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Former Obama official says VP Harris has 'no moral obligation' to talk to press
ABC6 ^ | 8/14/24 | Jackson Walker

Posted on 08/14/2024 10:27:31 AM PDT by Right Wing Vegan

A former Obama administration official is defending Vice President Kamala Harris for shying away from the press.

Michael McFaul served as United States ambassador to Russia from 2012 to 2014. He is also a contributing columnist to the Washington Post and a professor at Stanford University.

Taking to X Wednesday, McFaul highlighted attacks over Harris’s cautious approach toward the press. The vice president, he said, has no obligation to engage with reporters.

“The paramount objective for @KamalaHarris is to win this election,” he wrote. “If a press conference helps her win, she should do it. If not, she shouldn’t do it. It’s just that simple. She has no ‘moral obligation’ to talk to the press. Tone it down folks.”

The president and vice president are not required to speak to the press, though doing so is widely considered healthy for democracy as it allows American citizens to learn about their leaders. Regular press appearances also provide the opportunity for journalists to hold leaders accountable on behalf of the American public.

While Harris has seemingly avoided speaking to the press, she has made several public appearances at campaign rallies with running mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. Republican vice presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, this month greeted reporters during dueling events for both campaigns in Wisconsin and highlighted Harris’s avoidance of the press.

“I figured I’d come by— one, just to get a good look at the plane, hopefully it’s going to be my plane in a few months— but I also thought you guys might be lonely because the vice president doesn’t answer questions from reporters,” the senator said.

“I think it’d be good for you all if she actually ran a real campaign instead of one from her basement with teleprompters,” he added.

The senator went on to describe several contradictions in Harris’s campaign, pointing to her past as a prosecutor and her support for defunding police. Such questions, he said, deserve answers.

“It’s disgraceful that she runs from you guys,” he said.


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: kamala; mcfaul; michaelmcfaul; obama; obamanation
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1 posted on 08/14/2024 10:27:31 AM PDT by Right Wing Vegan
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To: Right Wing Vegan

Just like Obama wants nothing to do with citizen scum


2 posted on 08/14/2024 10:29:10 AM PDT by butlerweave
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To: Right Wing Vegan

3 posted on 08/14/2024 10:30:04 AM PDT by Magnum44 (...against all enemies, foreign and domestic... )
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To: Right Wing Vegan

A lame excuse for the fact that she is afraid of being exposed as the inarticulate cipher that she is.


4 posted on 08/14/2024 10:32:50 AM PDT by Southside_Chicago_Republican (God save the United States!)
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To: Right Wing Vegan
They are all reading from the same talking points. There is no moral obligation to talk to the “press.” I would argue that there is a moral obligation to talk to the American people and to inform them of your positions so that they can make an informed decision when they vote. Talking to the “press” is not the same as talking to the people. What they’re doing here is trying to justify making their positions unknowable.
5 posted on 08/14/2024 10:33:26 AM PDT by johniegrad
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To: butlerweave

Honestly..

Why SHOULD she do a press conference?

she is the nominee for president with out any primary or a single voter picking her.

She can stay in the baseent and the media will run her campaign. And actively combat adversaries.

The media WILL make up ANY position and the press can test market it. hash out any issues. And Kamala never has to state the opinion OR retract it.


6 posted on 08/14/2024 10:34:40 AM PDT by uranium penguin
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To: Right Wing Vegan

Can you imagine what that same official would say if it was Vance who refused to talk to reporters?


7 posted on 08/14/2024 10:34:41 AM PDT by erkelly
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To: Right Wing Vegan

The main stream media is doing the lying and obfuscating for her. She does not need to open her yap.
How worthy the MSM is of judgement when the Rightful Owner returns to see what we have done with what we have been given!


8 posted on 08/14/2024 10:34:43 AM PDT by langleyaction (Embedded within every corrupt system are the seeds of its destruction)
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To: johniegrad

This message is Pooh-Approved!

The ‘Rats’ Chinese masters really want someone to get the job while crushing the throats of the electorate. They’re pretty close, now.


9 posted on 08/14/2024 10:36:14 AM PDT by Empire_of_Liberty
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To: Right Wing Vegan
“The paramount objective for @KamalaHarris is to win this election,” he wrote. “If a press conference helps her win, she should do it. If not, she shouldn’t do it. It’s just that simple. She has no ‘moral obligation’ to talk to the press. Tone it down folks.”

Subtext: Kamala is trying to win a election. If she were capable of holding a presser that would help her win, she would. But she’s not so she won’t. She doesn’t have to talk to the press, you onow. And if you want her to win, don’t bring it up. You have your orders.

10 posted on 08/14/2024 10:36:45 AM PDT by BradyLS (DO NOT FEED THE BEARS!)
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To: Right Wing Vegan

Insofar as nobody voted for her in a primary, there’s some truth in that. She’s beholden to no voting citizen constituency that made her the presidential nominee.


11 posted on 08/14/2024 10:36:49 AM PDT by rx
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To: Right Wing Vegan

She doesn’t have to talk to the press. They speak for her.


12 posted on 08/14/2024 10:36:58 AM PDT by monkeyshine (live and let live is dead)
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To: erkelly

“Can you imagine what that same official would say if it was Vance who refused to talk to reporters?”

Remember when DJT went dark for a couple of weeks while Biden was imploding? The press were beside themselves for lack of access or statements from him.


13 posted on 08/14/2024 10:37:02 AM PDT by uranium penguin
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To: Right Wing Vegan

The left are twisting themselves into pretzels.
They are now caricatures, distorted, insincere, amoral and inauthentic, just cardboard cutouts pretending to relevancy. They fool no one not even themselves


14 posted on 08/14/2024 10:37:43 AM PDT by JayGalt (Fight! Fight! Fight!)
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To: Right Wing Vegan

Apparently, that is going to be her campaign strategy. Stay away from unscripted interviews and any debates. She already has the full backing of the MSM.


15 posted on 08/14/2024 10:38:10 AM PDT by Parley Baer (e)
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To: Right Wing Vegan

I’ll bet McFoul’s students really love him (/S), if he has any. Probably a cloistered research professor whose salary is paid by some commie like Soros so he can publish in communist rags that nobody reads.

Dude must be a P.I.N.O.


16 posted on 08/14/2024 10:38:52 AM PDT by mywholebodyisaweapon ("Carthago Delenda Est")
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To: Right Wing Vegan

Even though we know the “press” are hideously biased and in the tank for the dems, that statement is no different than saying “Kamala has no obligation to speak to the voters.” That’s what Obama is really saying, because in theory at least, the media are the conduits for information between government and the citizens.


17 posted on 08/14/2024 10:39:12 AM PDT by noiseman (The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.)
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To: Right Wing Vegan

It’s pretty much official now - they will try to hide and backslide their way to victory.


18 posted on 08/14/2024 10:39:32 AM PDT by simpson96
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To: Southside_Chicago_Republican

Well said.

It’s only to protect her and them from the consequences of her having to actually answer questions.


19 posted on 08/14/2024 10:40:25 AM PDT by metmom (He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus”)
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To: Right Wing Vegan

She’s on track for 100 million ballots.


20 posted on 08/14/2024 10:42:05 AM PDT by ClearCase_guy (I think women should get out of women's sports before they get hurt.)
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