KAMALA HARRIS’ FIRST INTERVIEW
September 3, 2024
AMATEUR HOUR
Given the nomination process for Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate Gov. Tim Walz we know little about either candidate. Therefore, their first interview in the 2024 campaign on August 30, 2024, thirty-nine days after becoming the Presidential nominee for the Democratic Party was viewed as most important. It was a pre-recorder interview and consumed about 45 minutes of CNN television time. However, there were three commercial breaks and four different introductions. Substantive issues covered about two-thirds of the remaining time, with the rest being chit-chat. Net, about 15 minutes was substantive. In my opinion, even given its importance, the interview (both question and answers) was not of high quality which is why I term it “Amateur Hour.” The interview was conducted by Dana Bash of CNN. The following are excerpts from that interview.
ECONOMY
Harris: Joe Biden and I came in office during the height of a pandemic, we saw over 10 million jobs were lost. People – I mean, literally we are all tracking the numbers. Hundreds of people a day were dying because of COVID. The economy had crashed.
In large part, all of that because of mismanagement by Donald Trump of that crisis. When we came in, our highest priority was to do what we could to rescue America. And today, we know that we have inflation at under 3%. A lot of our policies have led to the reality that America recovered faster than any wealthy nation around the world.
But you are right. Prices in particular for groceries are still too high. The American people know it. I know it. Which is why my agenda includes what we need to do to bring down the price of groceries. For example, dealing with an issue like price gouging.
What we need to do to extend the child tax credit to help young families be able to take care of their children in their most formative years. What we need to do to bring down the cost of housing. My proposal includes what would be a tax credit of $25,000 for first-time home buyers so they can just have enough to put a down payment on a home, which is part of the American dream and their aspiration but do it in a way that allows them to actually get on the path to achieving that goal and that dream.
Bash: So, you have been vice president for three and a half years. The steps that you’re talking about now, why haven’t you done them already?
Harris: Well, first of all, we had to recover as an economy, and we have done that. I’m very proud of the work that we have done that has brought inflation down to less than 3%, the work we have done to cap the cost of insulin at $35 a month for seniors. Donald Trump said he was gonna do a number of things, including allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices. Never happened. We did it.
Bash: So, you maintain Bidenomics is a success.
Harris: I maintain that when we do the work of bringing down prescription medication for the American people, including capping the cost – of the annual cost of prescription medication for seniors at $2,000; when we do what we did in the first year of being in office to extend the child tax credit so that we cut child poverty in America by over 50%; when we do what we have done to invest in the American people and bringing manufacturing back to the United States so that we created over 800,000 new manufacturing jobs, bringing business back to America; what we have done to improve the supply chain so we’re not relying on foreign government to supply American families with their basic needs, I’ll say that that’s good work. There’s more to do, but that’s good work.
Source: Transcript of CNN interview
The Rest of the Story: Here is how Kimberely Strassel of the Editorial Board of the Wall Street Journal described conditions at the start of the Biden administration. “Joe Biden was a president with a rare opportunity. He was poised to benefit by simply letting the economy roar back to life. Every indicator signaled the Covid economic crisis was over. The Commerce Department reported a healthy 4.1% GCP growth in the last quarter of 2020. This GDP of $21.49 trillion nearly matched the prior peak, hit in the last quarter of 2019. Private business investment and residential construction soared. Wages tucked up. The initial jobs reports in 2021 were lackluster, but by April the unemployment rate fell to 6.4% down from 14.7% nearly a year earlier.”
Source: The Biden Malaise by Kimberley Strassel (2023).
Inflation was 1.9 % when Biden/Harris took over. Then following massive spending by the administration, the inflation rate rose to 9%. Drastic actions by the Federal Reserve in the form of increased interest rates slowly brought down the inflation rate to 3% as Harris cites in the interview. But interest rates are year-over-year percentages. The total inflation increase during the 3 ½ years of the Biden/Harris administration is over 20%.
The 30-year fixed mortgage rate when Biden/Harris took over was 2.65%, an all-time record low. The current 30-year fixed mortgage rate is 7.1%, 4.45% higher.
Because of the required increase in interest rates to control the Biden/Harris inflation, the interest rates on our national debt increased our annual payments by $1 trillion/year which is about 45% of all income taxes collected.
I wouldn’t call 20% inflation, a 4.45% increase in mortgage rates, and an extra $1 trillion in annual costs a record to be proud of.
