Hurricane Helene wreaked absolute havoc in parts of some southeastern states including Florida, Georgia, and Tennessee.
The western part of North Carolina was particularly hard hit by what was left of Helene late Thursday going into Friday, with so many roads and highways being flooded, washed out, and in some cases partially collapsed and inaccessible that state officials are urging people not to travel at all to that part of the state unless they are part of rescue/relief crews.
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In the midst of what some have called “apocalyptic” devastation in the NC mountains, where at least 30 people are confirmed dead, as much as 30″ of rain was recorded in some spots, and houses and vehicles were seen floating down massively flooded streets, there has been growing criticism that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have been nowhere to be found.
Indeed, Biden was vacationing (again) at Rehoboth Beach this weekend while Harris was wining and dining at left coast campaign fundraisers. In fairness, Biden had already done the official things presidents typically do when clearing the way for federal assistance. But the insensitivity of him relaxing beachside and Harris clinking glasses at megadonor fundraisers, while Katrina-like destruction was unfolding elsewhere, wasn’t lost on their critics.
It is perhaps with that in mind that Harris (or her handlers) posted a photo to the Twitter machine late Sunday night showing her with her cell phone in front of her, a pen in her hand, and wearing her earbuds, looking like she was doing official work:
“I was just briefed by @FEMA_Deanne Criswell on the latest developments about the ongoing impacts of Hurricane Helene. We also discussed our Administration’s continued actions to support emergency response and recovery.
I also spoke with @NC_Governor Cooper about the ongoing rescue and recovery efforts in North Carolina.
Our Administration will continue to stay in constant contact with state and local officials to ensure communities have the support and resources they need.
Doug and my thoughts are with all those who lost loved ones and those whose homes, businesses, and communities were damaged or destroyed during this disaster.”
I was just briefed by @FEMA_Deanne Criswell on the latest developments about the ongoing impacts of Hurricane Helene. We also discussed our Administration’s continued actions to support emergency response and recovery.
I also spoke with @NC_Governor Cooper about the ongoing… pic.twitter.com/nlZPB0h3mO
— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) September 30, 2024
The covering of the “vice” part of the vice presidential seal was an interesting touch, too.
If one isn’t looking closely at the photo, though, they might miss something: the fact that it doesn’t look like her earbuds are plugged into her phone:
Why aren’t your headphones plugged into your phone? https://t.co/lkPykBzwdD pic.twitter.com/EHrXJuPE6E
— Still Boneless (@still_boneless) September 30, 2024
Also, don’t you think your advisors would tell you to make sure your earbud is plugged into your actual phone, since you don’t seem to be able to think of it when you’re staging your shots? https://t.co/VqFcWjaBVu pic.twitter.com/lRtMyRvsqI
— Carnival Barker Renee🤷♀️💅🏻 (@eeners) September 30, 2024
She’s got corded earphones that aren’t even plugged in 😭😭😭
— Patrick Webb (@RealPatrickWebb) September 30, 2024
Others thought that maybe even the piece of paper she was “writing” on might have been blank, but it’s hard to tell:
Invisible Ink.
Smart. https://t.co/xYKraiVxRq pic.twitter.com/DPymuUVmIE— Cat Without A Hat (@least4masks) September 30, 2024
There are a couple of things that I find super-annoying about the photo. First, if she indeed really wasn’t on the phone (and FWIW she’s been known to play games with her earbuds before), it’s just more fakery on top of fakery from a candidate and team who try reinventing her as a “great leader” just about every single day.
The other thing and more importantly is that not one person in this country who is heartbroken and praying for western North Carolina families should be impressed with the photo and caption considering it was posted two days after the region got hammered by Helene and after Harris had other priorities that didn’t include expressing anything beyond the bare minimum concern for the hundreds of thousands who have been negatively impacted in my state.
Headset not plugged into the phone really says it all here. https://t.co/C1bEsJ0In6 pic.twitter.com/nqTWxUYs91
— sentient 6 (@sentientsixp) September 30, 2024
Whether the headphones are plugged in or not, that staged photo and caption do say a lot about Kamala Harris, with none of it being good.
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