The recent decision by Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign to include Billy Graham in a political ad has sparked significant controversy.
The ad attempts to court evangelical voters by juxtaposing the revered minister's sermon on forgiveness against former President Donald Trump's remarks on the subject.
According to the Western Journal, Vice President Kamala Harris' 2024 campaign strategically released an advertisement that utilizes footage of the late minister Billy Graham, originally aired on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.”
In this ad, Graham is seen advocating for forgiveness, immediately followed by a 2015 clip of Donald Trump at the Family Leadership Summit where he admitted to not seeking God’s forgiveness.
The advertisement draws a sharp contrast between Trump's apparent disengagement with faith-based forgiveness and Billy Graham's teachings on the importance of spirituality. This comparison is part of Harris' campaign strategy to appeal to evangelical voters by emphasizing the differences between the values Harris promotes and those exhibited by Trump in his public conduct and policies.
Franklin Graham, the son of Billy Graham, has vocally criticized the Harris campaign for its use of his father's image. Taking to the social media platform X, he accused the campaign of misrepresenting his father’s legacy and conservative stance. Franklin's discontent centers around the portrayal of his father as a political tool rather than a minister of faith.
Here's what Franklin Graham had to say:
The liberals are using anything and everything they can to promote candidate Harris. Maybe they don’t know that my father appreciated the conservative values and policies of President Donald Trump in 2016, and if he were alive today, my father’s views and opinions would not have changed.
The inclusion of Billy Graham's voice and image in political campaigning without the due approval from his estate has also raised questions about the ethical boundaries of using a deceased person's legacy in political contexts.
In taking such a direction, the Harris campaign exposes its strategy to draw evangelical voters, who have been a significant base for Trump, using faith as a lever. The ad, particularly with its timing and content, seems designed to ignite discussion about moral and religious values ahead of the election.
The controversy erupted just as Donald Trump, who has faced various challenges, including a recent assassination attempt in July 2024, reaffirmed his faith in high-profile statements. This adds another layer to the context in which the Harris ad is operating, aiming to redefine the evangelical political landscape.
This incident reflects ongoing tensions within American politics over the intersection of religion and governance, illustrating how figures like Billy Graham can be posthumously drawn into campaigns in ways that may or may not align with their known beliefs.
The effective use of media to connect religious sentiment with political allegiance is not new, but the direct invocation of evangelical icons like Billy Graham is relatively rare and potentially potent, leading to fierce debates over the ownership and portrayal of religious legacies in the public sphere.
As the 2024 campaign heats up, the implications of the Harris ad on evangelical voters and the broader electoral dynamics continue to unfold, demonstrating the powerful role of media and imagery in shaping political narratives.
