President Joe Biden’s decision not to stand for re-election has thrust Vice President Kamala Harris into the political spotlight.
As the Democratic Party’s presumptive presidential nominee, Harris has been on a whistlestop tour in a bid to salvage her reputation as one of America’s least popular Vice Presidents.
However, her stops around the country seldom seem to take place in front of journalists, prompting Republican opponents to question why she has gone into hiding.
Appearing on CNN’s The Source with Kaitlan Collins on Wednesday, July 31, Sen. Tom Cotton said it was “refreshing” to see Republican candidate Donald Trump face tough questions in reference to his appearance before the National Association of Black Journalists earlier in the week.
“It turned out to be a hostile, adversarial interview, but he’s been doing that for nine years. Kamala Harris, meanwhile, has been hiding out for the 10 days that she’s been a president nominee,” Sen. Cotton said.
The discussion turned to controversial remarks made by the former president in which he said he “didn’t know” she was Black amid allegations that she has changed her preferred ethnicity for electoral gain.
“Four years ago, Joe Biden said, ‘if you don’t vote for him, you ain’t Black’ – could you imagine a more insulting comment?” Cotton asked. “Joe Biden is presuming to judge the political views of one-eighth of our citizens based on their skin color – did you ever ask Kamala Harris to condemn his remarks?”
The conversation moved on following a war of words between Cotton and Collins (below)
Cotton was referring to a memorable debate moment where Harris implied that Biden was racist right after saying she didn’t think he was racist at a 2020 Democratic debate.
“So, on the issue of race, I couldn’t agree more that this is an issue that is still not being talked about truthfully and honestly. There is not a Black man I know, be he a relative, a friend or a coworker who has not been the subject of some form of profiling or discrimination,” Harris said during the debate. “And I will say also that in this campaign, we’ve also heard—and I’m going to now direct this to Vice President Biden. I do not believe you are a racist and I agree with you when you commit yourself to the importance of finding common ground.”
She then went on to add “You also worked with them to oppose busing. And you know, there was a little girl in California who was part of the second class to integrate her public schools and she was bused to school every day, and that little girl was me. So, I will tell you that on this subject, it cannot be an intellectual debate among Democrats. We have to take it seriously. We have to act swiftly,” Harris added.
In the exchange she also blasted Biden, telling him it was “hurtful” to “hear you talk about the reputations of two United States senators who built their reputations and career on segregation of race in this country.” She was referencing Biden working with two former segregationists, Senators James Eastland and Herman Talmadge. Biden commented in 2019 that there was “at least some civility” in working with them.
Many praised the Arkansas Sen. for his handling of the interview.
Others were more critical of Harris’ continued avoidance of the media.
There was also criticism of CNN itself.
