Sunday, October 20, 2024

Tossing Things Against the Wall



You won't be surprised that U.S. Representative Byron Donalds of Florida, once on Donald Trump's short list for vice president, has jumped to a venomous conclusion.


The eight-second video which mocked Communion featured Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer was tasteless, part of an equally tasteless social media trend. Although Whitmer was wearing a camoflauge Harris-Walz cap, the video did not include either the presidential or vice-presidential candidate, and Whitmer herself has sort-of almost apologized for the incident. Thee is no "they" who mocked the Christian sacrament but Whitmer currently is running for nothing, so a "she" became a "they" to Donalds.

And Harris does not avoid "key Catholic events."  Outside of the Washington, D.C. beltway, southern California, or Manhattan, no one cares about the Al Smith dinner. Tens of millions- conservatively speaking- of Americans don't know who Al Smith was and even fewer care. Admittedly, it does give the power elite a chance to shell out $5,000 (minimum) for a ticket, dress up and hobnob with the power elite but the event long ago lost most of its luster and significance.

By contrast, Trump did appear so that he could deliver a "bitter, profanity-laden rant against his political opponents," including "I don't give a shit if this is comedy or not." Worse yet: "Catholics, you gotta vote for me. Just remember. You better remember that I'm here and she's not." A dinner event, he believes is less important to Catholics than the economy, national security, gun safety, reproductive rights, or whether to give unlimited power to a guy who believes immigrants are sub-human. And you better remember-  or else.

More significant is the claim about the rally.  The congressman remarks "And she even told voters who believe 'Jesus is Lord' & 'Christ is King' that they were at the 'WRONG RALLY'."

You are to believe that Kamala Harris told voters they were at the wrong rally because they believe Jesus is Lord and Christ is King. 

However, that does not appear to be what happened. According to Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel's Laura Schulte

Vice President Kamala Harris was interrupted by hecklers at a rally for supporters at the La Crosse Recreational Eagle Center Thursday.

It was the Democratic presidential nominee's second campaign event in the battleground state of Wisconsin on the day. About 20 minutes into Harris' speech, a number of attendees were escorted out, while shouting "Jesus is Lord" at those around them.

Unfazed, Harris stopped her remarks and countered. "Oh, you guys are at the wrong rally," she said. "No, I think you meant to go to the smaller one down the street."

The crowd erupted into cheers and applause as the protesters were shown toward the door.

It wasn't "unfazed," rather a great line delivered at just the right time, almost as if the candidate had the line ready for when she would be heckled. (Skip the "almost.") The Independent reported

“Remember Donald Trump hand selected three members of the United States Supreme Court with the intention that they would undo the protections of Roe vs. Wade,” Harris said as murmurs began coming from a section in the crowd.

“And they did as they intended,” the vice president concluded, before being met with a chant of “Lies! Lies! Lies!” from one rallygoer and at least one more shouting out. The crowd erupted into cheers and applause as the protesters were shown toward the door.

Neither news article is complete, though it seems that any Christian chant occurred after the heckling had garnered Harris' attention and the protestors were asked to leave.

This latest incident smacks of the exploitation of the  Springfield, Ohio Haitians-eating-dog and cats (unfounded) rumor, which eventually prompted Trump's running mate to admit that he likes to "create stories."  We don't know for sure what happened at that rally but prominent Republicans really don't care what the truth is about that, or almost anything else. And that is probably even more important than the anti-Semitic or as anti-Catholic attributes of her opponent.




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