Vice President Kamala Harris sat down with NBC’s Hallie Jackson for a one-on-one interview just two weeks from the general election, and a week after her controversial interview with Bret Baier of Fox News. After examining this interview, we assess that it may have been worse for Harris than the Fox interview.
The interview begins with a question that Harris has heard hundreds of times, yet still fails to demarcate herself from President Joe Biden beyond her “not a continuation” boilerplate.
Kamala Harris has heard hundreds of versions of the differentiation from Biden question and still cannot bring herself to demarcate beyond "not a continuation." pic.twitter.com/DoC6PVL0va
— Jorge Bonilla (@BonillaJL) October 23, 2024
Jackson then tries to set Harris up to levy a sexism charge against those who might not vote for her:
“You’ve been reluctant to lean into it, to talk about the historic nature of your candidacy on the campaign trail. Why is that?” – @HallieJackson to Kamala Harris. “I wonder, do you think there is sexism at play here?” #NBCNightlyNews pic.twitter.com/dsKYTxVXGz
— Brent Baker 🇺🇦 🇮🇱 (@BrentHBaker) October 22, 2024
Jackson seemed stunned that Harris would not take the sexism bait. She then goes into one of several damning questions of Harris. Namely, on abortion and whether Harris would compromise in order to get an abortion bill past a Republican Congress. At the end of this exchange, Harris volunteers that she does not believe in religious exemptions for abortion.
“You’ve been reluctant to lean into it, to talk about the historic nature of your candidacy on the campaign trail. Why is that?” – @HallieJackson to Kamala Harris. “I wonder, do you think there is sexism at play here?” #NBCNightlyNews pic.twitter.com/dsKYTxVXGz
— Brent Baker 🇺🇦 🇮🇱 (@BrentHBaker) October 22, 2024
It should be noted that the only times that Harris delivers clear and passionate statements on anything without devolving into a word salad are in defense of unrestricted abortion-on-demand. For those keeping score at home, there is a direct through line between Harris blowing off the Al Smith dinner, Harris telling the "Jesus is Lord" kids that they're at "the wrong rally", and Harris's refusal to defend the right to free exercise of religion.
The next series of questions involved taxpayer-funded sex change surgeries. Here, again, a lengthy word salad.
Kamala Harris says "we should follow the law" when asked by NBC's @HallieJackson if she believes "transgender Americans should have access to gender-affirming care".
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) October 22, 2024
Jackson whines Republicans are "trying to define you on this."
Harris uncorks long-winded word salad.... pic.twitter.com/8yCQNpkVOY
After refusing to consider pardoning Trump as a way to foster national unity, demurring on a Cabinet post for Liz Cheney, and punting to the failed border bill when asked about immigration, Harris gets asked another question she should’ve been ready for: What did she know about President Joe Biden’s cognitive decline, and when did she know it? She almost seems mad at Jackson for asking the question, and imposes another word salad.
WATCH: Kamala Harris again refuses to answer whether she ever witnessed President Biden in cognitive decline:
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) October 22, 2024
Jackson: “I know that Joe Biden is not on the ballot and I understand that. But the reason that you are on the top of the ticket is because he dropped out of this race.… pic.twitter.com/rgYvnkCzZf
The interview pressed from the left across a wide array of issues- more friendly terrain for Harris. And yet she cooked herself. Jackson didn’t interrupt her or cut her off. Instead, Harris was allowed to respond to key questions without interruption, and ended up word-salading most of those questions.
Jackson can’t be accused of bullying or hectoring Harris and, in many ways, she's the anti-Baier. Harris did this one all on her own.
To view the full transcript of the interview, click here.
