WASHINGTON — In a wide-ranging sit-down with “60 Minutes” that aired Monday, Vice President Kamala Harris defended her policy reversals on issues like fracking and criticized former President Donald Trump for recusing himself from the interview with the CBS program .
Harris said, as she did in an earlier interview with CNN, that her positions on the fracking ban and on Medicare for All, which she no longer supports, came after listening to Americans across the country during her travels as vice president.
“What the American people want is to have leaders who can build consensus, where we can compromise and understand that’s not a bad thing, as long as you don’t compromise your values, to find common-sense solutions,” Harris said to “60 Minutes” correspondent Bill Whitaker. “And that was my approach.”
Trump initially agreed to be interviewed, according to CBS. He changed his mind and only Harris, and his running mate Tim Walz, appeared on the program, breaking with more than half a century of tradition.
“Unfortunately Trump canceled the program last week,” CBS correspondent Scott Pelley said in the program’s introduction, adding that the campaign offered “shifting” explanations. One of the issues raised by the Trump campaign was whether CBS would fact-check the interview, Pelley noted.
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“We fact-check every story,” Pelley said.
Addressing Trump’s absence from the program, Harris repeated a line of attack on the debate and told viewers to watch her events.
“If he won’t give your viewers a chance to have a meaningful, thoughtful conversation, questions and answers with you, then watch his rallies,” he said. “You will hear conversations about himself and all his personal grievances.”
Harris on Trump: America wants a leader “who doesn’t try to divide us”
During the “60 Minutes” interview, Whitaker asked Harris about her past statements that Trump is divisive. Among the examples he advanced are Trump’s unfounded claims that Haitian migrants living in Springfield, Ohio, kidnap and eat pets.
Trump has the support of millions of Americans, he stressed. “How do you explain that?” he asked.
Harris responded: “I’m happy that you’re pointing out these comments that he made, which have led to a response from the most reasonable people, to say that’s just wrong, that’s just wrong.”
Pressed again by the fact that so many people support Trump, who she previously called racist, Harris refused to criticize Americans who plan to vote for him.
“I believe the American people want a leader who does not seek to divide us and humiliate us,” he said. “I believe the American people recognize that the true measure of a leader’s strength is not who they put down, but who they rise up.”
Harris says high food prices would be a priority
The economy continues to be the top issue for voters, and Harris has said lowering high food prices would be a priority if she wins the election.
“And I know that, and we have to address it, which is why it’s part of my plan,” Harris said after Whitaker asked whether Americans blaming her and President Joe Biden were wrong.
Harris proposed tax breaks for new parents, first-time homebuyers and entrepreneurs. He said he will pay for his plans by raising the corporate tax rate, which requires an act of Congress, and raising capital gains taxes on wealthy Americans.
Biden failed to push key points of his agenda through Congress after proposing to pay for his plans with tax increases. Harris suggested he would have better luck.
He told Whitaker that if you “calmly talk” about the issue with lawmakers, “they know exactly what I’m talking about.”
“There are many leaders in Congress who understand and know that Trump’s tax cuts have exploded our federal deficit,” he added, referring to a 2017 bill he signed.
Harris’ economic plans could also increase the federal deficit, analysts say, but forecasters have found Trump’s would be more costly.
Harris pushes Congress to pass immigration reforms
Harris again called on Congress to pass bipartisan immigration reform legislation that died in the US Senate after Trump encouraged lawmakers not to vote in its favor.
Illegal border crossings have dropped dramatically since Biden instituted tougher asylum measures. Harris said he will crack down on the situation further.
“It’s a long-standing problem. And the solutions are at hand. And from day one, literally, we’ve been offering solutions,” Harris told “60 Minutes.”
Harris reaffirms support for Ukraine, says diplomacy with Israel is ‘an ongoing quest’
Harris sidestepped a question about whether the Biden administration has “influence” over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, while saying Israel is an important U.S. ally.
“The work we do diplomatically with Israel’s leadership is an ongoing quest to clarify our principles,” Harris said. “I think, with all due respect, the better question is whether we have a meaningful alliance between the American people and the Israeli people and the answer to that question is yes.”
Israel has the right to defend itself, he said in response to the October 7 attack by Hamas militants. “And how he does it matters. Too many innocent Palestinians have been killed. This war must end.”
The Democratic candidate said she would not unilaterally meet Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss ending the war in Ukraine.
“Not bilaterally without Ukraine, no. Ukraine must have a say in Ukraine’s future,” he said.
Harris declined to say whether she would support adding Ukraine to NATO, even though member countries over the summer adopted language that the nation’s path to membership is “irreversible.”
“These are all issues that we will address if and when we get to that point,” Harris said. “Right now we are supporting Ukraine’s ability to defend itself from Russia’s unprovoked aggression.”
Harris said that if Trump were president, he would strike a deal that would give Putin control of Ukraine. “You know what it’s about? It’s about surrender,” he said.
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