Kamala Harris Says She Prepped to Confront Biden at Debate: 'I Just Felt the Need to Talk About It'

[DonViejo]

By Connor Mannion Jun 30th, 2019, 9:26 pm

Sen. Kamala Harris told MSNBC’s Kasie Hunt that she had been preparing to confront Joe Biden at the Democratic debates over his comments recalling his work with segregationists.

Harris had a much-talked about confrontation with the former vice president at the Thursday debate broadcast by NBC, where she grilled his opposition to busing and his praise of the civility of working with segregationist Democratic senators.

“Clearly you were ready for it. When did you decide that was what you were gonna do?” Hunt asked.

“I have to be obviously candid with you. From the moment that I heard his comments about the segregationists, it was troubling and it was hurtful,” Harris said. “To hear those words from someone I respect in a way that kind of–that suggest a bit of nostalgia about who they are, about segregationists.”

“I felt the need that — to make sure that everyone was remembering or had thought about the real impact,” she continued. “I just felt the need to talk about it not as some academic discussion.”

“Do you think Biden is out of touch?” Hunt asked Harris.

“No, not necessarily,” Harris responded. “I think he and I have a difference of opinion about the significance of who those people were and our perspective on perhaps how we think of them in terms of their reputation.”

video
https://www.mediaite.com/election-2020/kamala-harris-says-she-prepped-to-confront-biden-at-debate-i-just-felt-the-need-to-talk-about-it/

[democratisphere]

1. Please. Go away.

We have an election that must be won against drumpf and Joe Biden the Uniter is the person to get it done!

[MrsCoffee]

4. She isn't going anywhere.

But nice try.

Your opinion is not one size fits all.

[democratisphere]

11. It wasn't in 2016 either.

We all know the result.

[MrsCoffee]

12. Yeah. We won the election by millions of votes.

Took treason to keep her out of office.

What is your point?

[democratisphere]

14. ONLY in America.

We need a SUPER MAJORITY of voters to make sure it doesn't happen again. Who can do that? Joe Biden.

[MrsCoffee]

19. What, trillions more votes?

We need secure elections and people to quit spreading false narratives about our candidates and platform.

[FoxNewsSucks]

29. AMEN!

This is what really pisses me off. Republicons learn from every election how to further fine-tune the stealing. Democrats seem content to let them.

It won't matter how many great candidates Democrats have in the future if there's no way for them to overcome the stealing to actually get to take the offices they'd win.

[shanny]

61. this

we have been behind the curve for DECADES.

[Polly Hennessey]

27. I, too, would like to see her fade.

In some ways, reminds me of Gillibrand. I do believe she is faltering poll-wise.

[democratisphere]

37. Agreed.

Another "Al Franken Moment" backlash.

[R B Garr]

55. Yes, it's just eye-rollingly absurd to posit that Biden

was nostalgic about segregationists. JFC! We are not stupid.

[tonedevil]

69. He tells a very nostalgic tale.

What else are we supposed to go on? His beloved Senator Eastland never called him boy but always called him son. I know if I were in a place where Eastland was calling other grown men boy I would feel he was being affectionate to me, certainly by comparison. The meme you are supposed to be pushing is that he didn't praise segregationists. That is at least somewhat technically true.

[R B Garr]

72. Laughable. People aren't stupid. That's not even close to what

he said.

[tonedevil]

77. I can't find a complete unadulterated transcript...

of the New York City Fundraiser a couple of weeks ago where he told his tale about Senator Eastland. It has been extensively quoted though and this is what NPR says are his words:

"I was in a caucus with James O. Eastland," Biden said, according to a pool report. "He never called me 'boy'; he always called me 'son.' "
"Well, guess what? At least there was some civility," Biden said, also pointing to a working relationship he forged with Georgia Sen. Herman Talmadge, another segregationist Democrat. "We got things done. We didn't agree on much of anything. We got things done. We got it finished. But today, you look at the other side and you're the enemy. Not the opposition, the enemy. We don't talk to each other anymore."

with all that talk about civility and getting things done that is a pretty nostalgic look back at working with segregationists. I have seen that he told the story before and had said he never called me Senator he always called me son. That is actually clear that Eastland is being derogatory to Biden the meaning gets lost when it is boy - son.

