Elon Musk didn’t hold back on his critique of a BET Awards video featuring Vice President Kamala Harris.
Musk described the vice president’s appearance—where she dropped references to rappers Kendrick Lamar and Drake—as “toenail curling level of cringe.”
Harris and Henson’s Howard University Connection
In the video, Kamala Harris and host Taraji P. Henson, both proud Howard University alumni, discussed pressing political matters.
Their conversation was not just a casual chat but a deep dive into the current political climate as the presidential election looms.
Taraji’s Concerns Voiced to VP Harris
During their discussion, Taraji P. Henson expressed her worries about the upcoming election, focusing on women’s rights and the Supreme Court.
She asked Harris, “Our basic freedoms are being tested, Madam VP. What are you hearing out there?”
Harris’s Street-Level Insights
Responding to Henson’s concerns, Vice President Harris acknowledged the gravity of the issues at hand with her reply, “Yeah, girl I’m out here in these streets. And let me tell you, you’re right, Taraji. There is so much at stake in this moment.”
She emphasized the widespread belief in freedom and equality among the majority, highlighting the contrast with extremist views.
Rap References Make Waves
Harris tied in Kendrick Lamar’s track “They Not Like Us,” relating the rap feud’s energy to the current political divide.
This move, however, was met with mixed reactions from the audience and critics alike.
Journalistic Reactions and Defense
The video, shared on social media by journalist Alex Berenson, received a spectrum of responses.
While Berenson himself said, “This is so bad…”, others jumped to defend Harris, acknowledging the importance of her message in the election context.
A Call for Voter Registration
Amid the criticisms, Harris made a poignant call to action, urging everyone to register to vote.
Her message aimed to mobilize support and emphasize the stakes involved in the upcoming election.
The Fight for Fundamental Freedoms
Harris didn’t shy away from listing the freedoms under threat—voting rights, gun safety, and women’s rights to bodily autonomy.
She highlighted the severity of the attack on these fundamental rights.
Harris as a Potential Presidential Candidate
A new poll indicates Harris is a frontrunner to replace President Joe Biden if he opts out of the re-election race.
Her popularity among Democrats seems to be holding strong despite various challenges.
Other Democratic Contenders
Vice President Kamala Harris currently leads the field as the top choice among Democrats to potentially replace President Joe Biden, should he decide not to run for reelection.
However, other notable Democrats are also garnering significant support for the presidential nomination. California Governor Gavin Newsom and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg are seen as strong contenders, each having a substantial base of supporters.
Voter Uncertainty and Diversity of Opinion
The poll revealed that a notable percentage of Democrats are undecided or prefer a candidate not listed in the survey.
This shows a diverse range of opinions within the party about who could best lead.
The Final Countdown to the Election
As the election approaches, the Democratic Party and its voters are weighing their options carefully.
The choice they make could significantly influence the political landscape of the United States in the coming years.
Remaining Focused
In public, Harris is trying to stay out of the controversy and remain focused on her party’s goal of defeating Donald Trump in the November election.
“It’s simple: Donald Trump is a threat to our democracy and fundamental freedoms. With your vote, we will stop him this November,” Harris wrote in a recent X post.
Not the First Time
This is not the first incident where Kamala Harris has given cringe vibes to political observers. During the recent Pride month holiday celebrating LGBT people, Harris produced a video with the Queer Eye cast that had many online cringing.
“It’s officially DAY 0 of Kamala not killing everyone with cringe, again,” said a user in response to the video of Harris.
Mamala Harris
Another popular incident many online felt cringe-inducing was Harris’ interview with Drew Barrymore.
During the May interview, Barrymore asked Kamala if she would be the “mamala” of the country.
Scripted Politician
Harris receives criticism online for the clips she posts as part of her political actions, which are often perceived as scripted and phony.
“Kamala Harris always comes across as so fake, cringe and forced. This scripted conversation with actress Taraji Henson is no exception, and comes across as something you’d see on Sesame Street. #BidenHarris2024,” said an X user.
Appealing to Black Voters
Another famous gaffe for Harris happened during the 2020 election cycle. She went on a podcast and awkwardly explained her marijuana usage in college, which some found hypocritical given her former role as an attorney general.
“Remember when Kamala Harris went on ‘The Breakfast Club’ and laughed about the fact she smoked cannabis in college — the same “crime” for which she sent more than 1,500 people to prison?” said an X user.
Why Can’t Harris Land With Voters?
It seems that many things Kamala Harris does are met with accusations of cringe from her critics online.
Political commentator Brad Polumbo has blamed this disconnect on Harris being “cringe personified,” suggesting that her inability to seem authentic most of the time makes her a terrible politician.
Support for Harris
A favorability poll last year of 1,000 black voters across the country found Harris has struggling approval among the younger demographic.
In the category of those 18-34, Harris only had an approval rating of 37%, which is 2 points lower than Joe Biden and 40 points lower than Barrack Obama among Black voters.
Effort to Reach Black Supporters
This year ahead of the election, Harris has stepped up efforts to appeal to Black voters after polling showed that support for her and Biden’s re-election bid had been losing support.
“We all know Black entrepreneurs do not lack for ideas or ambition but often lack the capital that is necessary to turn an idea into a thriving business, to invest in inventory, hire employees, to scale up,” Harris said in May after the White House rolled out $100 million in federal funds for auto parts manufacturers.
Gallup Poll
A poll by Gallup released in February found that Democrats have been losing ground with Black and Hispanic voters compared to the previous election cycle.
Democrats have experienced an 11-point decrease in party affiliation from Black voters since 2020.
Why are Black Voters Disappointed With Democrats?
Black voters, who have historically voted for the Democrat party in overwhelming numbers are starting to sour on the party in recent election cycles. There are a growing number of black voters who feel they don’t have a home in either major political party.
“I’m not voting for Trump, but I’m not excited about voting for Biden,” said college Senior Olivia Jones last month. “None of my close friends are excited about either candidate. It’s a universal feeling…I guess you can call us double haters.”
Biden’s Previous Support
In the 2020 election, Biden managed to capture 92% of the Black vote while his opponent Donald Trump only ended up with 8% of this demographic.
The election was tight, with key states Biden needed for victory only won by tens of thousands of votes. If he ends up losing too much support from Black voters, it could cost him the reelection.
Shrinking Support
A Pew Research report in May found that the breakdown of Black voters who lean Democrat had shrunken to 83 percent.
Black voters are overall very critical of Trump, but if the election were held today, 18 percent of Black voters said they would vote for or lean towards voting Trump.
