Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI) may not have wanted to be selected as Vice President Kamala Harris' running mate, but that hasn't stopped her from shamelessly covering for the Democratic Party's nominee. Whitmer has remained a powerful defender of Harris, which matters significantly as Michigan is a true "Toss-Up" for the presidential race and has an open U.S. Senate seat, as Democratic Senator Debbie Stabenow is retiring.
Whitmer is as cringe as she is conniving. Ahead of this week's DNC, she posted a video about Chicago pizza that was so overly enthusiastic it was scary.
The video, tagging Governor JB Pritzker (D-IL), was only six seconds long, but it was six seconds too long. "DNC's in a few days, so JB Pritzker, we're coming your way," Whitmer declared in a singsong voice, complete with a handclap and some sort of dance.
Her post also asked the governor, "Where’s the best place in Chicago for Detroit-style pizza?"
Hey @JBPritzker, where’s the best place in Chicago for Detroit-style pizza? 🍕 pic.twitter.com/zSFa5w1BIW
— Gretchen Whitmer (@gretchenwhitmer) August 15, 2024
Pizza styles are likely the least of Whitmer's, Pritzker's, and the rest of the Democrats' problems this week.
The DNC has been besieged by pro-abortion and pro-Hamas protesters condemning Israel and taking issue with what support the Biden-Harris administration has dared to show our ally in the Middle East following last year's October 7 terrorist attack by Hamas. Like something out of a parody, the DNC is also segregating caucuses by race and other criteria, and the recently released platform referred to reelecting President Joe Biden multiple times, despite how his fellow Democrats pushed him out of his reelection bid last month.
Whitmer, a co-chair of the Harris campaign, is expected to speak at the DNC this week. She also spoke at the 2020 DNC. More recently, she appeared on NBC News' "Meet the Press," defending Harris and her policies. Out of that Sunday show appearance came some soundbites, which weren't too helpful for the Harris campaign.
From the start, host Kristen Welker brought up the problems of the Biden-Harris administration and asked if Harris could keep up the "momentum" that she has "right now."
"Given that President Biden had historically low approval ratings, given that he was running behind Mr. Trump in a number of different issues, almost every issue, in fact, do you believe that Vice President Harris should be doing more to distance herself from President Biden?" Welker asked.
What Whitmer said in response should be played on repeat by the Trump campaign and put into an ad.
"I think President Biden is going to go down as one of the greatest presidents we've had in a long time in this country. And Kamala Harris has been a big part of this administration. They've been partners. They've delivered for the American people. So I think we’ve got to tell that story," Whitmer offered. The governor isn't the only one to go with that line of thinking, given that White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre also referred to Harris and Biden as "partners" with their failed economic policies during last Monday's press briefing.
What Whitmer brought up next as part of her response was more about Harris and her running mate, Governor Tim Walz (D-MN).
"I also am excited about this new chapter in American politics. Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, I think, are a wonderful complement to one another. They're real people who've lived middle-class lives. They know what people in this country are going through," Whitmer gushed. "And they know how to address the problems, whether it's affordable housing, or bringing down the cost of groceries, or helping you if you're raising kids in your house or just simply fighting for fundamental rights. So there's a lot of energy, it's exciting," Whitmer added while acknowledging, "This is going to be a close race all the way through."
Harris campaign co-chair Gretchen Whitmer: Kamala Harris and Biden are "partners" in their failures pic.twitter.com/T8VATghEmQ
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) August 18, 2024
Especially for the reasons Welker mentioned, the Harris-Walz campaign may want to separate itself from the Biden-Harris administration, but it doesn't get to, as Harris is the sitting vice president. It seems that virtually every headline POLITICO puts out on the race was written by the Harris campaign, with one in particular from last week sticking out by claiming it's former and potentially future President Donald Trump trying to tie the two together by reminding voters they're "a team."
As Guy covered last week, Axios had a headline on Harris trying to "redefine herself." But again, she shouldn't get to do that, and the mainstream media shouldn't be helping her.
