After having ABC debate moderators Linsey Davis and David Muir on her side for Tuesday night’s debate, Vice President Kamala Harris sat down with Brian Taff of ABC’s Philadelphia affiliate for an even softer interview that should lead the national media to demand she face more tough questioning.
Taff asked five questions, none of which could reasonably be described as challenging. For his first question, he asked, “When we talk about bringing down prices and making life more affordable for people, what are one or two specific things that you have in mind for that?”
Harris gave a long, rambling answer that ultimately led to her promoting some proposed small business tax deductions and plans for housing construction.
Taff’s second question was another open-ended one, “I think some people have a question, given maybe your current role as vice president of the United States, how different you are from Joe Biden, and so I wonder if there are one or two spots, policy issues, or approaches where you would say, 'I’m a different person.’”
Harris replied by claiming that the fact that she comes from a different generation will enable her to understand things “we could take for granted years ago, we can’t take for granted anymore” before hyping her child tax credit proposal.
For his third question, Taff started out as if he was going to finally ask a compelling question, “Crime and public safety are two major issues right at the forefront of voters’ minds in Philadelphia as well, where crime is a significant issue.”
However, he proceeded to turn it into a gun control question, “When we talk about crime, the conversation turns to gun safety as well, and I think you, actually, caught a lot of people off guard, maybe a bit by surprise at the debate the other night when you mentioned that you were a gun owner, I know you said it in 2019 as well. I want to talk about your values on this issue. When it comes to gun ownership, where do you draw the line in America on gun ownership and gun use?
After Harris gave typical liberal answers on that, Taff asked about Donald Trump, “What do you understand his appeal to be and how do you speak to his voters or maybe people who just share his values, but are open to something else?”
Finally, he asked, “If there’s one thing that you wish Americans knew about who Kamala Harris is that you don’t think they know yet, what would that be?”
In response to both questions, Harris claimed to be a unifier while using the last one to discuss her love of cooking.
To be fair to 6abc, they also interviewed Trump back in April, and that was not exactly a hardball interview either, but on Sunday, his running mate JD Vance will do three hostile Sunday show interviews where he surely won't be able to go on about how much he loves Sunday dinner.
Where is the demand that Tim Walz do the same? Walz limits himself to the Rachel Maddow Show and Harris does interviews like this. Before the one with Dana Bash, her most recent interview was a T-ball session with Morning Joe’s Mika Brzezinski on MSNBC before President Biden dropped out and before that, with Jimmy Kimmel.
Here is a transcript of the September 13 show:
6abc – WPVI Philadelphia Action News
9/13/2024
BRIAN TAFF: As you know we’re sitting here in a state and arguably in front of an audience that 54 days from now could decide the outcome of this presidential election. You hear it more than I do, people want to know more about you and about your specific plans. At the debate the other night, you talked about creating an opportunity economy, wonder if we can drill down on that a little bit, when we talk about bringing down prices and making life more affordable for people, what are one or two specific things that you have in mind for that?
…
You talked at the debate and previous appearances about turning the page on the past and in fact, here today at Johnstown you’re talking about a new way forward. I think some people have a question, given maybe your current role as vice president of the United States, how different you are from Joe Biden, and so I wonder if there are one or two spots, policy issues, or approaches where you would say “I’m a different person.”
…
Crime and public safety are two major issues right at the forefront of voters’ minds in Philadelphia as well where crime is a significant issue. When we talk about crime, the conversation turns to gun safety as well and I think you, actually, caught a lot of people off guard, maybe a bit by surprise at the debate the other night when you mentioned that you were a gun owner, I know you said it in 2019 as well. I want to talk about your values on this issue. When it comes to gun ownership, where do you draw the line in America on gun ownership and gun use?
…
Two final questions if I might. On the appeal of the man you are running against, as you drove here today you likely saw a lot of Trump signs. He has a historic appeal in this country and as you are someone running against him and trying to understand that, I wonder how you distill it. What do you understand his appeal to be and how do you speak to his voters or maybe people who just share his values, but are open to something else?
…
And finally, as you introduce yourself to America in a new way, they’ve heard much of your story at the Democratic National Convention and in that debate earlier this week. If there’s one thing that you wish Americans knew about who Kamala Harris that you don’t think they know yet, what would that be?
