Kamala Harris’ Video Skit Flops at Al Smith Dinner

Vice President Kamala Harris tried to make up for missing the Al Smith Dinner by sending in a pre-recorded comedy skit with former 'Saturday Night Live' star Molly Shannon. The video featured Shannon's schoolgirl character warning Harris not to mock Catholics. Harris made a reference to Donald Trump’s past comments about Detroit, implying that criticism of Catholics at the dinner is like criticizing Detroit in Detroit. The video also poked fun at the Church, suggesting that the Al Smith Dinner was less important than the Last Supper and that Jesus would fact-check the remarks. The audience, who paid $5, 000 per plate, watched the video but seemed bored and confused. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Archbishop Timothy Cardinal Dolan were visibly unimpressed. Emcee Jim Gaffigan even joked about the audience's reaction, comparing it to a lackluster piano recital. Some social media users found the skit tone-deaf and offensive to Catholics. The Al Smith Dinner, an annual event since 1946, raises money for charities and is a chance for presidential candidates to good-naturedly mock each other. The last major party nominee to skip the dinner was Democrat Walter Mondale in 1984. Harris chose to attend a rally in Wisconsin instead, which divided her party. Some felt she should have used the dinner for free national media, while others thought it wasn’t a smart use of her time.