She upset religious leaders.
Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the Archbishop of New York, recently expressed his disappointment over Vice President Kamala Harris’s absence from the upcoming Al Smith charity dinner. In a podcast episode, he noted that Harris’s decision to skip the event leaves it feeling unbalanced, as the dinner traditionally aims to bring people together through civility, humor, and patriotism, rather than serve as a platform for political campaigning.
Dolan contrasted Harris’s absence with the expected attendance of former President Donald Trump. While Trump will be at the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner, Harris will be campaigning in Wisconsin, focusing on the “blue wall” states, which are vital for the Democratic presidential nominee’s strategy. The Cardinal highlighted the dinner’s potential to raise significant funds—approximately $9 million—for charitable causes, reinforcing the idea that the event serves a greater purpose than politics alone.
During the podcast, Dolan described the dinner as a festive occasion that promotes laughter and light-hearted teasing rather than a serious political gathering. He emphasized that the attendees are typically a mix of both parties, making it a neutral ground for fostering connections among various political affiliations.
The Harris campaign defended her absence by stating that her focus is on battleground states during this critical election period, asserting that she had expressed a desire to attend the event as president. This situation underlines the challenge of balancing political responsibilities with social and charitable commitments, especially during an election year.
The Al Smith charity dinner, held annually since 1946, has a rich history of raising funds for women and children in New York. It has hosted numerous prominent figures from various sectors, including most major party presidential nominees, highlighting its significance in American political and cultural life. Dolan’s comments reflect a longing for unity and civility in an increasingly polarized political landscape, and the potential for events like the Al Smith dinner to bridge those divides.
