NEW: Kamala Harris' allies are increasingly frustrated by the latest stream of news reports packed full of White House drama and anonymous quotes that detail internal fighting and jockeying over the future of their party. by @rbravender ($) @thisisinsider businessinsider.com/kamala-harris-…
The problem in their eyes is a combination of scoop-hungry reporters and Democratic operatives who traffic in the kind of who's up-who's down speculation and gossip that journalists frequently use in their coverage.
No question, the stories do keep piling up about Biden, Harris, and other assorted Dem power players like Buttigieg. The latest example: a blistering CNN story published Sunday that details "exasperation and dysfunction" inside the White House and among POTUS & VPOTUS aides.
"None of this is helpful. I don't care if you work for Joe Biden or Kamala Harris," said one former Harris aide, who requested anonymity to speak candidly. "My advice to everyone is to stop using the media as your therapist."
Much of the finger pointing is being aimed at the media, with complaints centering around charges of racism and sexism that influence the coverage of Harris despite her barrier-breaking role as the first woman, Black person, and Indian American to hold the vice presidency.
"What the media has done to her office is appalling," Howard Dean, the former Vermont governor & ex-chairman of the DNC, told @thisisinsider
"This is pack journalism," Dean added of the recent news reports. "I think these stories are all crap and you may quote me on that."
"This is pack journalism," Dean added of the recent news reports. "I think these stories are all crap and you may quote me on that."
One Democratic strategist said it's an "unrealistic expectation" that the tension within the White House will change. "It's not like one issue or one confrontation or one group of people that aren't getting along, it feels like the whole thing is upside down," that person said.
But several other Democrats said it's early in the administration, and there's still time to change the dynamic. There's speculation in some circles that staff changes will be coming in the vice president's office before the end of the year in an attempt to do damage control.
"They almost need to have a public scalp," said a Dem strategist & veteran of previous presidential campaigns, who suggested sweeping out top staffers. "They need to do a bunch of stories about the Kamala 2.0" and have Biden "come out and credential her," the strategist added.
Others say the Biden White House needs to focus on shutting down the chatter from within. It appears as though there are "a lot of lower and mid-level people who aren't doing either of their bosses any favors," said another former Harris aide.
"It's incumbent on their bosses," the former Harris aide added, "to knock some heads together and get the ship going in the same direction."
Check out the full report from @rbravender w/ a @thisisinsider subscription. Sign up here: businessinsider.com/kamala-harris-…
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