Alright, folks, so here’s the scoop: Joe Biden hops on a Zoom call with a Latino voter outreach group, just trying to make a point about Trump’s crowd at Madison Square Garden. He’s all fired up, right? And somehow, out it slips that Trump’s supporters’ rhetoric is “garbage,” and he actually calls his supporters “garbage.”
Boom—political firestorm. Before you know it, the media’s screaming, “Biden just pulled a Hillary!” Remember her “basket of deplorables” back in 2016? Yeah, it’s déjà vu. Republicans are out here claiming Biden went too far, calling this a smack in the face to half the country. Trump himself is comparing it to Hillary’s comment, saying it’s even worse. And, boy, did the right-wing pundits pounce.
So, what’s the big deal? Well, think of it like Thanksgiving with your family—everyone knows Uncle Joe will pop off, but when he does, it’s still chaos at the table. Biden was supposedly just venting about a comedian at the Trump rally who trashed Puerto Rico, calling it a “floating island of garbage.” And, well, Biden decided to take that garbage metaphor and run with it.
Now, here’s where it gets fun: Joe’s gaffe might be the best thing that ever happened to Kamala Harris. She’s got the chance to throw some shade at Biden while looking like the grown-up in the room. Picture it: Harris saying, “Listen, America, this isn’t how I roll. I’m here to unite us, not sling mud.” It’s like she’s saying, “That’s old-school politics, folks, and I’m here to bring the new game.” It’s like Biden just handed her the keys to “be the grown-up.” Harris could lean into the classic “women as peacemakers” narrative, you know?
It’s the perfect opportunity for her to finally put some daylight between herself and President Biden, to show us how things will be different under her brand of leadership. This wasn’t a Biden gaffe! It was a gift, if she’ll receive it!
Look, Kamala’s spent her whole vice presidency riding shotgun with Joe, sticking by his side through thick and thin, right? But this is her chance to say, “I’m taking the wheel now.” She can make a stand, distance herself from Biden’s missteps, and indeed from the politics of testosterone-infused male bravado one-liner- shit slinging politics and offer up, instead, a fresh vision for America. Imagine her stepping up and saying, “Look, under my leadership, we won’t sling mud from the podium; we’ll be too busy building bridges.” It’s a powerful message—different from Joe’s fiery rhetoric. Biden’s got that classic, bare-knuckled political style. But Kamala? She could be the one to hit reset.
It’s like the Beatles breaking up and McCartney going solo; she’s finally got the moment to step out on her own, separate from the noise and baggage Biden’s been carrying. Biden’s a scrapper—he’ll throw a jab, and it’ll land hard. But maybe folks are looking for someone to drop the gloves and bring a cooler head. That’s the opportunity here. It’s an election year, people want unity, and Kamala could be the one to promise a future without the “boys club” brawling on the national stage. This moment gives her a chance to tell Americans she’s ready to lead differently. But she had better pounce on that opportunity fast because this election is for all the marbles and it’s less than a week away!
Now, will she grab it? That’s the big question. Because make no mistake—if she’s smart, this is her shot to say, “I’m done playing second fiddle.” This isn’t about undermining Biden; it’s about saying, “The future deserves more.” She can frame herself as the calm, steady hand to Biden’s throwdown style; show that she’s ready for the long game.
And it’s not like she’s kicking him to the curb; she’s just standing up and saying, “When it’s my turn, we’re doing things differently.” Because let’s face it, Biden’s playing the end game of his political career; Kamala’s looking at the long haul.
