Hey Kamala, keep up the laughter
He needed a real sense of humour, when US President, Joe Biden, introduced him at a NATO summit as Vladimir Putin. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky was fortunately a career comedian before taking the reigns of country, invaded and devastated by Putin’s Russian military and mercenaries, and he smiled at the faux pas.
It was just another brain fade leading to Biden’s reluctant withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race, but added some black humour to the serious business of global politics and conflict.
I’m not a Donald Trump supporter, but I love watching him back on the hustings. If the result of the US election didn’t hold such major ramifications for the shape and exercise of global power, his rallies and rants would be popcorn on the sofa events. I wouldn’t vote for the man, but I’d certainly vote for continuation of his rallies that have become a bizarre reality show with circus ring extras.
Trump is not a comedian. He’s an angry dude. If not, he’s someone who is smart enough to play the part and mirror the anger and frustration with politics, economics and community decline held by the MAGA crowd. It was no surprise therefore, when one of his early lines of attack on the US Vice-President and likely Democrat presidential nominee, Kamala Harris, was on the way she laughed.
"I call her Laffin' Kamala. You ever watch her laugh? She's crazy. You know, you can tell a lot by a laugh," he ranted. I guess that’s better than being labelled ‘crooked’ like Hillary or Joe.
Harris does show a great capacity for laughter during public engagements. And I probably would not have taken much notice had it not been for Trump’s mocking rant. Will or should this prove to be a self-inflicted wound for Trump? Perhaps expressing some warmth and connection will prove to be one of Harris’ major assets.
Some politicians, particularly those in opposition, are weaponising managed anger and disgruntlement as a tool of the trade. It is a process of drawing on seemingly inexhaustible reserves of energy expressed by angry constituents. Herding tribes of angry, resentful people into definable echo chambers makes it much easier for political strategists to design and disseminate messages that resonate fomenting more anger, disillusionment and division.
Somehow division is akin to brand differentiation or distinctiveness in the commercial world. While the underbelly of major political parties is beige, the face must appear inflamed for impact.
The reaction from incumbents, overwhelmed by pessimism and gripes from focus groups, is to assume the cloak of seriousness and divest any semblance of personality that may indicate frivolity or dismissiveness. Humour is fit only for the unserious.
In Australia, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is wooden. I am unsure what sort of personality he has, but whatever it is, it doesn’t project through the television screen. There is some evidence that he has overcome a speech impediment, but that has nothing to do with what looks to be a presentation package that requires him to respond to issues in an overly measured and deadpan manner. The days of colourful, spontaneous, articulate politicians who quick on their feet seem to be over. They’ve been killed off by the censorious commentariat, which populates contemporary media and social media channels.
There is a growing need for circuit breakers - politicians who see laughter, warmth and engagement as their trademark. Leadership that leans into humour, without being seen as a buffoon without substance, can be very powerful. It fosters engagement, relatability and therefore loyalty.
Former UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, thrived on relatability laced with humour throughout his political career. Unfortunately for him, his propensity for good times and merriment at a COVID-era party triggered his demise. His quirky, undergraduate behaviour knew no boundaries.
Kamala Harris is set for political attacks that will attempt to position her natural love of connection through laughing with lack of substance and ticker for the seriousness of the role - a Johnsonesaue inclination to decouple the rights and privilege of executive office from the harsh reality and constraints of life in the burbs and regions.
She is oft-quoted as aspiring and inspiring to “What can be unburdened by what has been”. Let’s hope that she can become a watershed for politics that can be more relatable, even more effective, by adding some humour to the toolbox. It would be great to unburden ourselves from the workshopped staid, beige political package that adds no human dimension to inspiring hope and confidence from our connection with leadership.
I’m hoping that Trump’s jibe will prove to be what it was - a hastily cobbled together zinger that will be about as durable as a Liz Truss prime ministership.