As Vice President Kamala Harris solidifies her bid for the presidency, media outlets have been accused of giving her the "Hillary Clinton treatment," rallying around her and defending her from past controversies.
Vice President Kamala Harris's presidential campaign has garnered mixed reactions, with some media outlets appearing to rally around her while others have poked fun at her image. This has led to accusations that the former group is giving Harris the "Hillary Clinton treatment."
Media Outlets Accused of 'Hillary Clinton Treatment' Towards Kamala Harris
A recent New York Magazine cover featuring Harris with the headline "Welcome to Kamalot" has drawn criticism on social media, with many comparing it to the hype and scrutiny that Clinton faced during her 2016 presidential campaign. The Spectator's Stephen Miller called it "a funny play on words, but a magazine referring to an earlier media-driven myth creation about a previous Democratic president is a bit on the nose."
However, Harris supporters have praised the image, with The Democratic Coalition writing, "Kamalot - we love it! Kamala Harris has energized the Democratic Party in the space of one week like nobody has ever seen."
Media Outlets Accused of 'Hillary Clinton Treatment' Towards Kamala Harris
The media's portrayal of Harris has also been compared to Clinton's in terms of her handling of controversies. Harris was once dubbed the "border czar" after Biden tasked her with addressing the root causes of mass migration from Central and South America. While the Biden administration has rejected the title, it was widely used by critics and news organizations until recently, when Harris became the apparent Democratic presidential nominee.
This has raised questions about why the media has suddenly dropped the "border czar" label, with some suggesting that they are attempting to manufacture Harris into a more palatable candidate. Townhall.com writer Sarah Lee called the magazine cover "garish and dystopian," while others described it as "weird" and "cringe."
Media Outlets Accused of 'Hillary Clinton Treatment' Towards Kamala Harris
Some outlets have also come to Harris's defense, running pieces urging her to "do better" than Biden in taking questions from reporters. Fox News' Joe Gabriel Simonson wrote, "The play on words is about a fictional monarch who no one under their rule also voted for."
The Trump campaign has accused the media of giving Harris preferential treatment, saying that the former president Trump will debate Harris should she win the Democratic Party's nomination. The Democratic National Convention runs from August 19 through August 22.
Media Outlets Accused of 'Hillary Clinton Treatment' Towards Kamala Harris
According to some experts, the media's treatment of Harris reflects a broader trend of polarization in the journalism industry. Many news outlets have become increasingly partisan, with some favoring the left and others the right. This can lead to biased coverage of political candidates and issues.
It remains to be seen whether the media's portrayal of Harris will have a significant impact on her presidential campaign. Some believe that the positive coverage could help her consolidate support among Democratic voters, while others worry that the negative attention could damage her credibility. Only time will tell how the media's treatment of Harris will ultimately affect her chances of winning the presidency.
