Conservatives are reacting strongly to Vice President Kamala Harris' recent comments on climate change deadlines
during an interview with CNN, with some calling her remarks incoherent.
During the interview, set to air Thursday night, CNN anchor Dana Bash asked Harris how voters should interpret the policy shifts she's made since becoming the Democratic nominee. Bash questioned whether these changes were due to increased experience or the nature of running in a Democratic primary, and asked whether voters should trust her current positions.
Harris responded, "I think the most important and significant aspect of my policy perspective and decisions is that my values have not changed." She continued, referencing the Green New Deal and climate deadlines, stating that addressing the climate crisis requires holding "ourselves to deadlines around time," and highlighted the Inflation Reduction Act as part of these efforts.
Conservatives quickly took to X (formerly Twitter) to criticize Harris' remarks. Commentator Steve Guest called the comments "gobbledygook," pointing out the definition of a deadline as a fixed time by which something must be completed. Noah Rothman, a senior writer at the *National Review*, described Harris' statements as "rambling," while journalist Charles C. W. Cooke deemed the clip an "instant classic."
The X account for *The Blaze* referred to Harris' remarks as "word salad," a phrase often used by Republicans to criticize her public statements.
Harris also discussed her longstanding values on border security, emphasizing her experience as California's Attorney General, where she prosecuted transnational criminal organizations involved in illegal activities such as drug and human trafficking. "My values have not changed," Harris reiterated.
In addition to addressing climate change and deadlines, Harris continued in the CNN interview by emphasizing the consistency of her values across other policy areas, particularly immigration and border security. She pointed to her tenure as California's Attorney General, where she spent two terms prosecuting transnational criminal organizations involved in the illegal movement of guns, drugs, and people across the U.S.-Mexico border.
"My value around what we need to do to secure our border—that value has not changed," Harris reiterated, defending her record on the issue. She further stressed that while some of her policy approaches may have evolved with new information or circumstances, her core values guiding those decisions have remained consistent.
Despite Harris' efforts to clarify her stance, her remarks have been met with a wave of criticism from conservative circles. Many on the right have long targeted Harris for what they describe as unclear or convoluted messaging, especially on complex issues like climate change and immigration.
Steve Guest’s criticism of Harris’ comments as "gobbledygook" reflected a broader sentiment among conservative commentators, who argue that her explanations lack clarity. The term "word salad" has also become a frequent descriptor, used by Republicans to cast Harris’ public speaking as disjointed or unfocused.
Harris’ response during the interview, particularly about setting deadlines for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and border security, underscores the challenges she faces in appealing to a broad electorate while maintaining a consistent narrative on her positions. As the clip from the interview circulates further, it is likely to fuel ongoing discussions about Harris' communication style and policy priorities heading into the 2024 election.
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