Get ready for four months of this. Earlier today, the president of the White House Correspondents Association smeared Fox & Friends host Brian Kilmeade, asserting that Kilmeade used a deeply outmoded and racially insensitive term while describing Kamala Harris' schedule. The claim was quickly amplified, with great indignation, by the national chairman of the Democratic Party. Many others piled on, including former Senator and MSNBC regular Claire McCaskill. In addition to blasting Kilmeade for his alleged use of a racist term, the mob also went after co-host Lawrence Jones -- who is black -- for just sitting there in silence. All of it is rooted in at best am ugly misinterpretation of what Kilmeade said, and at worst, an outrageous and racially-divisive lie.
My colleague did not refer to a "colored sorority." He said "college sorority." He eats the word 'college' a bit in the sentence, but that's what he said. And this is what they're doing to him. It's despicable:
“A COLORED sorority” … in 2024 on national tv… this clown thought it was correct and appropriate to use the term “colored” to describe a distinguished and historic African American sorority.
— Jaime Harrison (@harrisonjaime) July 24, 2024
But what is even worse… a Black man sat a few feet away on that couch and didn’t… https://t.co/DLjkfst8u3
Others who were on set are defending Kilmeade, including the "Black man" Harrison attacked:
I’m the black man. You’re so damn dishonest. He said “college.”
— Lawrence Jones III (@LawrenceBJones3) July 24, 2024
But that’s all you have. You know the bullshit that you advocate for only brings death, poverty, and destruction to our black communities. You are welcome on the show anytime to debate it.
Me and you. https://t.co/j4g1G1dDRx
This episode exemplifies the tawdry, destructive 'news' media-Democrat smear machine alliance. This wasn't put forward by some nameless Twitter accounts. It was rocketed into prominence by the leader of the organization of White House correspondents, then turned to an even bigger 'controversy' by the person who chairs the Democratic Party. I get it: If you want to hear "colored" here, you can hear it. And they wanted to hear it. They wanted to hear it because in order to win an upcoming election, they will do and say literally anything -- including, if not especially, repeating racially divisive lies for political gain. I also understand that in a heated political climate, people can hear something that confirms their priors, especially if a faulty transcription is provided to them, adding the power of suggestion into the mix.
But when a highly plausible alternate explanation (I'd call it obvious here) comes to light, the honorable thing to do is to admit that you may have gotten out over your skis and jumped to a conclusion in which you are no longer confident. You don't even necessarily have to admit you were wrong, for sure, nor must you apologize to the person you've tarnished, though you should do both. At a minimum, concede that there's another interpretation that makes sense, and delete the viral smear (McCaskill quasi-backtracked, badly). Don't add a second, far less seen tweet to cover your bases and let the original claim stand. This is vile stuff, and it's what we are going to see on repeat through November. There is a political gang in this country that is heavily invested in racial grievance, and if they don't have sufficient content to feed their rapacious grifts and manipulations, they'll invent some. I'll conclude by echoing Kilmeade's actual point:
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Kamala Harris’ first substantively consequential move as her party’s nominee is to snub a Congressional speech delivered by the leader our closest Middle East ally — his first such address since terrorists attacked his country, murdered 1,200 people, and kidnapped hundreds. American hostages remain in terrorist captivity. Harris appeared in the same chamber, waving the flag of an another attacked ally as its leader spoke, not long ago. She is prioritizing a sorority event today, and will instead slink into and out of a private meeting with our ally.
When President Zelensky addressed a joint session of Congress, VP Kamala Harris was in her seat as President of the Senate.
— Joel M. Petlin (@Joelmpetlin) July 23, 2024
When Prime Minister Netanyahu comes to speak, she will abandon her seat & skip the speech.
Both American allies.
Both at war.
One is treated differently. pic.twitter.com/q23GJp1wYf
