Vice President Kamala Harris was again within the battleground state of Pennsylvania on Sunday, the place she spoke earlier than a Philadelphia church congregation and subsequently got here below fireplace from social media commenters for allegedly unveiling a “new accent” in the course of the occasion.
“BREAKING: Kamala Harris unveils a brand new accent at a black Philadelphia church,” well-liked conservative X account “Finish Wokeness” posted Sunday accompanied by video of Harris on the occasion.
Harris traveled to the Church of Christian Compassion in Philadelphia on Sunday morning, the place she spoke to the predominantly Black congregants, telling them that in simply 9 days, voters will “have the ability to resolve the destiny of our nation for generations to come back.”
“Right here in Pennsylvania, proper now every of us has a possibility to make a distinction. As a result of on this second we do face an actual query. What sort of nation will we need to stay in?” she stated. “The wonderful thing about dwelling in a democracy is we the individuals have the selection to reply that query. So allow us to reply not simply with our phrases, however with our works.”
Harris cited the E-book of Psalms in her remarks, together with saying: “Weeping could endure for an evening, however pleasure cometh within the mornin’. The trail could appear laborious, the work could appear heavy, however pleasure cometh within the mornin’ and church morning is on its means.”
Critics on social media pounced on clips of Harris quoting Psalms, saying she debuted a brand new “pastor” accent, evaluating her inflection to Martin Luther King’s tenor.
Harris has beforehand been accused by critics of unveiling new “accents” whereas on the marketing campaign path, together with one final month when she spoke earlier than the Congressional Black Caucus, and one other “accent” that was in comparison with “Foghorn Leghorn” throughout a Labor Day rally in Detroit when she spoke to blue-collar union staff.
“Since when does the vice chairman have what feels like a Southern accent?” Fox Information’ Peter Doocy requested White Home press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre final month following her Detroit speech that was in comparison with the “Foghorn Leghorn” cartoon character.
“I don’t know what you’re speaking about,” Jean-Pierre replied.
“Nicely, she was speaking about unions in Detroit utilizing one tone of voice, she used the identical line in Pittsburgh, and it seemed like she no less than had some sort of Southern drawl,” Doocy pressed.
“I imply, do you hear the query that you just’re – I imply, do you assume Individuals severely assume that this is a vital query?” Jean-Pierre pushed again. “You recognize what they care about? They care in regards to the economic system, they care about reducing prices, they care about well being care. That’s what they need to hear… democracy and freedom… I’m not going to even entertain some query about… it’s simply. Listening to it sounds so ridiculous. The query – I’m speaking in regards to the query – is simply insane.”
Fox Information Digital reached out to the Harris marketing campaign concerning the Philadelphia speech and critics who lambasted the VP for unveiling the “new accent,” however didn’t instantly obtain a reply on Sunday afternoon.
Pennsylvania is once more a key battleground state this election cycle, after Trump gained the state in his profitable presidential election in 2016, and President Biden claimed the state in 2020. Each Trump and Harris have repeatedly crisscrossed the state in current months as they work to lock up votes within the state that may doubtless decide the general consequence of the election.
Harris will maintain a marketing campaign rally in Philadelphia later Sunday, whereas Trump will be a part of a rally in New York Metropolis’s Madison Sq. Backyard Sunday night.