Is there anything about Kamala Harris and her presidential campaign that is... you know... genuine?

OK, we already know the answer to that; there is very little about Harris that is genuine other than her word salads and her grating laugh; her running mate Tim Walz is no better. And while campaign events are frequently, as Ed Sullivan would have put it, a "really big show," with opening acts and so on, it sure seems like Kamala Harris can't fill up a broom closet, much less a major venue, without some kind of draw - because the people sure don't seem to be coming out to see her. In the latest such instance, in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, she held a rally and her campaign ballyhooed the line of people waiting to get in.

Here's the catch: They were waiting to get in to see a local celebrity musician, one Bon Iver, who gave a free concert as an in-kind campaign contribution (which I am sure will be properly reported as such - right? Right?):

OMG! The Kamala Harris Rally Line in Eau Claire, Wisconsin is soooo long!

What’s not being reported is that they got Bon Iver, who is a local from Eau Claire, Wisconsin, a Grammy-Award winning music artist to perform at the rally.

So basically, it’s another free concert..… pic.twitter.com/wRui7ELdkw

— MJTruthUltra (@MJTruthUltra) August 7, 2024

Yeah, another free show - and another instance in which the folks walk out when the band is done?

My friend and colleague Brandon Morse described another such event on Wednesday, July 31st:

See Related: The DNC's Lack of Faith in Harris Is Evident, but Don't Let That Comfort You

Brandon wrote:

Even the Atlanta rally the Democrats and their media are harping on about, featured an appearance by Megan Thee Stallion, with lyrics that I'm not sure were gone over before they were performed. 

Moreover, when she was done and Harris took the stage, people began leaving. 

REPORT: Many People Who Attended @KamalaHarris' Atlanta Rally Today Were Only There To See Opening Act Megan The Stallion.
After Harris Began Speaking Hundreds Of Attendees Started Walking Out. pic.twitter.com/hzf3TeKNNP

— John Basham (@JohnBasham) July 31, 2024

Now on that last bit - as far as leaving when Harris took the stage; I can't blame the folks for that. Indeed, it shows uncommon good sense, especially for Democrats, to bail the heck out on an appearance by the Queen of Word Salads.

But the non-genuine image-mongering just gets more and more - and I hate using this word, but it's just so apt - cringe.

See Related: Embarrassing: Harris Campaign's Attempt to Use Popular Streamers to Astroturf Support Backfires

There's just nothing genuine about any of this. Whatever one thinks of Donald Trump, there can be no doubt that the man can fill a venue, or that he knows how to fire up a crowd; I saw him speak at CPAC last February, and the excitement in the room was palpable; I admit that I got caught up in it myself. While he has performers at his rallies from time to time, there is no doubt that Donald Trump is the main attraction, and people are lining up to see Trump - not "Megan Thee Stallion." (Shouldn't that really be "Megan Thee Mare?)

And I think that's a big part of the man's appeal. There's no shilly-shallying, no pretense; what you see is what you get.

Is it really surprising, though, that so many lefties are taken in by this outpouring of astroturf? We could always ask Bob Hope.