The swearing-in ceremony for new senators is usually a formal part of the start of a new Congress, a ceremony organized to show courtesy and camaraderie as even political rivals smile together for family photos.
This is how it unfolded six years ago, when Senator Deb Fischer, a timid Republican from Nebraska, was sworn in by Vice President Mike Pence and her husband, Bruce, thanked him. It is done.
The same thing happened six years earlier, when a Democratic congressman administered the oath. The two men shook hands warmly with Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr.
But things were cooler this year when Vice President Kamala Harris took over the job.
Mr. Fisher, who was standing next to his wife on Friday and holding a Bible where he took the oath, appeared to refuse to shake Mr. Harris’s hand or even make eye contact.
Democrats accused Mr. Fisher of being racist, sexist and disrespectful toward Ms. Harris, while MAGA commentators defended him.
A representative for Fisher did not respond to a request for comment. A Harris spokeswoman declined to comment.
But the response again emphasized that these days even the most basic interpersonal relationships in Washington are scrutinized for signs of hidden passions and animosity between members of opposing political parties. The awkward conversation between Ms. Harris and Mr. Fisher came on a day when, in her own way, they were trying to get the vice president to perform his duties after losing the presidency and prepare to leave office permanently. It’s unclear.
It was all captured on C-SPAN cameras in the Old Senate Chamber.
After taking the oath and shaking hands with Mr. Fisher, Mr. Harris extended his hand toward Mr. Fisher and said, “Congratulations.”
“thank you.” He said, looking down at her as she stood with her arms outstretched, without looking directly at her. She then stepped back, raised her eyebrows, recoiled slightly, then turned and smiled at the right angle for the photo.
The chill began even before the vice president read the oath. That’s when Mrs. Fisher introduced her husband and had him stand next to Ms. Harris, holding a Bible. He seemed so reluctant to be near the vice president that she said:
“It’s okay, you won’t get bitten. I won’t bite. “Don’t worry,” Ms. Harris said.
Political commentator Brian Tyler Cohen posted video of the interaction online, saying it showed “the high standards you can expect from MAGA.”
“If people stop doing this, we will stop talking about race,” content creator Qondi Ntini wrote online.
But Republicans jumped to Fisher’s defense. Unlike Vice President Pence four years ago or Vice President Biden eight years ago, Bruce Fischer held a cane in his right hand and a Bible in his left on Friday, they noted. They dismissed the entire controversy as an attempt by the left to smear the senator’s spouse. Some people even accused Mr Harris of trying to shake hands with a man holding a cane.
Despite the strange moment with the Fisher family, Ms. Harris’ conversation with senators and their families on Friday was mostly cordial, with some poignant moments.
“I’m sorry you didn’t win,” said the son of Arizona Democratic Sen. Ruben Gallego.
“You know what, baby?” She responded by hugging him. “Don’t worry, we still have a lot of work to do.”
And if the reception Mr. Fisher received from the Republican Party was the coldest, the reception he received from the daughters of Pennsylvania Republican Senator David McCormick was perhaps the warmest.
Ms McCormick arrived for the swearing-in ceremony with her six daughters and stepdaughter from her blended family. (Mr. Harris’s eyes widened when he told her that two of them were named Ava.) The young women seemed excited to meet Ms. Harris and fangirled as they whispered, giggled and hesitated to take pictures with her. behaved like that. , after asking the parent to leave the frame.
