As the pressure mounts for Kamala Harris to define her policy positions, critics are finding more reasons to question what, if anything, she stands for. Her campaign has been criticized for being light on substance, and now, with the spotlight on her, people are wondering where she actually diverges from President Joe Biden and what issues she’ll tackle on her own.
In her recent sit-down with CNN, Harris didn’t exactly clear the air. Instead, she doubled down on backing Biden, dismissing concerns about his age and mental sharpness. She also brushed off the idea of an arms embargo on Israel amidst its ongoing conflict with Hamas in Gaza.
During this staged event in a Savannah, Georgia café, where she was joined by her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Harris attempted to lay out her priorities. She claimed that her “day one” focus would be on supporting the middle class, a vague nod to Biden’s economic policies dubbed “Bidenomics.” It seems Harris is well aware that the economy could be the deciding factor in this election. But, if her top priority is truly the middle class, the question remains: why hasn’t she made any real moves on this front during her vice presidency?
Harris mentioned several proposals, including expanding the child tax credit and offering a $25,000 tax credit for first-time homebuyers. However, when pressed on why these ideas haven’t materialized, she deflected by claiming that her and Biden’s focus had to be on the post-pandemic recovery. She boasted about lowering inflation to below 3% and capping insulin costs for seniors, but it all feels a bit hollow considering the economic challenges that persist.
When the topic turned to her shifting policy positions, Harris’s answers were anything but convincing. She insisted that her values hadn’t changed, even as her stances clearly have. On fracking, an issue that’s particularly divisive in swing states like Pennsylvania, Harris stated that she would not ban it, despite previously signaling otherwise. Her justification? A vague assertion that the country can grow a clean energy economy without banning fracking—a statement that will likely leave many scratching their heads.
The conversation also touched on border security, where Harris again tried to paint herself as a tough-on-crime candidate. She talked about the importance of enforcing laws and imposing “consequences” for illegal border crossings. Yet, for someone who once supported decriminalizing these crossings, her newfound tough stance seems more like political posturing than genuine conviction.
And then there’s the Green New Deal, another area where Harris is trying to walk a fine line. She reaffirmed her belief in the urgency of addressing the climate crisis but stopped short of fully embracing the Green New Deal, a move that’s sure to frustrate the hard-left base. The Sunrise Movement, a group of climate activists, has already voiced their disappointment, noting that Harris’s half-hearted support isn’t enough to earn their endorsement.
In the end, Harris’s interview raised more questions than it answered. As the campaign trail heats up, it remains to be seen whether she can convince voters that she’s more than just a shadow of Biden, or if she’ll continue to struggle under the weight of her own contradictions.
