Kamala Harris and Tim Walz's first interview
On August 29, 2024, Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate Minnesota Governor Tim Walz spoke with CNN’s Dana Bash. It was the Vice President's first interview since becoming the presumptive Democratic nominee for President. Here are some excerpts and takeaways from their joint interview.
BASH: "If you are elected, what would you do on day one in the White House?
HARRIS: "...one of my highest priorities is to do what we can to support and strengthen the middle class."
HARRIS: "I think that people are ready for a new way forward..."
WALZ: "Well, I’m excited about this agenda, too. As I said, the idea of inspiring America to what can be."
Their answers sound similar to, "Make America Great Again."
BASH: OK. Let’s talk about some foreign policy issues that would be on your plate if you become commander in chief. President Biden has tried unsuccessfully to end the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. He’s been doing it for months and months, along with you. Would you do anything differently? For example, would you withhold some US weapons shipments to Israel? That’s what a lot of people on the progressive left want you to do.
HARRIS: Let me be very clear. I’m unequivocal and — and unwavering in my commitment to Israel’s defense and its ability to defend itself. And that’s not gonna change. But let’s take a step back. October 7, 1,200 people are massacred, many young people who are simply attending a musical festival. Women were horribly raped. As I said then, I say today, Israel had a right — has a right to defend itself. We would. And how it does so matters. Far too many innocent Palestinians have been killed. And we have got to get a deal done. We — we were in Doha. We have to get a deal done. This war must end—
BASH: And in the meantime—
HARRIS: And we must get a deal that is about getting the hostages out. I’ve met with the families of the American hostages. Let’s get the hostages out. Let’s get the ceasefire done.
Bash asked the question, "Would you withhold some US weapons shipments to Israel?" Harris did not answer that specific question. Bash recognized this and asked the question a second time.
BASH: But no change in policy in terms of arms and — and so forth?
HARRIS: No. I — we have to get a deal done...
Since Bash asked two questions, "No change in policy in terms of arms?" and "And so forth?" we are not sure if Harris is answering "No" to both questions.
BASH: Governor Walz, the country is just starting to get to know you. I want to ask you a question about how you’ve described your service in the National Guard.
WALZ: Yeah.
BASH: You said that you carried weapons in war, but you have never deployed actually in a war zone. A campaign official said that you misspoke. Did you?
WALZ: Well, first of all, I’m incredibly proud. I’ve done 24 years of wearin’ uniform of this country. Equally proud of my service in a public school classroom, whether it’s Congress or — or the governor. My record speaks for itself, but I think people are coming to get to know me. I — I speak like they do. I speak candidly. I wear my emotions on my sleeves, and I speak especially passionately about — about our children being shot in schools and around — around guns. So I think people know me. They know who I am. They know where — where my heart is, and again, my record has been out there for over 40 years to — to speak for itself.
Bash asked Walz if he misspoke when he said he carried weapons in war. Like Harris, Walz did not answer that specific question. Bash recognized this and asked the question a second time.
BASH: And the — the idea that you said that you were in war, did you misspeak, as the campaign has said?
WALZ: Yeah, I said — we were talking about in this case, this was after a school shooting, the ideas of carrying these weapons of war. And my wife the English teacher told me my grammar’s not always correct. But again, if it’s not this, it’s an attack on my children for showing love for me, or it’s an attack on my dog. I’m not gonna do that, and the one thing I’ll never do is I’ll never demean another member’s service in any way. I never have and I never will.
Walz answered "Yeah" but a more affirmative answer would have been to say "Yes." He obviously did not want to answer this question.
BASH: Because we haven’t had a chance to — to talk, I'm just curious, staying on President Biden, when he called you and said he was pulling outta the race, what was that like? And did he offer to endorse you right away or did you ask for it?
HARRIS: It was — it was a Sunday, so, here, I'll — I'll give you a little too much information. (LAUGHTER)
BASH: Go for it. There’s no such thing, Madam Vice President.
HARRIS: My family was staying with us. And — including my baby nieces. And we had just had pancakes and, you know, "Auntie, can I have more bacon?" "Yes, I'll make you more bacon." And then we were gonna sit — we were sitting down to — to do a puzzle. (LAUGH) And the phone rang. And it was Joe Biden. And — and he told me what he had decided to do. And I asked him, "Are you sure?" And he said, "Yes." And — and that's how I learned about it.
Bash again makes the mistake of asking a compound question. In this case, she asked three questions. Compound questions make it easier for the subject to not answer one of the questions. Harris didn't answer the questions, "Did he offer to endorse you right away or did you ask for it?" To Bash's credit, she again recognized Harris didn't answer one of her questions so she asked it again.
BASH: And what about the endorsement? Did you ask for it?
HARRIS: He was very clear that he was gonna support me.
Again, Harris does not answer the specific question. She does not deny asking for Biden's endorsement. Bash then makes a somewhat attempt to get Harris to answer the specific question.
BASH: So when he called to tell you, he said, "I'm pulling outta the race and I'm gonna support you?"
HARRIS: Well, my first thought was not about me to be honest with you. My first thought was about him to be honest. I think history is gonna show a number of things about Joe Biden’s presidency..."
Harris goes on to give a lengthy answer but never answers Bash's specific question.
Twice Harris used the phrase "to be honest." Deceptive people will sometimes use phrases like this to convince you they are telling the truth.
Like most politicians who do not want to admit to something that will make them look bad, there were several times when Harris and Walz gave an answer but did not answer the specific question. Harris made several positive statements:
"One of my highest priorities is to do what we can to support and strengthen the middle class."
"I think that people are ready for a new way forward."
"We need to do to bring down the price of groceries."
"Bringing manufacturing back to the United States."
Most Americans probably agree with those statements. Likewise, most Republicans probably agree with those statements. Harris also made the following statements:
"Well, let’s be clear. My values have not changed."
"The most important and most significant aspect of my policy perspective and decisions is my values have not changed."
"My values did not change."
This may be the biggest takeaway from the interview. Unfortunately, many people view this November election as a choice between the lesser evil. Both candidates have their faults. When you look at Harris's record as a District Attorney General, as an Attorney General, as a Senator and as the Vice President remember what she said, "My values have not changed."