[R B Garr]

78. That is laughable to distort his comments about civility

to being “nostalgic” about segregationists. People see that Trump is not civil. It wasn’t about segregationists. Read his last three lines. People are not stupid.

And LOL about this being about segregation. Even MSNBC had to apologize for getting their parties wrong, that’s how little people knew or remember about those politicians.

[tonedevil]

80. Are you saying that Eastland...

wasn't famously a segregationist? I know that Eastland was a Democrat, that's why it isn't a very good story to illustrate what Biden meant when he said that Republicans would have an epiphany when he is elected.
I did not say he is being nostalgic about segregationists he is being nostalgic about working with them and being civil. Of course the contention is that there is less of that now and I don't disagree with that. It just doesn't tell us what this epiphany among Republicans is going to look like.

[R B Garr]

91. Kamala should put her pro-busing position in her platform.

She can run on it.


Biden was talking about civility. We all see how uncivil Trump is. We all see how uncivil they all are.

I said even MSNBC had to apologize for getting info on Eastland wrong, that’s how removed busing conversation is.

This is a waste of time to acknowledge intentionally twisted and distorted attacks. Nostalgia about segregationists is just a lie. It’s a shame to keep repeating it hoping some suckers will buy it.

[tonedevil]

93. It is you mischaracterizing...

Harris, at no time has she put forth a pro-busing position. Much like Biden she waxed nostalgic, in this case about her formative years and how being bused to a different school benefited her. If she were to make such a proposal regarding busing I'm sure she would have a well thought out plan and communication strategy. Not jump into it because some rando on the Internet will think she isn't consistent enough.
Civility is all well and good, but if it is the type of civility that allows racists a safe harbor I'm willing to forgo it. Whatever MSNBC got wrong on Eastland it wasn't that he worked with Biden to curtail busing to achieve school integration. Biden talking about working with Eastland is a poor idea for this very reason one of the main things that the Eastland Biden did together was work on the busing issue.

[R B Garr]

95. Didn't take long for the personal attacks since you can't

justify the distortions she put forth about Biden. She should explain her food fight to the American people. That is what I was saying.

Biden was talking about civility. Nothing wrong with contrasting the worst of the worst with the worst now. Lying about his meaning and context iis a waste of time.

[tonedevil]

100. OK /nt

[emmaverybo]

81. Beloved? Spin. Ed Kennedy, though opposed to his views, did become friends with Eastland,

as in friendly. Many liberals worked with segregationists in the day. They were in the same party.

Biden is looking back, on his time in the senate with nostalgia, but not with fondness for an America without civil rights, as he has supported those his entire career, and gay and women’s rights.

Take a look at VAWA.

[tonedevil]

85. All true...

yet the tale that Biden tells of Eastland is nostalgic.

[tonedevil]

90. What have I said that you interpret as me saying...

Biden can not be nostalgic over a civility missing in today's senate which got "the job done"? I was answering a different poster who said he was not nostalgic.

[emmaverybo]

110. I grovel in apology if I misunderstood. And I delete my comment.

[Demsrule86]

51. That is true...she will remain a Senator.

[Autumn]

18. Joe Biden the Uniter? How so?

[democratisphere]

23. HERE so!

https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/latest_polls/democratic_nomination_polls/

[Autumn]

25. Yeah, he's ahead in the polls. Now about this Biden the Uniter stuff. Got links? nt

[George II]

33. In that link. He united more supporters behind him than any other candidate has been able to muster.

[Autumn]

38. No that's a poll. Not much of a rescue there George. You got an extra, you have a nice day. nt

[George II]

42. A poll is an indication of the number (%) of people UNITED behind each candidate. More....

....have UNITED behind Biden than behind any other candidate. In fact, in most polls twice as many have UNITED behind Biden than the runner-up.

[George II]

32. Please don't let facts get in the way of a good smear.

[democratisphere]

35. I don't.

[George II]

31. How not?

[Autumn]

34. Got an example George? nt

[George II]

36. More potential voters have united behind Biden than any other candidate.

[Voltaire2]

113. Lulzd.

[Agschmid]

40. Primary happens first, just a reminder.

[democratisphere]

44. Some won't make it that far.

Looking forward to Elizabeth Warren's run!

[mcar]

45. Wow!

Every other candidate should drop out?

