Kamala Harris made another error and all three networks have done their best to conceal the embarrassing moment on an international platform. While appearing at a press conference with Poland’s president, the Vice President on Thursday broke into a bizarre laughing fit, drawing widespread mockery and outrage.
Despite the fact that her visit was mentioned in the evening newscasts and morning programs on Friday, all of them ignored this very strange and unsettling moment.
While standing next to Andrzej Duda, a reporter asked, “Is the U.S. willing to make a specific allocation for Ukrainian refugees?” After the question, Harris replied, “okay” and “A friend in need is a friend indeed.” She then started laughing.
Former spokesperson to Ukrainian President Zelenskyy Luliia Mendel responded on Twitter:
The tweet was quickly removed by her.
This latest gaffe was censored by ABC, CBS, and NBC. What Harris coverage were they able to get instead? Friday’s Today mentioned the Vice President for 4 seconds during the two hour program. Here was reporter Kelly Cobiella: “Vice President Kamala Harris met with Ukrainian teens at the border Thursday.”
Good Morning America managed five seconds. George Stephanopoulos quickly noted, “And this morning, Vice President Harris is meeting with American troops stationed in Poland to reaffirm the U.S.’s support for NATO allies in the region.”
CBS MorningsNothing on Friday. On Thursday’s Nightly News, the NBC program simply pretended the gaffe didn’t happen:
KRISTEN WELKER – In Poland, Vice President Kamala Harir supported the calls for an investigation into war crimes. Peter Alexander has more.
PETER ALXANDER: This evening, Vice President Kamala Harris speaks out on ground in Poland. She expresses concern, condemnation and denouncement of the strike at a Ukrainian maternity hospital.
KAMALA MALA HARRIS, VICE-PRESIDENT: For weeks we have witnessed atrocities that are unimaginable in scale.
The CBS Evening NewsThe visit was allowed for 32 seconds ABC’s World News Tonight provided 1 minute and 29 seconds about the “diplomatic mission to Poland.” Anchor David Muir cheered, “The Vice President offering very tough words on Putin’s actions so far in Ukraine, the human toll.”
The Third Hour Today on Friday featured Kelly Cobiella gushing about how “comforting” Harris has been and how her words in Poland are so “appreciated.” No mention of laughing at the U.S. taking in refugees. This might seem less comforting to some viewers.
The networks have a history of covering for the VP’s blunders. In January, MRC Director of Media Analysis Geoffrey Dickens detailed the eight-least covered Harris gaffes.
The effort to cover for Harris was sponsored by Swiffer on CBS, by Ensure on ABC And by General Mills on NBC. To let them know your thoughts, click on these links.
Here are some partial transcripts. Click “expand” to read more.
Today
3/11/2022
8:04
KELLY COBIELLA. On Thursday night, Kamala Harris, the Vice President of the United States met with teenagers from Ukraine. Overnight, the Senate approved a spending bill that included 1.4 billion for refugees.
Good Morning America
3/11/2022
7:31GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS – The most recent news about Ukraine. As Russia intensifies its attack on Mariupol, hundreds of thousands of civilians remain trapped. U.S. officials claim that they are aware of evidence suggesting Russia could use false accusations about the United States or Ukraine using chemical weaponry as an excuse to attack. And this morning, Vice President Harris is meeting with American troops stationed in Poland to reaffirm the U.S.’s support for NATO allies in the region.
…
NBC Nightly News
3/10/2022
7:08KRISTEN WELKER – In Poland, Vice President Kamala Harir supported the calls for an investigation into war crimes. Peter Alexander has more.
PETER ALXANDER: This evening, Vice President Kamala Harris speaks out on ground in Poland. She expresses concern, condemnation and denouncement of the strike at a Ukrainian maternity hospital.
KAMALA MALA HARRIS, VICE-PRESIDENT: For weeks we have witnessed atrocities that are unimaginable in scale.
World News Tonight
3/10/2022
6:34 PM ET19 Seconds
DAVID MUIR: And tonight, Vice President Kamala Harris on a diplomatic mission to Poland. News regarding those Soviet-era fighter aircrafts. The Vice President was pressed on that offer to deliver those jets to a U.S. Air base and the Vice President on Putin’s actions in Ukraine so far as some leaders in the U.S. already label them war crimes.
6:44
MUIR – This evening Vice President Kamala Harris, and the Polish diplomatic mission. He spoke out strongly about Putin’s conduct in Ukraine and the death toll. Many western leaders have now labelled Putin’s conduct as war crimes. Let’s call Mary Bruce, our White House senior correspondent tonight. Mary Harris (vice president) in Poland accused the Russian government for atrocities. That was the exact word she used in Ukraine.
MARY BRUCE. David, the vice-president, is now calling for an international probe into Putin’s war crimes. Kamala Harris today saying, “We are witnessing atrocities of unimaginable proportions,” including the targeting of that maternity and children’s hospital. Women who are pregnant were injured and taken to hospital on stretchers. Harris calls this violence unprovoked, and it is not justified. This violence against civilians is considered war crime. The white house says that there is a formal process to determine whether or not a particular attack on civilians can be considered a war crime. David’s testimony would help to establish accountability and offer some hope of future justice. But even if Vladimir Putin were declared a war criminal it is highly unlikely that he would face any trial. David?
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