Harris becomes spokesperson for the DNC. Plus, Pelosi rips Trump, and the media melts away
By Gary Abernathy
VP Harris’s new role: Announcements for the DNC
Since when did the vice president of the United States serve as the official spokesperson making announcements for her political party?
Well, since this week, when VP Kamala Harris apparently took over that role from the Democratic National Committee chair. We can only assume that the DNC communications director wasn’t available, either.
As CNBC reported, “Vice President Kamala Harris announced a new $25 million investment by the Democratic National Committee to expand its program that will help get out the vote in the upcoming midterm elections.”
To be sure, there’s nothing unusual about a president or vice president coordinating events, and even spending, with their party. But usually, announcements of such spending or programs are left to party officials. The president and VP are typically above serving as party hacks announcing such initiatives. They’re the president and vice president of all Americans, right? They’re busy. They have bigger things to do.
In other words, the vice president should be announcing government initiatives or spending, or new deals made with Congress. Instead, our vice president is reduced to announcing DNC spending programs. What’s next? President Biden announcing a new roof being installed at state party headquarters in Iowa?
Pelosi insults Trump, and the media drools again
The drooling love affair between many in the media and Nancy Pelosi is always a thing of wonder. The latest example comes this week after the House speaker’s media fandom fell in love with her all over again for insulting former President Donald Trump by referring to him as a “twice-impeached Florida retiree.”
Pelosi is “the queen of shade,” according to AlterNet, where a writer claimed that “the internet is applauding Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi for a rare, biting take-down of Donald Trump.”
Two things. First, the internet didn’t do anything of the kind. Only Pelosi fan club members applauded her. Second, there was nothing “rare” about it. Pelosi insults Trump as often as she raises her eyebrows or punches the air with her hands as she speaks. It’s just amazing, and amusing, to watch media worshipers melt in Pelosi’s presence.
Plural pronouns for individuals isn’t woke, it’s confusing
To a degree, people can “identify” as whatever they want, and everyone else can choose to react to that anyway they want, because personal freedoms go both ways. I say “to a degree,” because no matter what, I really can’t identify as a 7’1 center for the Boston Celtics, no matter how much I insist on it.
But what I won’t do, personally, is adopt the use of plural pronouns for singular people, including people who say they are “nonbinary.” I raise this again today because of the increasing number of news stories I read where news organizations are adopting this style.
“They” and “them” mean more than one person. To refer to one person with a plural pronoun sounds ridiculous. “Diana went to the store, and they returned with two bags of groceries” is nonsense. I’m amazed — but then again, I’m not — at the media organizations that just immediately adopt this trend. In a world where we need more clarity, not less, referring to individuals with plural pronouns adds to the confusion.
Consider this famous exchange between “Dirty Harry” Callahan and some robbers in a diner, as Callahan intercepts the crooks:
“We’re not just gonna let you walk out of here.”
“Who’s we, sucker?”
“Smith, Wesson and me.”
Pretty soon, “we” might not mean what we have always agreed that it means, if the trend continues. Instead of meaning multiple people, “we” could mean just one person.
In a western, a sheriff telling the posse, “They went thataway” could today mean just one bank robber went somewhere, not the whole gang. “They came to our rescue” might not refer to the cavalry, but to the Lone Ranger. It’s ridiculous.
As I’ve pointed out before, there are alternative singular pronouns for nonbinary people. A website called Safe Zone offers a few: “Hir: (here) A non-gender specific pronoun used instead of “her” and “him.” Sie or Ze: (see or zee) A non-gender specific pronoun used instead of “she” and “he.” Ve: (vee) A non-gender specific pronoun used instead of “she” and “he.”
I’m happy to use any of those alternatives. Just don’t ask me to use plural pronouns like “they,” “them,” “we,” “their” or “us” to refer to individuals. Nor should anyone else.
The media needs to lead the way and say, “Hey, we’re sympathetic to nonbinary people, but for the sake of clarity and common sense, we won’t refer to one person with ‘they,’ ‘them,’ ‘we’ or other plural pronouns.” In reality, I don’t hold out much hope that the media will do anything other than roll over.
Have a great weekend.
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Am I living in the same world I was born into? They, he, she, we don’t know?