And the Biden/Harris administration did not bring down the inflation rate, that was done by the Federal Reserve Bank, the central bank of the U.S. which is politically independent. Further, $25,000 for a down payment is a pittance compared to 4.45% more interest over 30 years on one’s mortgage.
Does this interchange and report invoke trust for you?
FRACKING
Bash: I want to get some clarity on where you stand on some key policy issues. Energy is a big one. When you were in Congress, you supported the Green New Deal. And in 2019, you said quote, “There is no question I’m in favor of banning fracking.” Fracking as you know, is a pretty big issue, particularly in your must-win state of Pennsylvania.
Harris: Sure
Bash: Do you want to ban fracking?
Harris: No, and I made that clear on the debate stage in 2020, that I would not ban fracking. As vice president, I did not ban fracking. As president, I will not ban fracking.
Bash: In 2019, you were asked, “Would you commit to implementing a federal ban on fracking on your first day in office?” and you said, “There is no question I’m in favor of banning fracking. So yes.” So, it changed in that campaign?
Harris: In 2020 I made very clear where I stand. We are in 2024, and I have not changed that position, nor will I going forward. I kept my word, and I will keep my word.
Bash: What made you change that position at that time?
Harris: Well, let’s be clear. My values have not changed. I believe it is very important that we take seriously what we must do to guard against what is a clear crisis in terms of the climate. And to do that, we can do what we have accomplished thus far.
Bash: And was there some policy or scientific data that you saw that you said, “Oh, okay. I get it now?”
Harris: What I have seen is that we can – we can grow, and we can increase a thriving clean energy economy without banning fracking. Source: Transcript of CNN interview.
The Rest of the Story: Fracking is a drilling process to extract oil and natural gas from the ground. It is a hot topic in the critical election state of Pennsylvania. Harris co-sponsored a $93 trillion New Green Deal which involves eliminating the use of fossil fuels. If that bill ultimately passes and banning fracking is deemed to be interfering with a “thriving clean energy economy” do you think she will ban fracking? Alternatively, do you think she might put such significant regulations on the use of oil and natural gas that it becomes uneconomical to frack?
Do you believe Harris will permit fracking if elected?
IMMIGRATION
Bash: Okay, another issue, big one, is immigration.
Harris: Well, first of all, the root causes work that I did as vice president, that I was asked to do by the president has actually resulted in a number of benefits, including historic investments by American businesses in that region. The number of immigrants coming from that has actually reduced since we’ve began that work.
But I will say this: That Joe Biden and I and our administration worked with members of the United States Congress on an immigration issue that is very significant to the American people and to our security, which is the border. And through bipartisan work, including some of the most conservative members of the United States Congress, a bill was crafted which we supported, which I support.
And Donald Trump got word of this bill that would’ve – that contributed to securing our border. And because he believes that it would not have helped him politically, he told his folks in Congress, “Don’t put it forward.” He killed the bill: a border security bill that would’ve put 1,500 more agents on the border. And let me tell you something. The Border Patrol endorsed that bill.
Bash: So, you would – so you would push that legislation again? I just want to ask ab---
Harris: Not only push it. I will make sure that it comes to my desk, and I would sign it.
Bash: Just one other question about something you said in 2019 when you first ran. There was a debate. You raised your hand when asked whether or not the border should be decriminalized. Do you still believe that?
Harris: I believe there should be consequence. We have laws that have to be followed and enforced that address and deal with people who cross our border illegally. And there should be consequence.
Source: Transcript of CNN interview.
The Rest of the Story: I defined the problem at the border in segment 5 of this series as:
An open border policy like that which exists today results in numerous problems as the excerpts in segment details:
The legislation that Harris provided as an excuse – the Emergency National Security Supplement Appropriations Act -- was not even voted on until Fed. 13, 2024, over three years into their term. The House had approved HR 2 – an immigration bill a year before, but Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer wouldn’t permit it to be voted on by the Senate. The legislation Harris referred to was voted on twice, the first time the vote was 49 to 50 and the second time (May 24, 2024) the vote was 43 to 50. Sixty votes were needed in the Senate for it to pass. At the time there were 50 senators for each party. The six Democrat votes against it were by Alex Padilla (CA), Laphonza Butler (CA), Ed Markey (MA), Cory Booker (NJ), Bernie Sanders (VT) and Christine Sinema (AZ). Reportedly there were not enough votes in the House to pass it if the Senate had approved it.
