Kamala Harris finally sat down for a solo interview, and it seems as though the streak of good fortune that won her Tuesday's debate has already faded.
When asked about policies, she launched into a monologue about her “middle class upbringing” that left many viewers confused and unsatisfied with her response.
The interviewer asked, “When you talk about bringing down prices and making life more affordable for people, what are one or two specific things you have in mind for that?”
Harris responded, “Well, I'll start with this. I grew up a middle-class kid. My mother raised my sister and me. She worked very hard. She was able to finally save up enough money to buy our first house when I was a teenager. I grew up in a community of hard-working people, you know, construction workers and nurses and teachers. And I try to explain to some people who may not have had the same experience. You know, a lot of people will relate to this. You know, I grew up in a neighborhood of folks who were very proud of their lawn, you know?”
Social media commentators assumed that Kamala Harris was trying to appeal to “everyday Americans” by mentioning “construction workers” who “care about their lawns” in the same way that she did by choosing Tim Walz as her running mate, and immediately sharing pictures of him coaching a football team and hunting.
“And I was raised to believe and to know that all people deserve dignity, and that we as Americans have a beautiful character. You know, we have ambitions and aspirations and dreams, but not everyone necessarily has access to the resources that can help them fuel those dreams and ambitions. So when I talk about building an opportunity economy, it is very much with the mind of investing in the ambitions and aspirations and the incredible work ethic of the American people and creating opportunity for people, for example, to start a small business.”
She was also asked what made her different from Joe Biden.
“Well I'm obviously not Joe Biden and I offer a new generation of leadership. So for example thinking about developing and creating an opportunity economy where it's about investing in areas that really need a lot of work, and maybe focusing, again, on the aspirations and the dreams but also just recognizing that at this moment in time, some of the stuff we could take for granted years ago, we can't take for granted anymore.”
Pointing to a specific policy that set her apart from the sitting President, the best example she could think of was her child tax credit being $3,000 higher than the current tax credit (and $1,000 higher than the Trump tax credit).
“Another plan that I have that is a new approach is to expand the child tax credit to $6,000 for young families for the first year of their child's life. My approach is about new ideas, new policies that are directed at the current moment. And also to be very honest with you my focus is very much on what we need to do over the next 10, 20 years to catch up to the 21st century around again capacity but also challenges.”
President Trump has repeatedly criticized the Vice President, accusing her of having “no ideas” and “no imagination” — especially after she began supporting the No Tax On Tips policy that he had adopted months prior.