[democratisphere]

47. We have some of the very best candidates of which one will defeat drumpf.

And then we have some others.

[Demsrule86]

52. Exactly...

[Politicub]

54. Nope. 2020 is the year of democratic women.

Better get used to it.

[shanny]

60. "Joe the Uniter"?

"uniting" whom?

[democratisphere]

79. So far the majority of Democratic voters.

[shanny]

97. Nope. A plurality at best

going on name recognition, affection and nostalgia. 35%ish prefer Biden with all that going for him. That means 65% prefer Somebody Else.

[Act_of_Reparation]

103. If that is the attitude we're going to have...

...then why bother with primaries?

[honest.abe]

117. Nobody is going anywhere. This is a primary and test of each candidate.

If Joe can't handle this how can he handle Trump and the GOP attack machine?

[democratisphere]

118. Joe is doing just fine.

Last edited Tue Jul 2, 2019, 09:58 AM - Edit history (1)

Now that he understands that a few fellow democratic candidates are in staged ambush mode, he'll be ready for them next time. The ONLY mission is to remove drumpf from office with our best candidate, which at this moment is Joe Biden.

[honest.abe]

119. I tend to agree with you at this point but it will be interesting to see how this plays out.

BTW, Kamala is NOT "going away".

[democratisphere]

120. We'll see.

[babylonsister]

2. I'm glad she spoke up. Biden is not inevitable, or shouldn't be. nt

[Cha]

9. I never thought he was.. I know

there is no way of knowing who is going to be our candidate right now.

[Demsrule86]

53. Inevitable is a loaded word...if he wins the primary which I believe he will...he will be our

nominee ....fair and square and he will defeat Trump.

[George II]

3. That explains a lot, including the quick turnaround on the t-shirts.

[ucrdem]

6. LOL.

Yesterday they were bragging about planning for months, rehearsing answers, etc etc. Oh they were so smart. Now she's walking it back. Sorry Kam, no sale. You showed your cards and it's not a pretty hand.

p.s. Senator Booker is getting hammered into atoms on his Twitter feed. And frankly, well, best leave it there.

[ucrdem]

15. Sad.

She really didn't need to do this.

[George II]

21. Biden may be the so-called gaffe machine, but she seems to be making a few herself lately...

First backing off on being in favor of getting rid of private healthcare insurance (her raised hand), now this.

[ucrdem]

28. She nearly pulled it off.

Now she realizes she gave away the game and it's making people angry.

[BeyondGeography]

5. She's been looking for a way to break into Biden's AA support

Not her fault that he gift-wrapped this opportunity and she took full advantage. If the point hadn’t been deeply felt she wouldn’t have broken through the way she did.

[Skya Rhen]

16. Well, Harris' attack on Biden ended up impacting Warren as Biden lost one point in the polls while

she is now leading Warren - oops...

[BeyondGeography]

20. Yeah, guess it's all over for Warren

[Thekaspervote]

41. But that didn't happen! Biden's AA voter support post debate has gone up 18%

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287177473

It’s in the comments below- Sam stein Twitter feed

[Thekaspervote]

92. Biden's support jumps 18% post debate with AA voters

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287177473

It’s in the comments below #42

[WhiskeyGrinder]

7. It's not clear to me why people are mad about this tactic. It shows outstanding coordination and

savvy marketing by establishing and controlling a narrative, excellent prep, flawless use of social media outlets, and sustainability. Is it the message that's making people mad, the execution, or both?

Or is it simply that she came for Biden and hit him hard?

[StarfishSaver]

22. Black people aren't supposed to challenge white people about their civil rights records.

Pretty simple.

[SidDithers]

24. +1...nt

Sid

[WhiskeyGrinder]

39. .

[FoxNewsSucks]

30. Harris was prepared,

Biden wasn't. But it's her fault and she was wrong?????

FFS, she asked him if he still agreed with that, giving him an out and he blew it.

