Harris is both savior and distraction, depending on the day
A political opponent accuses a candidate of needing a high-profile figure to energize his base, while simultaneously criticizing the same figure for being a 'handpicked' candidate.
The story
Rep. Tom Tiffany claims Kamala Harris' visit to Wisconsin to support David Crowley signals weakness in Crowley's campaign, suggesting Crowley lacks the ability to energize the Democratic base.
Source: www.foxnews.com
Our reading
Tom Tiffany is so convinced that Kamala Harris is a crutch for David Crowley’s campaign that he’s now accusing her of being a crutch for the entire Democratic Party. It’s like saying a lifeguard is only there because the swimmer is drowning, but also that the lifeguard is the reason the swimmer is in the water in the first place.
What’s funny is that Tiffany is using Harris’s presence to argue that Crowley is weak, but he’s also implying that Harris is the one who’s weak for needing to prop up a candidate who can’t stand on his own. It’s a paradox that would make a philosopher blush, but also a perfect example of how politics is just a game of who can throw the most confusing blame.
So now, if Harris wins, it’s because she’s a savior. If she loses, it’s because she’s a distraction. Either way, the real winner is Tom Tiffany, who’s managing to be both the critic and the critic’s critic.
