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Harris and Waltz jointly accepted an exclusive interview. Read the key points at once
Reporters : Ivan Pentchoukov, Jacob Burg, and Emel Akan/Compiled by Chen Ting / Editor : Li Lin / https://www.epochtimes.com/b5/24/8/30/n14320780.htm / Image : On 29 August 2024, Democratic presidential nominee and US Vice President Kamala Harris delivered a speech at a campaign rally in Savannah, Georgia. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic presidential candidate on Thursday (August 29) engaged in her first interview and clarified her shifting stance on fracking and border security.
She also defended the economic achievements of the Biden administration and confirmed that she would not change U.S. policy on handling the Israel-Hamas war.
This is Kamala's first unscripted media contact since launching her presidential campaign on 21 July 2024. She faced pointed questions from CNN reporter Dana Bash about why she changed her original more progressive stance.
Asked to explain why she changed course on fracking and the border, Kamala repeatedly replied, "My values haven't changed."
The U.S. election will be in 67 days, and there are less than two weeks left before the presidential debate on 10 September. Although Kamala Harris quickly determined her campaign platform in an attempt to win the support of undecided voters, so far, she has not been very clear on specific policies. She did not reveal much, and did not offer any new policy suggestions in this conversation with Bash.
The interview also addressed questions about her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, including his service record and the wrong statement on the fertility treatments he underwent to conceive his daughter.
The two spoke to CNN in a videotaped interview at a local black-owned restaurant in Savannah, Georgia, one of the states crucial to Biden's 2020 victory.
Minutes before the interview aired, former President Trump's town hall meeting in La Crosse, Wisconsin, ended.
Kamala's response to the change of stance
In 2019, Kamala planned to run for the Democratic presidential nomination, but withdrew from the race before the primary. At the time, she supported initiatives such as Medicare for All, the Green New Deal and a ban on fracking. Bash asked Kamala to explain why her policy stance has swung.
"I think the most important and meaningful thing about my policy views and decisions is that my values have not changed," Kamala said.
Kamala Harris said she made it clear during a 2020 debate with former Vice President Mike Pence that she would not ban fracking when Biden wins the White House and reiterated that she would do so if elected in November. She continues to keep that promise.
She highlighted the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, noting that it has promoted investment in renewable energy and created more than 300,000 new jobs in the industry.
"This tells me, based on my experience as vice president, that we can do this without banning fracking," she said.
Regarding the border issue that Trump and Republicans have particularly emphasized, Kamala reiterated that her "values have not changed" on ensuring border security.
Bash asked Kamala about her support for decriminalizing border crossings during the 2019 Democratic primary debate, when she raised her hand in support of the initiative.
She replied: "I think there should be legal consequences. We have laws that must be observed and enforced to solve and deal with the problem of illegal border crossers."
Reporters also presented Kamala with facts about the crisis at the southern border. During the Biden-Harris administration, arrests of illegal immigrants hit a record high. Bash asked why it took the federal government three and a half years to take action to stop the influx of illegal immigrants.
Biden appointed Kamala to address the root causes of immigration. She said her work helps reduce the number of people crossing the border. She reiterated her support for the bipartisan border bill that failed to pass the Senate, while blaming Trump for the bill's failure to pass.
At a town hall meeting in Wisconsin, Trump addressed Kamala's change of stance and expressed doubts about the authenticity of her support for border security.
"That's not what she believes in. Her belief is open borders," Trump said.
After the interview, the Trump campaign took aim at Kamala's repeated remarks that her values had not changed, saying she was still a "radical."
Walz responds to past misstatements
Walz defended his past remarks about "holding weapons and going to war." Walz said he was proud of his 24 years of service and that his record "speaks for itself." But when asked if he had said something wrong, he said his "grammar is not always correct."
In 2003, Walz was stationed in Italy, where he provided base security during the war in Afghanistan. However, Walz never served in a combat zone.
However, in a video posted to social media in 2018, Walz spoke out against gun violence, saying, "I've been on the battlefield with weapons, and we can make sure the battlefield is the only place those weapons exist."
Bash also pressed Walz about claims that he and his wife used in vitro fertilization (IVF, or test-tube fertilization), which his wife later clarified was inaccurate because the couple was using another fertility treatment. Walz responded by saying he did not think most Americans would argue over types of treatment and turned to bashing Republicans on the issue.
Trump announced on Thursday that if elected, he would require the government to cover the cost of IVF treatment or force insurance companies to cover the cost of treatment.
Kamala supports Biden's policies
On the economy, Kamala was asked about her campaign slogan, "Not Going Back," and how many Americans would rather go back to the Trump era, when gas, groceries and other prices were lower.
She did not answer the question directly, pointing only to the White House's investments in clean energy and manufacturing.
When asked if she supported Biden's economic policies or "Bidenomics," Kamala cited the administration's efforts to cap insulin prices, extend the Trump administration's child tax credit, and restore 800,000 manufacturing jobs. work done.
"I would say, these jobs have been done well," Kamala said. "There is more work to be done, but these jobs have been done well."
However, she acknowledged that "prices are still too high" and outlined her economic policy proposals to address "price gouging" and housing affordability issues.
Bash asked Kamala if she would continue Biden's military support for Israel or if she would do anything different, such as a weapons shutdown that some progressives have advocated.
She said she would not change the U.S. policy of providing arms to Israel and once again called on both sides to reach a ceasefire agreement.
"We must work towards a two-state solution in which Israel enjoys security and Palestinians enjoy security, self-determination and dignity," she said.
Talking about Biden’s withdrawal call
Bash also asked how Kamala learned that she would become the Democratic presidential candidate on the day Biden announced his withdrawal from the race.
She said she was with her family when Biden called her to inform her of his decision to withdraw from the race.
"He told me what he decided to do. I asked him, 'Are you sure?' and he said, 'Yes.' That's how I got the news," she said.
When asked if Biden took the initiative to endorse her, Kamala said, "He made it very clear that he would support me." She also added that when she received the news, "My first thought was not me."
Bash asked Kamala if she regretted defending Biden's fitness for office after his poor performance in the presidential debates.
"Not at all," Harris said. "I have worked with President Biden for almost four years, and I tell you, this is one of the greatest honors of my career."
She said, "(Biden) has wisdom, commitment, judgment and ability to do things. I think the American people deserve such a president." She believes this is in sharp contrast to Trump.
The vice president also promised to appoint a Republican to a Cabinet position if she wins in November.
"I think it's important to have people with different perspectives and different experiences at the table when some of the most important decisions are being made," she said.
(The original article "Harris Defends Shifting Positions in Primetime Interview" was published in the English Epoch Times.)
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