The primary issue was the following passage in the bill: “Temporary border emergency authority would be automatically activated by the Department of Homeland Security secretary if there is an average of 5,000 or more migrant encounters a day over seven consecutive days – or if there are 8,500 or more such encounters any single day.”
In my judgment, Dana Bash failed to do her job as the interviewer by not probing Harris further on this key issue of the campaign.
Do you trust that the border will be secured if she is elected?
HARRIS’S FLIP FLOPPING ON THE ISSUES
Bash: Generally speaking, how should voters look at some of the changes that you’ve made – that you explained some of here – in your policy? Is it because you have more experience now and you’ve learned more about the information? Is it because you’re running for president in a Democratic primary? And should they feel comfortable and confident that what you’re saying now is gonna be your policy moving forward?
Harris: Dana, I think the – the – most important and most significant aspect of my policy perspective and decisions is my values have not changed. You mentioned the Green New Deal. I always have believed, and I have worked on it, that the climate crisis is real, that it is an urgent matter to which we should apply metrics that include holding ourselves to deadlines around time. We did that with the Inflation Reduction Act. We have set goals for the United States of America and by extension the globe around when we should meet certain standards for reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, as an example. That value has not changed.
My value around what we need to do to secure our border, that value has not changed. I spent two terms as the attorney general of California prosecuting transnational criminal organizations, violations of American laws regarding passage, illegal passage of guns, drugs, and human beings across our border. My values did not change. Source: Transcript of the CNN interview.
The Rest of the Story: Two questions: 1) Why was a climate change bill labeled the Inflation Reduction Act? 2) Why did you not conduct one border prosecution as Vice President if your values did not change?
Do you trust her values will not change from what she says they are if she becomes president?
FOREIGN POLICY
Bash: OK. Let’s talk about some foreign policy issues that would be on your plate if you become commander in chief. President Biden has tried unsuccessfully to end the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. He’s been doing it for months and months, along with you. Would you do anything differently? For example, would you withhold some US weapons shipment to Israel? That’s what a lot of people on the progressive left want you to do.
Harris: Let me be clear. I’m unequivocal and – unwavering in my commitment to Israel’s defense and its ability to defend itself. And that’s not gonna change. But let’s take a step back. October 7, 1,200 people are massacred, many young people who are simply attending a musical festival. Women were horribly raped. As I said then, I say today, Israel had a right – has a right to defend itself. We would. And how it does so matters. Far too many innocent Palestinians have been killed. And we have got to get a deal done. We – we were in Doha. We have to get a deal done. This war must end –
Bash: And in then in the meantime –
Harris: And we must get a deal that is about getting the hostages out. I’ve met with the families of the American hostages. Let’s get the hostages out. Let’s get the ceasefire done.
Bash: But no change in policy in terms of arms and – and so forth?
Harris: I remain committed since I’ve been on October 8 to what we must do to work toward a two-state solution where Israel is secure and in equal measure the Paletin – the Palestinians have security and self-determination and – and dignity.
Source: Transcript of the CNN interview.
The Rest of the Story: The removal of sanctions on Iran by the Harris/Biden administration provided Iran with $10 billion which was undoubtedly use by their proxy Hamas to fund the attack on Israel and thus enabled the October 7 massacre. I would think a good reporter would ask a question as to why the administration removed the sanctions.
Also, a question on why she skipped out on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to Congress would have been appropriate and of interest to the country.
Do you trust her negotiating and diplomacy skills?
GOVERNOR WALZ
Bash: Governor Walz, the country is just starting to get to know you. I want to ask you a question about how you’ve described your service in the National Guard.
Walz: Yeah
Bash: You said that you carried weapons in war, but you have never deployed actually in a war zone. A campaign official said that you misspoke. Did you?
Walz: Well, first of all, I’m incredibly proud. I’ve done 24 years of wearin’ uniform of this country. My record speaks for itself, but I think people are coming to get to know me. I – I speak like they do. I speak candidly. I wear my emotions on my sleeves, and I speak especially passionately about – about our children being shot in schools and around – around guns. So, I think people know me. They know who I am. They know where – where my heart is, and again, my record has been out there for over 40 years to – to
Bash: And the – the idea that you said that you were in war, did you misspeak, as the campaign has said?
