On Thursday this past week, Kamala Harris finally did it. She finally sat down for her first interview since being handed the top spot on the Democrat ticket by the party bosses. The interview was with CNN’s Dana Bash.
It was a resounding success for Harris, a towering foul ball for CNN and Bash.
To the interview in a Georgia cafe, Ms. Harris brought along her support pony, her running mate, Minnesota governor Tim Walz. Aside from a couple of questions why he made stuff up about his military service and which medical technique he and his wife used to get pregnant, Walz just sat there, smiling and nodding. Great practice for what he’ll be doing if elected vice president.
The focus of the questioning justifiably, was on Kamala Harris. More than forty days into her campaign and with a little over two months till election day, she’s skillfully created a candidacy of smiles, hugs and hearts, in contrast to Donald Trump’s campaign of anger, brooding and name calling.
Kudos to her and to her handlers.
But Thursday was a chance for Bash, the smart and experienced journalist that she is, to cut through the joyfulness and extract answers to the crucial issues Harris will have to tackle if she becomes president. Answers the American voters are more than entitled to.
IMHO, Bash failed. She avoided asking Harris questions on some key topics, but had time for softballs about Harris’ niece and what they were eating for breakfast when Biden called to tell her he was toast.
When Bash asked Harris what she would do on day one as president, Harris gave a meandering answer about helping the middle class with an increased child tax credit and a first-time home buyer’s credit.
Those may (or may not) be good things, but they cannot come about without congressional approval. So they’re not going to happen on day one. They’ll add gobs of money to the federal debt, but Bash didn’t question any of that. Bash should have asked Harris what her first executive order would be.
Like it or not, we know what we’ll get with Trump on day one. He says he’ll be a dictator and close the border and will tell the oil companies to drill baby, drill.
On foreign affairs, Bash asked one question. She asked Harris if she would impose an arms embargo on Israel. Harris gave the I will always defend Israel, but…answer. The but being Israel had better fight murderous terrorists in its backyard and use tactics that meet with US approval, but she didn’t say what she would do if they don’t.
There was no question on what a Harris administration would do to counteract a nuclear-imminent Iran, the source of worldwide terrorism.
There was no question on what a Harris administration would do about the war in Ukraine or about relations with Russia.
There was no question on what her policy would be on China, or on defending Taiwan.
Say what you will about Joe Biden, he had decades of experience dealing with foreign policy and with foreign leaders. Kamala Harris has none, so it is crucial for her to speak on those problems she will immediately confront as president.
Bash let Harris slide on the economy, letting her extol Bidenomics without forcing her to explain why inflation hit nine percent during her time in office.
Bash didn’t question Harris on her notion that groceries are more expensive now because of supermarket price gouging. And she didn’t get into Harris’ proposition about laying on some price controls on food and housing.
If Donald Trump has an ounce of campaign sanity left, he would bash (ha!) Harris on the economy. Unless the nation is at war, the economy (stupid) is the issue American voters focus on. Are you better off now than you were four years ago, should be the core question he should be constantly asking voters. Harris will be hard pressed to make the case that we are.
There was no question on how far the freedom of speech should be countenanced on American college campuses. I would have asked what she would do if African American college students faced the same hatred, vilification and cancellation that Jewish American college students are facing.
Bash did press Harris on her change of heart from 2019 on fracking. Harris gave a slick, coached answer on how her core values on the climate crisis haven’t changed, but now she’s a fracker lover.
Okay, we expect (at least I do) that type of lip-flapping, flip-flopping from a politician. So I’ll give her a freakin’ pass on fracking.
It remains to be seen if Harris can get away with platitudes and generalities and feed off her so-called campaign of joy as Election Day nears. The mainstream media, as evidenced by CNN’s much touted interview, apparently will help her as much as they can.
It remains to be seen if Donald Trump can sufficiently focus on the issues where she is vulnerable, instead of spending time on social media calling her names. He needs to smoke her out on specifics.
Most importantly, It remains to be seen if the undecided voters will stick by her shtick to push her over the finish line.
We have no idea, nor did we get any inkling from the interview, whether a Harris presidency will be any different from four more years of Joe Biden.
That’s another question that was never asked.
Harris finally sat down for an interview and it was a sweetheart of a session. Bash gave her a pass.
The next big event is the debate on September 10th. Let’s see what happens. Harris will try to continue her joyride, but the debate questioners should not let her hide.