Kamala Harris did not attend tonight’s Al Smith Dinner in New York, a traditional each election in which the presidential candidates roast each other and themselves.
Instead, Harris enlisted Molly Shannon to revive her character of Catholic school girl Mary Katherine Gallagher, a nod to the dinner benefit that raised money for the Al Smith Foundation. Smith was the first Catholic presidential nominee in 1928.
“Is there anything you don’t think I should bring up tonight?” Harris asked in the video.
“Well, don’t lie. Thou shall not bear false witness to thy neighbor,” said Shannon, as Gallagher.
“Well, indeed, especially thy neighbor’s election results,” Harris responded.
At another moment, Gallagher told Harris to not “say anything negative about Catholics.”
“I would never do that no matter where I was. That would be like criticizing Detroit, in Detroit,” said Harris, in another dig at Trump.
Harris then got serious, saying that the dinner provided a “rare opportunity to set aside partisanship.”
Trump was attending the event in person, and attacked Harris for not doing so.
Trump wrote, “Just found out that Lyin’ Kamala is doing a video message tonight instead of being at the Al Smith Dinner. She shouldn’t be allowed to do a video message. Kamala should be there like almost every other Presidential Candidate in their History, except Walter Mondale, who lost 49-1. They didn’t give me the option of a video message, nor would I have done it. This is very disrespectful to everyone involved. She should be here, or lose the Catholic Vote!”
Jim Gaffigan, who is playing Tim Walz on Saturday Night Live this season, emceed the dinner event. Among those also in attendance were Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and the state’s attorney general Letitia James, who brought a lawsuit against Trump and his companies.
