Staff ReportsA recent appearance by Vice President Kamala Harris on WBUR’s “Here and Now” highlighted a remarkable skill: dodging tough questions. Eugene Daniels, a Co-author of POLITICO Playbook and White House Correspondent, had the unenviable task of trying to extract a straightforward answer from the Vice President regarding federal assistance for Springfield, Ohio. Instead of addressing the problem, which includes a critical lack of resources exacerbated by an influx of migrants, Harris opted for the political equivalent of a tap dance, steering the conversation toward former President Donald Trump and his supposed “racist conspiracy theories.”
Harris Interviewer: ‘She Didn‘t Answer‘ How She‘d Help Springfield, She‘s ‘Good at Dodging‘ https://t.co/Hnt7DBcQDd via @BreitbartNews
— SMD (@smdowner) September 19, 2024
In a moment that seemed straight out of a political comedy, Daniels noted that Harris simply didn’t answer his query. One could say that the Vice President’s evasive maneuvering would impress even the best political acrobats. The community of Springfield is grappling with severe challenges, like long lines at hospitals and a shortage of translation services at schools, due to the incoming Haitian immigrants. Yet, when pressed for a federal response, Harris chose to unleash a political attack on her Republican counterpart instead of addressing the everyday realities faced by Ohioans.
Daniels expressed his disbelief at Harris’s ability to skirt these pressing concerns, which surely resonate beyond the political spectrum, as people in Springfield just want solutions, not sidesteps. One can’t help but wonder if Harris mistook the interview for a campaign rally, where throwing rhetorical punches seems more appealing than providing practical answers to pressing issues.
The issue of federal assistance in times of need is typically non-partisan Republican soil—after all, who wouldn’t want support for their community? Yet, here was Harris, seemingly allergic to a straightforward commitment. Instead, she seized the chance to launch into a diatribe against Trump, as if the former President was responsible for the long hospital lines and educational woes in Springfield.
Daniels pointed out that Harris not only dodged questions about federal aid but also sidestepped other tricky topics like reparations for descendants of slaves—suggesting that when the rubber meets the road, many politicians have a talent for evasion. Harris’s reputation for dodging issues seems to be well-earned, a talent that could turn any local concern into a national political vendetta. In an era where voters crave real solutions rather than hollow rhetoric, her responses—or lack thereof—may only serve to further alienate those facing genuine hardships.