Walz: Yeah, I said – we were talking about in this case, this was after a school shooting, the ideas of carrying these weapons of war. And my wife the English teacher told me my grammar’s not always correct. But again, if it’s not this, it’s an attack on my children for showing love for me, or it’s an attack on my dog. I’m not gonna do that, and the one thing I’ll never do is I’ll never demean another member’s service in any way. I never have and I never will.
Bash: And just one other question. You had to clarify that you had said that you and your wife used IVF, but it turned out you used a different kind of fertility in order to have children. And then when you ran for Congress in 2006, your campaign repeatedly made false statements about a 1995 arrest for drunk and reckless driving. What do you say to voters who aren’t sure whether they can take you at your word.
Walz: Well, I’ve been very public. I think they can see – my students come out – former folks I’ve served with, and they – and they do, they vouch for me. I certainly own my mistakes when I make ‘em. The one thing I’ll tell you is I wished in this country we wouldn’t have to do this. I spoke about our infertility issues ‘cause it’s hell, and families know this. And I spoke – I spoke about the treatments that were available to us that – that had those beautiful children there. That’s quite a contrast in folks that are trying to – to take those rights away from us.
And so, I – I think people know who I am. They know that record. They’ve seen that I’ve taught thousands of students. I’ve been out there. And I – I won’t apologize for speaking passionately, whether it’s guns in schools or protection of reproductive rights. The contrast could not be clearer between what we’re running against. The vice president’s position on this has been clear. And I think most Americans get it, if you’ve been through that. I don’t think they’re cutting hairs on IVF or IUI. I think what they’re cutting hairs on is an abortion ban and the ability to deny families the chance to have a beautiful child.
The Rest of the Story: Three straightforward questions, none of which were answered. The last sentence does not make logical sense to me. Do you have trust in this man to become Commander in Chief if something were to happen to Harris?
As I answered these questions my reaction is the entire interview eroded trust in the Democrat Party because they didn’t give us candidates we can trust. But it is just one interview. There is more I need to learn. Your thoughts.
September 3, 2024
AMATEUR HOUR
Given the nomination process for Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate Gov. Tim Walz we know little about either candidate. Therefore, their first interview in the 2024 campaign on August 30, 2024, thirty-nine days after becoming the Presidential nominee for the Democratic Party was viewed as most important. It was a pre-recorder interview and consumed about 45 minutes of CNN television time. However, there were three commercial breaks and four different introductions. Substantive issues covered about two-thirds of the remaining time, with the rest being chit-chat. Net, about 15 minutes was substantive. In my opinion, even given its importance, the interview (both question and answers) was not of high quality which is why I term it “Amateur Hour.” The interview was conducted by Dana Bash of CNN. The following are excerpts from that interview.
ECONOMY
Harris: Joe Biden and I came in office during the height of a pandemic, we saw over 10 million jobs were lost. People – I mean, literally we are all tracking the numbers. Hundreds of people a day were dying because of COVID. The economy had crashed.
In large part, all of that because of mismanagement by Donald Trump of that crisis. When we came in, our highest priority was to do what we could to rescue America. And today, we know that we have inflation at under 3%. A lot of our policies have led to the reality that America recovered faster than any wealthy nation around the world.
But you are right. Prices in particular for groceries are still too high. The American people know it. I know it. Which is why my agenda includes what we need to do to bring down the price of groceries. For example, dealing with an issue like price gouging.
What we need to do to extend the child tax credit to help young families be able to take care of their children in their most formative years. What we need to do to bring down the cost of housing. My proposal includes what would be a tax credit of $25,000 for first-time home buyers so they can just have enough to put a down payment on a home, which is part of the American dream and their aspiration but do it in a way that allows them to actually get on the path to achieving that goal and that dream.
Bash: So, you have been vice president for three and a half years. The steps that you’re talking about now, why haven’t you done them already?
Harris: Well, first of all, we had to recover as an economy, and we have done that. I’m very proud of the work that we have done that has brought inflation down to less than 3%, the work we have done to cap the cost of insulin at $35 a month for seniors. Donald Trump said he was gonna do a number of things, including allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices. Never happened. We did it.
Bash: So, you maintain Bidenomics is a success.
