Kamala Harris and Dianne Feinstein Blasted for Using Senate Resolutions to Congratulate Lakers and Dodgers

Vice President-elect Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) and Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) came under fire on social media after the U.S. Senate passed a pair of resolutions officially congratulating the Los Angeles Lakers and the Los Angeles Dodgers on their respective league titles.

Last month, the Lakers defeated the Miami Heat in six games to clinch a first NBA championship in 10 years and draw level with the Boston Celtics' all-time record of 17 NBA titles.

Two weeks later, the Dodgers broke an even longer drought when they defeated the Tampa Bay Rays in six games to win the World Series for the first time since 1988.

While the resolutions are a symbolic gesture from the federal government and not particularly uncommon when it comes to celebrate championship-winning teams, many questioned their timing, as they were passed amid a continued spike of coronavirus cases across the nation.

On Thursday, public health officials reported 160,000 new cases of coronavirus in the U.S., a new-record high and the first time new cases had surpassed 150,000 in a single day since the pandemic began.

The grim milestone came just eight days after the U.S. had hit 100,000 cases in 24 hours for the first time.

Unsurprisingly given the circumstances, few shared Feinstein's excitement at the news the two resolutions had been passed.

In fact, her announcement on Twitter went down like a lead balloon, with plenty suggesting it struck the wrong tone given the crisis California and the U.S. find themselves in.

Others pointed out the timing of the resolutions was particularly insensitive given millions of Americans were facing economic hardship because of the pandemic.

NFL Network analyst Patrick Claybon and baseball writer Keith Law, meanwhile, both suggested Feinstein misread the impact passing the two resolutions would have in the current climate.

As of Friday morning, more than 10.5 million cases of coronavirus had been reported in the U.S., by far the highest tally of any country.

Of the 1.29 million deaths recorded worldwide, more than 242,000 have been in the U.S., according to Johns Hopkins University.

California alone has reported just over one million cases with more than 18,000 deaths.

The Lakers and Dodgers' respective triumphs mark the first time in 32 years the two franchises can both call themselves world champions in the same year.

"My heartfelt congratulations to the Los Angeles Lakers for winning the 2020 NBA Championship," Harris said in a statement about the Lakers.

"In a season like no other, the unmatched determination and passion that these exceptional players demonstrated have made the City of Los Angeles and State of California so proud."

In a separate statement, Feinstein struck a similar note as she praised the Dodgers.

"Congratulations to the Los Angeles Dodgers on winning their seventh World Series title," she said.

"The resilience of this team under unprecedented circumstances was inspiring and showed what can be done when a group coalesces around one goal.

"Following the Lakers' recent NBA Championship, this is another great achievement for Los Angeles and California. Great job to the entire Dodgers team and operation."

The coronavirus pandemic has meant both triumphs have come in highly unusual circumstances. The Lakers won their 17th NBA title playing behind closed doors in Orlando, Florida, while the Dodgers played all their six World Series games in front of a limited capacity crowd at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.

Significantly, the pandemic has also meant neither team has enjoyed a triumphant reception through the streets of Los Angeles with the traditional title-winning parade.