As we previously wrote, there was heartbreaking news on Saturday night, with the discovery by the Israeli military of the bodies of six hostages taken by Hamas on Oct. 7. Many details were not confirmed immediately, with photos of some of the known hostages floating around online. But that was soon rectified later–and one terrible rumor was confirmed as true–with the news that American Hersh Goldberg-Polin was among those whom the terrorists murdered.
Read related:
HEARTBREAK: American Hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 5 Others Murdered by Hamas
As expected, we got the perfunctory reactions to Hersh’s death from President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and Democrat presidential nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris; Here was the official statement from Harris on his murder, which was released late Saturday then posted to X on Sunday:
On October 7, Hersh Goldberg-Polin — an American citizen — was taken hostage by Hamas terrorists. He was just 23 years old, attending a music festival with friends. We now know he was murdered by Hamas.
Doug and my prayers are with Jon Polin and Rachel Goldberg-Polin, Hersh’s… pic.twitter.com/vHSGbWgUjr
— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) September 1, 2024
Read related:
Biden, Harris, and Blinken Issue Statements on Murder of Hersh Goldberg-Polin
But I noticed a voice was missing…and a gap in the type of communication we used to expect from someone striving to become the leader of the free world; there was no joint condolence message on X from the couple hoping to live in the White House in January 2025:
Why hasn’t there been a message of condolence to the families of the hostages killed by Hamas from @DouglasEmhoff? Seems odd.
— Becca Lower (@BeccaJLower) September 1, 2024
I also wondered what could be more important than this, for someone who claims to want to fill such an important role in our nation, at the side of the most powerful leader in the world. In the past few days, we’ve seen how this administration has managed to majorly botch the optics and messaging–about Arlington Cemetery and the families of the American servicemembers killed during the Afghanistan retreat debacle.
WATCH: Tulsi Gabbard Sets CNN Straight on Trump’s Attendance at Arlington Cemetery Ceremony
Well, later on Sunday, Kamala and Doug played catch-up and did the right thing by speaking with Hersh Goldberg-Polin’s parents:
Doug and I just spoke to Jon and Rachel, Hersh Goldberg-Polin’s parents, to express our condolences following the brutal murder of their son by Hamas terrorists. My heart breaks for their pain and anguish.
I told them: As they mourn this terrible loss, they are not alone. Our…
— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) September 1, 2024
If you can’t see the post, it reads:
Doug and I just spoke to Jon and Rachel, Hersh Goldberg-Polin’s parents, to express our condolences following the brutal murder of their son by Hamas terrorists. My heart breaks for their pain and anguish.
I told them: As they mourn this terrible loss, they are not alone. Our nation mourns with them.
Readers might remember that the family spoke from the stage at the 2024 Democrat National Convention.
Read related:
DNC Crowd Chants ‘Bring Them Home’ for Parents of American-Israeli Son Held by Hamas—but Miss the Point
The role of the spouse of the President of the United States is a crucial one. We’ve only had one bachelor commander-in-chief, James Buchanan (although, his niece Harriet acted as an unofficial First Lady during his term in the WH) from 1857-1861.
The First Lady (or First Gentleman, as Emhoff would be called) sets the tone for the hospitality aspect of America, a hint of the warmth of the American home and the family hearth. I can’t recall ever getting that feeling from these two people. And the delayed reaction to do what most people would automatically think to do–put their arms at least metaphorically, around the Goldberg-Polin family, speaks volumes. It tells us about their deep-seated inability or unwillingness to understand what the presidency represents–that is, all of us as Americans. That’s something Donald Trump seems to get instinctively.
The only misstep that the Harris people didn’t make here would have been to record a cringe video of the phone call–but there’s still time for the Democrats and the Harris-Walz campaign to make more unforced errors like that.