Harris: I maintain that when we do the work of bringing down prescription medication for the American people, including capping the cost – of the annual cost of prescription medication for seniors at $2,000; when we do what we did in the first year of being in office to extend the child tax credit so that we cut child poverty in America by over 50%; when we do what we have done to invest in the American people and bringing manufacturing back to the United States so that we created over 800,000 new manufacturing jobs, bringing business back to America; what we have done to improve the supply chain so we’re not relying on foreign government to supply American families with their basic needs, I’ll say that that’s good work. There’s more to do, but that’s good work.
Source: Transcript of CNN interview
The Rest of the Story: Here is how Kimberely Strassel of the Editorial Board of the Wall Street Journal described conditions at the start of the Biden administration. “Joe Biden was a president with a rare opportunity. He was poised to benefit by simply letting the economy roar back to life. Every indicator signaled the Covid economic crisis was over. The Commerce Department reported a healthy 4.1% GCP growth in the last quarter of 2020. This GDP of $21.49 trillion nearly matched the prior peak, hit in the last quarter of 2019. Private business investment and residential construction soared. Wages tucked up. The initial jobs reports in 2021 were lackluster, but by April the unemployment rate fell to 6.4% down from 14.7% nearly a year earlier.”
Source: The Biden Malaise by Kimberley Strassel (2023).
Inflation was 1.9 % when Biden/Harris took over. Then following massive spending by the administration, the inflation rate rose to 9%. Drastic actions by the Federal Reserve in the form of increased interest rates slowly brought down the inflation rate to 3% as Harris cites in the interview. But interest rates are year-over-year percentages. The total inflation increase during the 3 ½ years of the Biden/Harris administration is over 20%.
The 30-year fixed mortgage rate when Biden/Harris took over was 2.65%, an all-time record low. The current 30-year fixed mortgage rate is 7.1%, 4.45% higher.
Because of the required increase in interest rates to control the Biden/Harris inflation, the interest rates on our national debt increased our annual payments by $1 trillion/year which is about 45% of all income taxes collected.
I wouldn’t call 20% inflation, a 4.45% increase in mortgage rates, and an extra $1 trillion in annual costs a record to be proud of.
And the Biden/Harris administration did not bring down the inflation rate, that was done by the Federal Reserve Bank, the central bank of the U.S. which is politically independent. Further, $25,000 for a down payment is a pittance compared to 4.45% more interest over 30 years on one’s mortgage.
Does this interchange and report invoke trust for you?
FRACKING
Bash: I want to get some clarity on where you stand on some key policy issues. Energy is a big one. When you were in Congress, you supported the Green New Deal. And in 2019, you said quote, “There is no question I’m in favor of banning fracking.” Fracking as you know, is a pretty big issue, particularly in your must-win state of Pennsylvania.
Harris: Sure
Bash: Do you want to ban fracking?
Harris: No, and I made that clear on the debate stage in 2020, that I would not ban fracking. As vice president, I did not ban fracking. As president, I will not ban fracking.
Bash: In 2019, you were asked, “Would you commit to implementing a federal ban on fracking on your first day in office?” and you said, “There is no question I’m in favor of banning fracking. So yes.” So, it changed in that campaign?
Harris: In 2020 I made very clear where I stand. We are in 2024, and I have not changed that position, nor will I going forward. I kept my word, and I will keep my word.
Bash: What made you change that position at that time?
Harris: Well, let’s be clear. My values have not changed. I believe it is very important that we take seriously what we must do to guard against what is a clear crisis in terms of the climate. And to do that, we can do what we have accomplished thus far.
Bash: And was there some policy or scientific data that you saw that you said, “Oh, okay. I get it now?”
Harris: What I have seen is that we can – we can grow, and we can increase a thriving clean energy economy without banning fracking. Source: Transcript of CNN interview.
The Rest of the Story: Fracking is a drilling process to extract oil and natural gas from the ground. It is a hot topic in the critical election state of Pennsylvania. Harris co-sponsored a $93 trillion New Green Deal which involves eliminating the use of fossil fuels. If that bill ultimately passes and banning fracking is deemed to be interfering with a “thriving clean energy economy” do you think she will ban fracking? Alternatively, do you think she might put such significant regulations on the use of oil and natural gas that it becomes uneconomical to frack?
Do you believe Harris will permit fracking if elected?
IMMIGRATION
Bash: Okay, another issue, big one, is immigration.
Harris: Well, first of all, the root causes work that I did as vice president, that I was asked to do by the president has actually resulted in a number of benefits, including historic investments by American businesses in that region. The number of immigrants coming from that has actually reduced since we’ve began that work.
