In a recent '60 Minutes' interview, Vice President Kamala Harris appeared to be on the back foot, struggling to answer tough questions posed by veteran journalist Bill Whitaker.
The interview, which aired just four weeks before the election, marked a departure from the soft-touch treatment Harris has previously enjoyed from the media.
According to the Daily Mail, Harris has been largely shielded from rigorous scrutiny, with previous interviews likened to spa treatments. However, Whitaker's probing questions seemed to unsettle the Vice President, exposing her inability to articulate clear and coherent responses to critical issues.
Whitaker's first salvo targeted Harris's stance on America's relationship with Israel. He asked, "[America supplies] Israel with billions of dollars in military aid, and yet [Israeli] Prime Minister Netanyahu seems to be charting his own course Does the U.S. have no sway over Prime Minister Netanyahu?" Harris's response was vague, stating, "The work we do diplomatically with the leadership of Israel is an ongoing pursuit around making clear our principles."
The interview took a more contentious turn when Whitaker questioned Harris's labeling of former President Trump as 'racist', despite his substantial support base. When asked if she believed Trump's supporters were also racists, Harris, who had previously criticized President Biden for supporting discriminatory 'busing' policies in the 70s, struggled to provide a clear answer. "I believe the American people recognize that the true measure of the strength of a leader is not based on who you beat down, it's based on who you lift up," she said.
On economic matters, Harris was challenged to explain how she planned to fund her proposals, including boosting the child tax credit, providing incentives for first-time home buyers, and offering substantial support to small business owners. Her response, "When you invest in small businesses, you invest in the middle class, and you strengthen America's economy. Small businesses are the backbone of America's economy," did little to address the question of funding.
Whitaker continued to press Harris on her strategy for getting her proposals through Congress. Harris's response, "When you talk quietly with a lot of folks in Congress, they know exactly what I'm talking about. 'Cuz their constituents know exactly what I'm talking about," left many viewers, including this journalist, perplexed.
The interview took a more serious turn when Whitaker confronted Harris about her changing positions on key issues such as immigration and healthcare. He pointed out that Harris had previously supported looser immigration policies and Medicare for all, positions she has since reversed. Harris's response, "We are a diverse people. Geographically, regionally, in terms of where we are in our backgrounds. What the American people do want is that we have leaders who can build consensus that has been my approach," did little to clarify her stance.
The most contentious moment of the interview came when Whitaker questioned Harris about the border crisis that had escalated under her administration. Despite repeated questioning, Harris failed to provide a clear answer, instead shifting the blame to Congress. "We need Congress to be able to act to actually fix the problem," she said.
With less than a month to go before the election, Harris's performance in the '60 Minutes' interview raises serious questions about her ability to address the critical issues facing the nation. Her inability to provide clear and coherent answers, particularly on the border crisis, suggests a lack of preparedness and understanding of the issues at hand.
Meanwhile, former President Trump, who was scheduled to appear on '60 Minutes', reportedly pulled out of the interview. This left Harris as the sole representative of the current administration to face the nation in what may have been the last opportunity for the candidates to reach a national audience before the election.
As the election draws near, the American people are left to decide between a candidate who failed to provide clear answers to critical questions and a former president who chose not to show up. The choice, as always, lies with the voters.
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