Vice President Kamala Harris ignored questions about “concrete” policy solutions to securing the southern border during an interview with Oprah Winfrey on Thursday, rambling on for 441 words in about three minutes.
“If you were president, what specific steps would you take to strengthen the border?” a man in the audience named Justin asked Harris.
Harris responded with a 441-word response.
Well, of course, what are the concrete steps to strengthen the border? This is a great and important question. I have a background as a prosecutor and I was elected two terms as attorney general of a border state. So this is not a theoretical question for me. This is something I have actually worked on. I have prosecuted international criminal organizations on gun, drug and human trafficking charges. I take very seriously the importance of securing the border and ensuring the safety of the American people. Sadly, where we are right now can be traced back to the fact that very recently, the U.S. Congress, lawmakers including the most conservative Republicans, came up with a border security bill. And what this border security bill was supposed to do, which was to put 1,500 border patrol agents on the border. Border patrol agents work around the clock. It would have been to give them some support and relief. That is probably why border patrol agents actually supported the bill. That would have helped stem the influx of fentanyl. I look out here at the people across the country. So I don't need to tell people watching this what fentanyl has done to families and children in our country and that we need to really think about addressing this extraordinary, tragic problem in terms of stopping the flow of fentanyl into the country and addressing this extraordinary, tragic problem in terms of the impacts that it has. This bill would have been part of the solution by increasing resources to prosecute transnational criminal organizations. Donald Trump called those people and said, “Don't put this bill on the floor and let it go to a vote.” He blocked the bill. Do you know why? Because he wants to run on the issues and fight the election rather than solve the issues. He prioritized his political and personal security over border security. Because we saw what this bill has done to help those who care about this issue, even in the last few months. And this also relates to the question of what leadership really looks like and is it about you or is it about the people? Is it about running with the issues or solving the issues? My job and my career has always been about saying, “Let's solve the problems, let's address the needs,” because we know that's within our capabilities.
“So to answer Justin's question, now that the bill has died and it hasn't passed, are you going to reintroduce it?” Oprah followed up with a question.
“Absolutely. If I am elected president of the United States, I will ensure that this bill gets to my desk and that I sign it into law,” Harris replied.
WATCH — CNN's Phillips: Harris' Oprah event “part of strategy” to avoid interview:
Members of the mainstream media have been extremely frustrated that Harris has not provided any policy details in just four interviews since joining the campaign. “Harris hasn't provided the specifics that some undecided voters are looking for,” he said, criticizing her for being “unwilling or unable to lay out a comprehensive blueprint for what she would specifically do as the 47th president,” and pointing out that she has “stuck to broad themes and headlines.”
Harris finds herself in the dilemma of not being able to campaign on policies to improve crime, inflation and border security without undermining the policies of the Biden-Harris administration, but having to tout the administration's policies to justify her own record and her candidacy.
Perhaps this conundrum is why Harris doesn't offer policy proposals, instead repeating evasive lines and slogans: Nearly half of Americans (48%) believe she simply says what people want to hear. economist/YouGov Poll Found Meanwhile, only 36 percent said Harris speaks for what she believes.
