Harris says her 'values' haven't changed. We still have no clue what they are

 After waiting weeks to do an interview sans teleprompter, Vice President Kamala Harris left the American people with more questions than answers Thursday night.

Harris, the Democratic nominee for president, and running mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz agreed to a sit-down with CNN’s Dana Bash, but the pre-taped conversation didn’t offer any clarity about what we would see from a Harris-Walz administration.

Since President Joe Biden dropped out of the presidential race in July, Harris’ meteoric ascension to the top of the ticket – and the newfound energy in the Democratic Party – has been fueled by a lot of feelings, but not much in the way of substance. 

It’s clear Democrats are thrilled that Biden is no longer their candidate. It’s less evident why they’re excited about Harris. 

Why so many flip-flops? Harris didn't explain.

In recent days, Harris claims to have reneged on many of her past progressive stances and is attempting to sell herself as much more moderate.   

The CNN interview was Harris’ first real opportunity to explain why she’d made these dramatic policy shifts on everything from health care to the climate to illegal immigration. In 2019, when Harris first ran for president, she even outranked her fellow senator and primary opponent, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders (a democratic socialist), as the most liberal member of the Senate. 

Now, apparently, she’s seen the light. We just don’t know why.

Bash asked Harris a series of questions about Harris' supposed transformation: “How should voters look at some of the changes that you’ve made? Is it because you have more experience now and you’ve learned more about the information? Is it because you were running for president in a Democratic primary?”

Harris’ answer revealed nothing.

“I think the most important and most significant aspect of my policy perspective and decisions is my values have not changed,” she said. “You mentioned the Green New Deal. I have always believed – and I have worked on it – that the climate crisis is real, that it is an urgent matter to which we should apply metrics that include holding ourselves to deadlines around time.”

At several points during the interview, Harris mentioned how her “values” haven’t changed. 

But she didn’t clearly define what those values are. 

Walz evades accountability for misstatements

It was a mistake for Harris to have Walz with her in her first major interview after becoming the nominee. It made it seem like she couldn’t handle the situation without his support – not the optics she should be going for. 

And Walz didn’t add much to the interview. 

Bash pushed him on his mischaracterizations and outright lies about his past, including his military service and fertility treatments he and his wife had to use to have children. 

Walz’s answer was unsatisfactory to say the least. He acknowledged, “I certainly own my mistakes when I make them.” But he failed to offer an explanation for why he said so many false things in the first place. 

This interview was high-stakes for Harris. She still needs to explain to voters who is she, what she values and how she would lead the nation for the next four years.

She didn’t rise to the moment.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/columnist/2024/08/30/harris-walz-cnn-interview-lack-accountability/75009568007/