Kamala Harris continues to solidify her reputation as the queen of train wreck interviews, this time floundering on CBS News. The seasoned journalist Bill Whitaker seemed to be having a field day, tossing out questions that should have been a piece of cake for any vice president to handle. Instead, it was as if Harris had decided to play a game of verbal dodgeball, but she was the only one in the arena.
The highlight—or rather, lowlight—of the interview came when Whitaker pressed Harris about the billion-dollar holes in her economic plan. Instead of giving a straightforward answer, she pivoted to a classic Democratic ploy: blaming everyone and everything else. In her defense, she focused on a vague notion that the wealthy should step up to the plate. Unfortunately for her, this seemed more like a diversion tactic than a viable solution. It’s always rich-rich—pun intended—how Democrats pooh-pooh actual budgeting while demanding the “rich” cover the tab like some sort of economic fairy godmother.
BILL WHITAKER: Your economic plan would add $3 trillion to the deficit over 10 years. How do you pay for it?
HARRIS: Trump’s plan is worse!
WHITAKER: But how do you pay for it?
HARRIS: Well, the rich need to pay their fair share!
WHITAKER: And how do you get this through… pic.twitter.com/0rM1Z0WaHG
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) October 8, 2024
Things went from bad to worse as the discussion veered into her politically fickle positions, with Whitaker pointing out the staggering frequency of her flip-flops. Trying to brush it off, Harris waved her hands and claimed it was because she traveled a lot. Apparently, in Harris’ world, being in the air miles frequent-flyer club gives one a free pass on staying consistent. Perhaps she thinks that bouncing from one place to another magically alters the nature of the positions she has publicly changed—newsflash, it doesn’t.
When Whitaker bravely broached the subject of immigration, it was as if he was sparring with a wet noodle. He posed direct questions about the Biden administration’s immigration policies, which have resulted in a surge of upwards of 20 million new arrivals, including significant criminals. In what could only be described as a masterclass in evasion, Harris failed spectacularly to provide a coherent response. Instead of admitting any misstep, she circled back to the same tired lines about past administrations and Congress needing to help solve the “long-standing problem.” One wonders if she ever thought to grab a shovel and start digging instead of playing the blame game.
All of this is set against the backdrop of the Trump era, where the former president thrived on media confrontations and never ducked hard questions, even from hostile outlets. It seems the current administration is still finding its feet when it comes to owning up to its policies. With critics pointing fingers at her failure to handle core issues, it would appear that Kamala Harris is as lost as she was when she first took a seat at the vice president’s table. The bewilderment surrounding her responses signals not just a lack of preparation but an alarming inability to grapple with the consequences of decisions made in the West Wing.
Overall, the latest attempt to push Kamala into the spotlight has shown once again that for this vice president, performing well under pressure is not just a question of standing tall—it’s an unattainable skill set. It’s safe to say that if Harris plans on rising in the political ranks, she might want to reconsider her approach to these sit-downs. After all, the country is watching, and when the answers are this muddled, cold, hard facts will always reign supreme.