Whitmer's response offered the perfect segue for Welker to mention policy. Harris has been making news for her new policy proposals, many of which she has copied from Trump and his running mate, Senator JD Vance (R-OH). What original ideas she has come up with are so far-left they've been endorsed by the Democratic Party's most radical members and rightfully criticized as being communist.
"The vice president laid out some of her economic policies this week. Among other things, she's proposing a ban on price gouging," Welker mentioned, using the more polite framing of Harris' plans for price controls. She went on to quote Jason Furman, an Obama administration economist. "This is not sensible policy. And I think the biggest hope is that it ends up being a lot of rhetoric and not reality. There's no upside here, and there is some downside," he said. Welker summed up Furman's warning that price controls could ultimately stifle economic growth and asked, "So, do you think that's the best way to bring down prices in Michigan?"
It's worth mentioning that it's not just Democrats like Furman who believe this. Even the mainstream media, like CNN and the Washington Post, have taken issue with Harris' policy proposals that are downright communist in nature.
Whitmer provided yet another line that should be played on repeat by the Trump campaign. "Well, I think people are reading too much into what has been put out there," she claimed. "We know that Kamala Harris is going to be focused on, building up more affordable housing. We know that Kamala Harris has already delivered on making sure that health care is more accessible and affordable for Americans. And we'll protect Obamacare."
NBC: Do you think Kamala's communist price control scheme is the best way to bring down prices in Michigan?
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) August 18, 2024
Harris campaign co-chair Gretchen Whitmer: "People are reading too much into what has been put out there."
😬 pic.twitter.com/M2fJGb3U9R
The governor then went on to rant and rave against former and potentially future President Donald Trump. "That's a million people who have health care in Michigan right now that Donald Trump's been trying to rip away. That only adds costs onto people's backs. And so that's why I think this opportunity economy that Vice President Harris is talking about and laying the broad strokes for, I think, shows she sees every American, she understands what people are struggling with, and wants to help you keep more money in your pocket. The biggest part of our personal budgets go toward housing, go toward health care, go toward the fundamentals. And she's got a plan on all those fronts to help more Americans be able to get a path to prosperity," Whitmer claimed.
Especially since Whitmer herself beamed about Harris being part of the current Biden-Harris administration, it's worth reminding that Harris could do something about these issues right now. Democrats, including and especially Biden, may clutch their pearls over Trump, but he's been out of office for almost four years.
As Welker tried to push back somewhat, referencing Trump's criticisms of Harris' proposals and the Washington Post editorial board, she asked Whitmer, "Is this plan to ban price gouging any more than a gimmick?"
The governor's answer was worse than a non-answer, it also used another fancy term of "corporate responsibility" as one of Harris' supposed plans and claimed she thinks "it speaks to Kamala Harris' values."
As Welker then asked if she thinks "it's smart policy," Whitmer framed Harris' plan in a rather particular way. "I think that any effort we make to keep more money in Americans’ pockets is worth walking the path, and having the conversations, and figuring out how do we make this economy work for everybody," she offered.
WATCH: @GovWhitmer (D-Mich.) reacts to VP Harris’ price-gouging plan amid criticism, saying "It speaks to Kamala Harris' values."@kwelkernbc: "So you think it's smart policy?"
— Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) August 18, 2024
Whitmer: “Any effort we make to keep more money in Americans’ pockets is worth walking the path.” pic.twitter.com/DwXs7zLAsS
As Katie covered last Friday regarding Harris' speech on economic policy proposals, the vice president handed the Trump campaign a gift as she lamented the rising prices, which took place during the administration she's a part of. Sure enough, the Trump War Room put out a clip of Harris' remarks.
We may be lucky that Whitmer wasn't chosen as Harris' running mate, though we're no better with the person she did pick, Walz. Further, that doesn't mean Whitmer doesn't play a role. Stay tuned and watch out for more tone-deaf takes from the governor, especially since her state is in play this November.
We couldn't have said it better ourselves. pic.twitter.com/W9H1CSDZlA
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) August 16, 2024
