Democrat presidential nominee Kamala Harris‘ campaign was slammed online Thursday afternoon after one of its spokespeople tried to claim that the campaign had not agreed to the ABC News debate rules that the candidates’ microphones would be muted during the debate while their opponent talked.
The claim from Harris spokesman Brian Fallon came hours after the New York Post reported that ABC News informed both the Harris campaign and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump’s campaign in an email from ABC News Chief Counsel Eric Lieberman that the September 10 debate would have the same rules as the CNN debate in June — the candidates will be standing with muted microphones, not allowed to have any notes with them, and no audience will be present.
CNN reported that the Harris campaign was asked to let go of the issue surrounding the microphones so that the debate can happen, but that the campaign appeared to not be doing so, even though ABC News already set the “formal list of debate rules.”
“Our latest understanding is that even though Trump said Monday he would be fine with an unmuted mic, his handlers don’t trust him to spar live with VP Harris and are asking ABC to ignore Trump’s comments and keep the mics muted or else they will back out of the debate for a third time,” Fallon claimed. “We have been asked to accede to Trump’s handlers’ wishes on this point for the sake of preserving the debate. We find the Trump’s team’s stance to be weak, and remain in discussions with ABC on the final rules.”
Fallon faced significant backlash online over his claim from a wide range of political pundits.
“Here’s the thing about shills: They are literally paid to be dishonest and disingenuous,” said John Podhoretz, editor of Commentary Magazine. “Though in Brian’s case, I’m sure he’d do it for free, since he hasn’t made an honest argument in his entire life.”
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Versus Media Podcast host Stephen L. Miller wrote on X: “Biden made these rules and ABC is abiding by the original debate rules, just as you originally wanted. Don’t know what else to tell you.”
Daily Wire Editor Emeritus Ben Shapiro fired back at Fallon: “Stop trying to manufacture excuses to avoid debates.”
“He agreed to three,” Shapiro said. “You agreed to one with the original rules, and one provisionally; then you tried to change the original rules. You’re a campaign of cowardice.”
Stop trying to manufacture excuses to avoid debates. He agreed to three. You agreed to one with the original rules, and one provisionally; then you tried to change the original rules. You’re a campaign of cowardice. https://t.co/Khuhod6evt
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) August 29, 2024
Red State writer Bonchie added: “No one is buying this. Especially not after ABC News’ own memo on the rules leaked showing the rules *were always* the same as the CNN rules. You got caught trying to manufacture a reason to pull out. Own it.”