But I will say this: That Joe Biden and I and our administration worked with members of the United States Congress on an immigration issue that is very significant to the American people and to our security, which is the border. And through bipartisan work, including some of the most conservative members of the United States Congress, a bill was crafted which we supported, which I support.
And Donald Trump got word of this bill that would’ve – that contributed to securing our border. And because he believes that it would not have helped him politically, he told his folks in Congress, “Don’t put it forward.” He killed the bill: a border security bill that would’ve put 1,500 more agents on the border. And let me tell you something. The Border Patrol endorsed that bill.
Bash: So, you would – so you would push that legislation again? I just want to ask ab---
Harris: Not only push it. I will make sure that it comes to my desk, and I would sign it.
Bash: Just one other question about something you said in 2019 when you first ran. There was a debate. You raised your hand when asked whether or not the border should be decriminalized. Do you still believe that?
Harris: I believe there should be consequence. We have laws that have to be followed and enforced that address and deal with people who cross our border illegally. And there should be consequence.
Source: Transcript of CNN interview.
The Rest of the Story: I defined the problem at the border in segment 5 of this series as:
An open border policy like that which exists today results in numerous problems as the excerpts in segment details:
- Massive numbers (millions) of illegal aliens, most of whom do not possess significant skills stormed through out border in the last 3 ½ years.
- No vetting, even though among them are murderers, rapists, and terrorists thus leasing to increased crime within our country.
- High taxpayer costs to feed, clothe, house, transport, and provide medical care for a substantial period of time for each alien – estimated to cost $20 billion in the past two years. Then additional continuing taxpayer costs for education, health care, retirement and various welfare programs.
- Increase influx of drugs, particularly fentanyl, leading to overdoses and death.
- Increased sex-trafficking.
The legislation that Harris provided as an excuse – the Emergency National Security Supplement Appropriations Act -- was not even voted on until Fed. 13, 2024, over three years into their term. The House had approved HR 2 – an immigration bill a year before, but Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer wouldn’t permit it to be voted on by the Senate. The legislation Harris referred to was voted on twice, the first time the vote was 49 to 50 and the second time (May 24, 2024) the vote was 43 to 50. Sixty votes were needed in the Senate for it to pass. At the time there were 50 senators for each party. The six Democrat votes against it were by Alex Padilla (CA), Laphonza Butler (CA), Ed Markey (MA), Cory Booker (NJ), Bernie Sanders (VT) and Christine Sinema (AZ). Reportedly there were not enough votes in the House to pass it if the Senate had approved it.
The primary issue was the following passage in the bill: “Temporary border emergency authority would be automatically activated by the Department of Homeland Security secretary if there is an average of 5,000 or more migrant encounters a day over seven consecutive days – or if there are 8,500 or more such encounters any single day.”
In my judgment, Dana Bash failed to do her job as the interviewer by not probing Harris further on this key issue of the campaign.
Do you trust that the border will be secured if she is elected?
HARRIS’S FLIP FLOPPING ON THE ISSUES
Bash: Generally speaking, how should voters look at some of the changes that you’ve made – that you explained some of here – in your policy? Is it because you have more experience now and you’ve learned more about the information? Is it because you’re running for president in a Democratic primary? And should they feel comfortable and confident that what you’re saying now is gonna be your policy moving forward?
Harris: Dana, I think the – the – most important and most significant aspect of my policy perspective and decisions is my values have not changed. You mentioned the Green New Deal. I always have believed, and I have worked on it, that the climate crisis is real, that it is an urgent matter to which we should apply metrics that include holding ourselves to deadlines around time. We did that with the Inflation Reduction Act. We have set goals for the United States of America and by extension the globe around when we should meet certain standards for reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, as an example. That value has not changed.
My value around what we need to do to secure our border, that value has not changed. I spent two terms as the attorney general of California prosecuting transnational criminal organizations, violations of American laws regarding passage, illegal passage of guns, drugs, and human beings across our border. My values did not change. Source: Transcript of the CNN interview.
The Rest of the Story: Two questions: 1) Why was a climate change bill labeled the Inflation Reduction Act? 2) Why did you not conduct one border prosecution as Vice President if your values did not change?
Do you trust her values will not change from what she says they are if she becomes president?
FOREIGN POLICY
Bash: OK. Let’s talk about some foreign policy issues that would be on your plate if you become commander in chief. President Biden has tried unsuccessfully to end the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. He’s been doing it for months and months, along with you. Would you do anything differently? For example, would you withhold some US weapons shipment to Israel? That’s what a lot of people on the progressive left want you to do.
