Jan. 6 White House Comment Controversy
White House stands by Harris as her comments garner controversy.
“Certain dates echo throughout history, including dates that instantly remind all who have lived through them -- where they were and what they were doing when our democracy came under assault. Dates that occupy not only a place on our calendars, but a place in our collective memory. December 7, 1941. September 11, 2001. And January 6, 2021.” These opening remarks in Vice President Harris’s Jan. 6 speech have quickly become the center of much controversy and debate. The focal point of this debate being the comparison Harris made between Pearl Harbor (Dec. 7) and the 9/11 terror attacks to the Jan. 6 riot.
The comparison’s critics believed the events were incomparable. Many were quick to point out the disparate death tolls of the events. Jan. 6 led to the death of 5, while Pearl Harbor and 9/11 saw the deaths of 2,403 and 2,996, respectively. Debra Burlingame, the sister of Charles Burlingame one of pilots to lose his life in 9/11, stated that Jan. 6 and 9/11 are fundamentally different and should not be compared. "Mentioning them in the same breath not only diminishes the horror of what happened on 9/11; it tells a false story to the generation of Americans who are too young to remember that day nearly 20 years ago.”
On the other side of the coin, the White House is standing by Harris’s comments. President Biden stated that the Vice President had shared the truth and referenced it in his ensuing speech. “Our darkest days can lead to light and hope. From the death and destruction as Vice President referenced in Pearl Harbor can then triumph over the forces of fascism... So now let's step up, write the next chapter in American history where Jan. 6 marks.” White House press secretary Jen Psaki also defended Harris’s comments during a press briefing. Psaki said that critics of the comparison were using it as an excuse. “I would suggest that they be a part of solving the threat to democracy that occurs today and is happening today. And they’re using this as an excuse not to be part of that.”
Potential Biases Found: Note, the subjects below are simply my interpretations/opinion and are not meant to be taken as a statement of fact. My opinions will discuss only the framing/bias I believe to be present.
Some of the articles on this topic seem to heavily praise the President and paint him as powerful man. This framing was done with phrases such as calling Biden’s speech “Intense,” “forceful,” and “Stunning TV.” There is no way to factually prove any of those statements, thus making them akin to framing. Some statements added unnecessary segments that appeared an attempt to paint former President Trump in a negative light. In mentioning Trump, an article states he is, “a one-time reality television star who knows how to steal the spotlight.” The phrasing seems to emphasize Trump’s ego and this statement has no relation to discussing events such as Biden’s speech and Jan. 6.
There are many articles that showcase the various negative opinions about Vice President Harris’s comparison of Jan. 6 to 9/11. Although some articles make mention of those who support Harris, a majority focused on statements from those who lost loved ones in 9/11. Presenting more of the disapproving side of an argument can make those who support it a seeming minority. Another article discusses two Lincoln Project members who do believe that Jan. 6 was worse than 9/11. However, in the first paragraph it is made apparent to me that the article is on the side of disapproval. This is due to a quote introducing the Lincoln Project members’ position, “the Jan. 6 Capitol riot was worse than the 9/11 terrorist attacks that killed thousands of Americans and launched multiple wars.” Adding the section mentioning the deaths and wars evokes an emotional response in the reader. This appears intended to discredit the position presented by the Lincoln Project members.