U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris stated on the 29th (local time) that her values have not changed regarding major policy issues such as climate change and immigration. She also confirmed that if she wins the presidential election in November and takes office, she will appoint Republican members to her cabinet.
According to CNN, Vice President Harris made these remarks during an in-depth interview scheduled to air that night, attending alongside vice presidential candidate Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota. This is the first time Harris has conducted an in-depth interview with the media since President Joe Biden withdrew from the presidential race.
When asked about changes in her stance on major policy issues, Harris responded, "The most important and meaningful aspect from my policy perspective is that my values have not changed."
Regarding the "Green New Deal" (an eco-friendly economic growth policy) criticized by the Republican Party, she emphasized, "I have always believed that the climate crisis is real and urgent." She then mentioned the Biden administration's Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) as part of these efforts. Additionally, addressing border policies, which have been pointed out as her weakness by Republicans and others, she said, "What we need to do to protect the border has not changed."
At last week's Democratic National Convention, in her acceptance speech, Vice President Harris declared that she would be "a president for all Americans." She also previewed that if she takes office, she will appoint Republican members to her cabinet. She said, "I have always welcomed diverse opinions. It is important for people with different perspectives and experiences to participate in places where important decisions are made," adding, "Including Republicans in the cabinet will also benefit the American people." However, she also noted that she has not yet considered any specific individuals.
Regarding questions about former President Donald Trump, the Republican presidential candidate, who previously targeted her with racial identity attacks such as "I didn't know she was Black" and "Suddenly she became Black," Harris dismissed them with a simple answer. She called it "the same old, tired strategy" and said, "Let's move on to the next question."
This interview attracted early attention as an opportunity to verify the policy direction of Vice President Harris, whose approval ratings have been rising. It is considered a time when concrete answers and confirmations are needed on how to realize the outlines Harris has proposed as a presidential candidate, such as middle-class tax cuts, price stabilization, and expanding housing supply. The Republican Party has long criticized Harris for deliberately avoiding policy verification through media interviews. Harris's last official interview was with CNN at the end of June, which was conducted to explain President Biden's defeat in the TV debate.
The CNN interview, conducted during a campaign stop in the battleground state of Georgia, also included Democratic vice presidential candidate Governor Walz. In response, the Republican Party mocked, saying, "After hiding from reporters for 39 days, she finally had the courage to sit for a 'joint' interview," adding, "(Harris) lacks the ability to do it alone." However, local media including CNN pointed out that it is common for presidential candidates to appear in interviews together with their running mates. For example, former President Trump appeared on CBS's 60 Minutes in 2016 alongside then-vice presidential candidate Mike Pence.
The interview with Vice President Harris and Governor Walz will air at 9 p.m. Eastern Time that day, and at 10 a.m. Korean time on the 30th.
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