Senators.” CNN ostensibly agreed in August 2020, writing that “Harris’ voting record in the Senate is certainly one of the most liberal, though her record prior to the Senate is more moderate on some issues.”
The big box media’s actions might make sense in the broader context of the current election cycle. The public has routinely disapproved of the Bidenomics agenda, while current polling data give former President Donald Trump a slight advantage (when Democrat voters are not oversampled). The American people are witnessing the production of Kamala Harris 2.0.
Border Czar No More
House Republicans supported a resolution on July 25 to condemn Vice President Kamala Harris as the White House “border czar.” The measure cleared the lower chamber, receiving 220 votes, including six Democrats who voted “yes.” The latest gesture by the GOP caucus comes as the cogs in the mainstream media wheel have been running damage control for the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, insisting that their coverage of the last three years has been incorrect.
This week, Axios was taken to task on X over a July 24 post. The news outlet wrote: “The Trump campaign and Republicans have tagged Harris repeatedly with the ‘border czar’ title – which she never actually had.” However, in April 2021, the same publication reported that “Harris, appointed by Biden as border czar, said she would be looking at the ‘root causes’ that drive migration.”
In response to the backlash, the website corrected its supposed error. “This article has been updated and clarified to note that Axios was among the news outlets that incorrectly labeled Harris a ‘border czar’ back in 2021,” the company wrote.
While often there are no official “czar” titles, the role is generally defined as “a person appointed by government to advise on and coordinate policy in a particular area.” The executive branch has had a history of czars. Under former President George W. Bush, there was a “birth control czar” and a “bird flu czar.” His successor, President Barack Obama, had a few dozen, including an “auto czar” and a “bank bailout czar.”
President Joe Biden selected her to address the border crisis, and Harris accepted the responsibility, admitting that “the work will not be easy, but it is important work.” The Fourth Estate confirmed the administration’s announcement in March 2021.
From NBC News: “President Joe Biden announced Wednesday that he has appointed Vice President Kamala Harris to lead efforts to stem migration across the U.S.–Mexico border, as the administration faces growing political pressure to address a surge in undocumented migrant children unaccompanied by parents.”
From the Associated Press: “President Joe Biden has tapped Vice President Kamala Harris to lead the White House effort to tackle the migration challenge at the U.S. southern border and work with Central American nations to address root causes of the problem.”
In March 2023, Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-TX) submitted legislation to remove Harris “as the head of any executive branch task force or strategy related to immigration.” It was introduced but has been collecting dust in the House of Representatives.
The Newsbusters team put together a one-minute video compilation, highlighting broadcast news coverage, from CBS News to CNN, of Kamala Harris being described as the “border czar,” even during the 2024 Republican National Convention. However, members of the press made a 180 following her ascent and assured viewers that these claims were disinformation and misinformation. Whether the reportage is racist or sexist remains to be seen.
Get Ready
The next few months of 2024 election coverage might not be for the faint of heart. Rather than hurling hard-hitting questions as they would to any Republican running for a term in the White House, starry-eyed reporters will be in awe of Harris and pretend to be inspired by her wisdom, using phrases like “what can be unburdened by what has been” or “Ukraine is a country in Europe. It exists next to another country called Russia.” Brace yourselves, the reporting may trigger a slight case of nausea.