Harris: Let me be clear. I’m unequivocal and – unwavering in my commitment to Israel’s defense and its ability to defend itself. And that’s not gonna change. But let’s take a step back. October 7, 1,200 people are massacred, many young people who are simply attending a musical festival. Women were horribly raped. As I said then, I say today, Israel had a right – has a right to defend itself. We would. And how it does so matters. Far too many innocent Palestinians have been killed. And we have got to get a deal done. We – we were in Doha. We have to get a deal done. This war must end –
Bash: And in then in the meantime –
Harris: And we must get a deal that is about getting the hostages out. I’ve met with the families of the American hostages. Let’s get the hostages out. Let’s get the ceasefire done.
Bash: But no change in policy in terms of arms and – and so forth?
Harris: I remain committed since I’ve been on October 8 to what we must do to work toward a two-state solution where Israel is secure and in equal measure the Paletin – the Palestinians have security and self-determination and – and dignity.
Source: Transcript of the CNN interview.
The Rest of the Story: The removal of sanctions on Iran by the Harris/Biden administration provided Iran with $10 billion which was undoubtedly use by their proxy Hamas to fund the attack on Israel and thus enabled the October 7 massacre. I would think a good reporter would ask a question as to why the administration removed the sanctions.
Also, a question on why she skipped out on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to Congress would have been appropriate and of interest to the country.
Do you trust her negotiating and diplomacy skills?
GOVERNOR WALZ
Bash: Governor Walz, the country is just starting to get to know you. I want to ask you a question about how you’ve described your service in the National Guard.
Walz: Yeah
Bash: You said that you carried weapons in war, but you have never deployed actually in a war zone. A campaign official said that you misspoke. Did you?
Walz: Well, first of all, I’m incredibly proud. I’ve done 24 years of wearin’ uniform of this country. My record speaks for itself, but I think people are coming to get to know me. I – I speak like they do. I speak candidly. I wear my emotions on my sleeves, and I speak especially passionately about – about our children being shot in schools and around – around guns. So, I think people know me. They know who I am. They know where – where my heart is, and again, my record has been out there for over 40 years to – to
Bash: And the – the idea that you said that you were in war, did you misspeak, as the campaign has said?
Walz: Yeah, I said – we were talking about in this case, this was after a school shooting, the ideas of carrying these weapons of war. And my wife the English teacher told me my grammar’s not always correct. But again, if it’s not this, it’s an attack on my children for showing love for me, or it’s an attack on my dog. I’m not gonna do that, and the one thing I’ll never do is I’ll never demean another member’s service in any way. I never have and I never will.
Bash: And just one other question. You had to clarify that you had said that you and your wife used IVF, but it turned out you used a different kind of fertility in order to have children. And then when you ran for Congress in 2006, your campaign repeatedly made false statements about a 1995 arrest for drunk and reckless driving. What do you say to voters who aren’t sure whether they can take you at your word.
Walz: Well, I’ve been very public. I think they can see – my students come out – former folks I’ve served with, and they – and they do, they vouch for me. I certainly own my mistakes when I make ‘em. The one thing I’ll tell you is I wished in this country we wouldn’t have to do this. I spoke about our infertility issues ‘cause it’s hell, and families know this. And I spoke – I spoke about the treatments that were available to us that – that had those beautiful children there. That’s quite a contrast in folks that are trying to – to take those rights away from us.
And so, I – I think people know who I am. They know that record. They’ve seen that I’ve taught thousands of students. I’ve been out there. And I – I won’t apologize for speaking passionately, whether it’s guns in schools or protection of reproductive rights. The contrast could not be clearer between what we’re running against. The vice president’s position on this has been clear. And I think most Americans get it, if you’ve been through that. I don’t think they’re cutting hairs on IVF or IUI. I think what they’re cutting hairs on is an abortion ban and the ability to deny families the chance to have a beautiful child.
The Rest of the Story: Three straightforward questions, none of which were answered. The last sentence does not make logical sense to me. Do you have trust in this man to become Commander in Chief if something were to happen to Harris?
As I answered these questions my reaction is the entire interview eroded trust in the Democrat Party because they didn’t give us candidates we can trust. But it is just one interview. There is more I need to learn. Your thoughts.
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