The news media — from FOX to ABC and others – have taken note of Vice President Harris’ habit of changing her speaking style when addressing different audiences. In one speech she speaks in her well educated elitist California English style.
In other addresses, she takes on what has been described as a “southern accent.” Some have called it street talk or Ghetto speak. The Toronto Sun referred to it as “fake cartoon-like accent.” What is obvious is that the change in speaking style is obvious.
Whatever it is, it is an apparent attempt to connect with specific audiences – but is it empathy or pandering? And does it have any insight into her character? Those are questions that can only be answered by those aware of Harris’ various “voices” – and very few will be.
It is not unique to Harris. An excerpt from my upcoming book on Democratic Party racism covered that subject in terms of President Johnson. I wrote:
“Johnson was also a master of ‘code-switching’ or subtly changing one’s normal speech style to fit the audience. Johnson biographer, Robert Caro, wrote that Johnson would calibrate his language by switching between “nigra” and “negra” depending on the regional background of the audience.”
There is also Father Michael Pfleger, a controversial White Catholic priest in Chicago with a predominantly Black congregation. The fair-haired pastor of German ancestry takes on an extreme Black preacher voice and style at the pulpit. Given his background – and how he speaks normally — it is an obvious stage act. While he apparently is very popular with his flock, I have found the habit to be condescending – an oral version of Blackface. But I am not a member of his church.
MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough occasionally puts on a deep southern accent as a form of humorous mockery – as if mockery is ever funny.
When asked about Harris’ code-switching by FOX White House reporter Peter Doocy, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre scoffed at the question and said she had no idea what Doocy was talking about. Since the story was carried on a number of news outlets – and his job is to follow the news — either Jean-Peirre is incompetent or … fibbing. I vote for the latter.
Agreed that Harris’ rhetorical flip-flopping is not the biggest issue in the world. It is an interesting observation, however – on a level with the mysteriously vanishing cackle. Politics is a performance art, and Harris is a pro.
So, there ‘tis.