Harris Laughs When Asked Whether She’d Push For ‘Socialist Perspective’ If Elected

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 17: Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) laughs at a Democratic presidential forum on Latino issues at Cal State L.A. on November 17, 2019 in Los Angeles, Cal... LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 17: Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) laughs at a Democratic presidential forum on Latino issues at Cal State L.A. on November 17, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. The presidential primary in California will be held on March 3, 2020. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images) MORE LESS
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) laughed during an interview on “60 Minutes” that aired Sunday when asked whether she would pushed for a “socialist or progressive perspective” if Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden wins the election.

When CBS News anchor Norah O’Donnell highlighted differences between Biden and Harris’ records in office — which include Harris’ support for progressive policy proposals such as the Green New Deal, Medicare for All and legalizing marijuana — she asked the Democratic VP pick whether she’d bring her progressive policies into a Biden administration.

Harris responded that part of her “deal” with joining Biden’s presidential ticket is that she “will always share with him my lived experience as it relates to any issue that we confront.”

O’Donnell then asked Harris whether that is a “socialist or progressive perspective,” which prompted Harris to laugh off the question and deny that’s the case.

“No. It is the perspective of a woman who grew up a Black child in America, who was also a prosecutor, who also has a mother who arrived here at the age of 19 from India. Who also, you know, likes hip hop,” Harris said, nonchalantly. “Like, what do you want to know?”

O’Donnell then cited how President Trump has accused Biden of advocating for socialist policies before asking Harris whether she would push policies “from the left wing of the Democratic party.”

Harris replied that she refuses to be “confined to Donald Trump’s definition of who I or anybody else is” and that Americans have “learned that would be a mistake.”

When pressed on whether she’d tell Biden to embrace policies like Medicare for All, Harris said that she “would not have joined the ticket if I didn’t support what Joe was proposing.”

Watch Harris’ remarks below:

Latest News
211
Show Comments

Notable Replies

  1. Avatar for Punchy Punchy says:

    Breaking: Progressive politician plans on progressive platform while politicking.

  2. Sheesh, she’s not Marx for pete’s sake.

  3. She was great! (and so was Joe).

  4. Nimble versus Stupid Tool

    Guess which is which?

  5. Snap…

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

205 more replies

Participants

Avatar for richardinjax Avatar for mattinpa Avatar for cervantes Avatar for voreason Avatar for teenlaqueefa Avatar for chelsea530 Avatar for psudawnc Avatar for donnyyoung Avatar for ignoreland Avatar for mrf Avatar for tena Avatar for docd Avatar for nobiru Avatar for massie Avatar for lizzymom Avatar for castor_troy Avatar for brian512 Avatar for dannydorko Avatar for hahagoodman Avatar for kelaine Avatar for qwerty23 Avatar for txlawyer Avatar for old_guru Avatar for Scoutmom

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: