How Fox News, CNN reacted to Kamala Harris' 'fascinating' VP pick Tim Walz
Kamala Harris picked Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate in the 2024 election Tuesday, a choice dubbed a "happy warrior" or a far-left progressive with a lot to answer for, depending on which cable news network you were watching.
Weird.
Oh, yes, there's also that - Walz popularized the word "weird" to describe Republican candidate Donald Trump and his running mate, JD Vance. For whatever reason the goofy insult stuck, seemingly enraging GOP politicians who know a thing or two about name-calling.
That's probably the thing most people know Walz for. And it might be one of the reasons Harris chose him.
Tim Walz coined 'weird' to describe Donald Trump
"This guy comes out of nowhere," Van Jones said on CNN. "Two weeks ago nobody even knew his name. He lit up the grassroots, he lit up the internet. He was the first person to come out and define Donald Trump as weird, and suddenly people had a way to talk about him. 'Oh, he’s a fascist, he’s a dictator' - we were actually giving (Trump) more power. This guy punctured the Donald Trump balloon."
However, as David Chalian, CNN's political director said of the progressive energy Walz brings, "There's a flip side to that."
That side was on full display on Fox News, where the news was greeted with an almost giddy reaction. Finally, after a good media cycle for Harris, something to complain about! A progressive!
"The Democratic ticket now among the most far-left ever, and that is the reaction from the Trump team and a lot of Republicans we've been in touch with," Bill Hemmer said on Fox News. Apparently so — the network ran negative reactions from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton, Rep. Tom Emmer and, of all people, Vivek Ramaswamy on an endless chyron loop for part of the morning.
Some thought Josh Shapiro would be the VP pick
"I do think Republicans in some corners are rejoicing," Bret Baier said on Fox News, noting that some thought Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro would be the pick. "I do think it is a doubling down on the progressive side of the party. ... It's a fascinating pick that really has some people scratching their heads."
Not so fast, former Sen. Claire McCaskill said on MSNBC. There isn't much in the way of policy differences between Walz and Shapiro, she said: "I think this is going to be a mac-and-cheese, a trip to the hardware store grounded vice presidential candidate that is going to make people smile, and is going to be a real asset to Kamala Harris."
That folksy image was prevalent. "People are so disillusioned with politics," John King said on CNN. Walz gives them "somebody who's a little different, a little unorthodox." Yes, King invoked the description of Walz as a "happy warrior."
News of the pick broke more than an hour before Harris confirmed it in a text to supporters. When the confirmation finally happened, Baier laughed and said it better be Walz, or everyone would have a lot of explaining to do. That's true.
Where does this leave Mark Kelly?
That the choice played out this way, in such a television-centric way, was fitting. The whole process seems at times almost like a political reality show. (One of the popular things to point out about Walz is that, despite the white hair and grandfatherly appearance, he is younger than Brad Pitt.)
Because it is a political reality show. And if Walz was the winner and Shapiro the loser, where does that leave Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona? He was reportedly one of the three people Harris was considering for the pick and for a time seemed like the front-runner.
Kelly sent up some odd flares on social media Sunday. One post said, "Whether it was from my time in the Navy and at NASA, serving in the United States Senate, or visiting our troops overseas: I've learned that when your country asks you to serve, you always answer the call."
That sounds like the next sentence should be, "So thank you, Vice President Harris, for this opportunity to appear on the ticket, which I graciously accept."
Except no.
Kelly, or his account, also posted this: "My background is a bit different than most politicians. I spent my life serving in the Navy and at NASA, where the mission always comes first. Now, my mission is serving Arizonans."
That has the distinct whiff of close but no cigar. And then the post was deleted.
Jacob Peters, Kelly's communications director and senior advisor, posted, "An Arizona senator tweeting about being an Arizona senator is not news! Go back to your Sundays everybody!"
He sounded like the hapless Chief Wiggum on "The Simpsons." OK, folks, show's over, nothing to see here.
Peters was not, in other words, doing Kelly any favors.
It doesn't matter now. All eyes are on Walz, and will be till they're not. If this is a political reality show, the real competitors are Harris and Trump. John Nance Garner, who was one of Franklin Roosevelt's vice presidents, famously said the job was not worth a bucket of warm spit, only he didn't say spit. (It was a more genteel time in family newspapers.) Trump himself, after criticism of his pick of Vance, has said no one really votes for the vice president.
This may be true, but you wouldn't know it from the breathless coverage on cable news. It's another chapter in a continuing story that has already taken so many unexpected turns. It promises to remain, as Walz might put it, plenty weird.
Brat summer just got weird: Two words ignited Harris' candidacy
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Fox News, CNN react wildly differently to Walz as Harris VP pick
