The struggle to attack Kamala Harris: A comedy of errors

A night of political satire

On a recent episode of “The Daily Show,” host Jon Stewart delved into the perplexing and often contradictory attacks on Vice President Kamala Harris by right-wing media and former President Donald Trump. The segment was a masterclass in political satire, highlighting the absurdity and desperation of these attacks.

The mixed bag of accusations

Stewart began by showcasing a series of clips where Trump and his allies attempted various lines of attack against Harris. One particularly bizarre claim was that Harris “doesn’t like Jewish people.” Stewart, with his characteristic wit, pointed out the irony, noting that Harris’s husband is Jewish. “Join the club,” he quipped, “we’re getting crushed out there.”

The attacks didn’t stop there. Megyn Kelly and Ben Shapiro both resorted to sexist tropes, accusing Harris of “sleeping her way into politics.” Stewart’s response was both humorous and cutting, highlighting the baselessness of these claims.

The right-wing’s identity crisis

Stewart noted that the right-wing pundits seemed unable to decide whether Harris was too soft or too tough on crime during her tenure as California’s attorney general. “She is too soft on crime! She’s too tough on crime? People, we open in three months! You’re flailing! Dig deep!” he exclaimed, capturing the confusion and inconsistency of these attacks.

The desperate attempts to find a negative angle

In their desperation, some right-wing commentators even accused Harris of being disliked by her staff. Stewart pointed out the hypocrisy of this claim, given Trump’s notorious reputation for firing his own staff. “Your candidate’s Donald Trump. His catchphrase is literally ‘you’re fired!’” Stewart remarked, drawing laughter from the audience.

The fallback to racism and sexism

As the segment progressed, Stewart highlighted how, when all else fails, the right-wing media often resorts to racism and sexism. Clips from Fox News and Newsmax showed pundits calling Harris a “DEI” and a “token hire,” with one commentator going as far as to say her only qualifications were “having a vagina and the right skin color.”

Stewart’s commentary was sharp and insightful, pointing out the absurdity of these attacks. “If these people ever saw a Pizza Hut-slash-Taco Bell they’d lose their minds,” he joked.

The ultimate attack: Screaming “SHE’S BLACK!!”

In a particularly memorable moment, Stewart threw to “Daily Show” senior political correspondent Josh Johnson, who humorously suggested that the right-wing’s winning attack would likely just be screaming, “SHE’S BLACK!!” Johnson’s satirical take on the situation underscored the racial undertones of many of the attacks on Harris.

A fair proposal

Stewart concluded the segment with a tongue-in-cheek proposal for fairness. “How about we do this out of fairness? I’m a fair person. You can replace your old guy too. Even Steven,” he suggested, offering a humorous solution to the political mudslinging.

Watch the segment

For those who missed the episode, you can watch the full segment here.

Personal reflections

As a fan of political satire, I found Stewart’s segment both entertaining and thought-provoking. It highlighted the often contradictory and baseless nature of political attacks, while also providing a much-needed dose of humor. Stewart’s ability to dissect complex political issues with wit and insight is a testament to his enduring appeal as a comedian and commentator.

For cinema and TV series enthusiasts, this segment is a reminder of the power of satire in shaping public discourse. It also underscores the importance of critical thinking and media literacy in navigating the often murky waters of political commentary.

Stewart’s segment serves as a powerful reminder that, in the world of politics, sometimes the best response to absurdity is laughter. And in these times, we could all use a good laugh.