[Demsrule86]

56. After reading about some of her decisions as DA and AG...she may be a political genius...

say siding with the Diocess against Pedophile priests victims, keeping folks in jail who didn't get a fair trial becaue info was withheld from their defense lawyers, jailing parents for kids who skip school (impact poor folks with hefty fines and jobs losses),policy of handling police shootings of minorities etc... I find her distasteful...and won't support her in a primary. I say she doesn't make it to the general, but if she does...she has my support. This isn't only about Biden.Her attacks on Biden made me curious and I spent some time researching her background including her time as DA and AG. I can no longer say I like all our candidates.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

58. I was talking specifically about this tactic, but go off I guess.

[Demsrule86]

84. I didn't like the tactic myself but fair enough.

[shanny]

62. I understand the urge to deflect

but this wasn't really about her, it was about him. She served him up a softball and all he had to do was say that the times were different then/he's learned a lot/he didn't like busing but the federal govt has a role...instead he wiffed.

[Demsrule86]

64. It was about him, and I was pissed ...still think it was contrived and fake...but

my feeling now are a result of my investigation of her time as DA and AG...I would never support her in a primary only a general. I can't imagine her winning a general either. Trump has passed a crime bill and pardoned a non-violent offender...he can go after her with a vengence and he will...plus I just though what she did was morally reprehensible...I posted on this a New York Times artcile with some of the issues...but I see no reason to go into it here...let's just say I was surprised and shocked. I liked Harris...I didn't support her in the primary...but I thought she was talented and smart...and she is both of those things...but after reading about some of her actions...I have to question her moral compass.

[shanny]

65. She's not my candidate

for a host of reasons that perhaps you have recently become familiar with.

This wasn't one of them.

[Demsrule86]

82. I know that and in the event that for some reason Biden is not in the running...which I don't think

will happen, I will support Elizabeth Warren in the primary. She has a better chance against Trump than Harris. Although I am not saying I think it is a good chance...still we have to try if this happens...and I hope it doesn't.

[shanny]

98. last I checked all five of the top D candidates polled ahead of rump

and it is early days.

[Demsrule86]

111. It doesn't matter...The states we need are PA, MI and WI. And I don't believe Harris or Warren can

carry those states...we will end up with a popular vote win and lose the electoral college most likely. Warren has a a little bit of a chance...but Harris none.

[Demsrule86]

112. I sincerely hope I am wrong...but I have looked at the electoral college extensively and iwthout the

blue wall, there is no path to the presidency...and not just in 20 either...in future years.

[shanny]

121. au contraire

Warren's campaign with it's economic focus is tailor-made for the rust belt, and actually anyone not in the 1%. Those states took a flyer on rump, and had it blow up in their faces. They won't make the same mistake again.

[Bradical79]

96. "Or is it simply that she came for Biden and hit him hard?"

Yep. Some think it's inevevatable that Biden will be the nominee, or we NEED and old heterosexual white man to beat Trump. They want him treated with kid gloves, and just handed the nomination.

[MrsCoffee]

8. Omg she prepped.

How dare she!

[ucrdem]

10. For months. The segregationist comment was a week ago.

They went after him on busing. Which might have unintended consequences in Biden's favor.

[Paladin]

26. Yeah, preparation in the midst of a crowded, crucial primary.

Where the hell does she get off with such tactics? By God, you don't see donald trump engaging in any planning, and his base worships him.

[Demsrule86]

50. Yeah she had to show the right 'emotion' at the right time...tricky thing that. I used

an onion when I was in the Drama club in High School...

[ucrdem]

17. Shout out to Don for keeping us up to date

thanks amigo!

[MineralMan]

43. In the long term, that minor conflict isn't going to matter.

We tend to take everything too seriously here on DU and project it into the future too much.

Watch.

[mopinko]

46. nothing gendered about this shit.

[Hoyt]

48. I'm interested in hearing what John Lewis and Clyburn say after debate. Here's Jesse Jackson:

Clyburn and Lewis were quite supportive of Biden before the debates when Biden was being criticized by some for stating that he had worked with segregationists to get things done. I didn't think there was any problem with Biden's comments, then, because it was just an example of how you sometimes have to work with vile people to get things done.

But then -- thanks to Booker and Harris -- we found out he worked with segregationists to thwart desegregation and equality of educational opportunities. That's an issue. A locality wasn't under a court order to bus unless they were dragging their feet in desegregating and ensuring educational equality. Biden would have been better off kicking ass in Delaware to get that done, or maybe making part of his deal with segregationists that localities do the right thing.

In any event, this is what Jackson said:

"Jackson was less forgiving of former Vice President Joe Biden, who joined Jackson at a convention event on Friday. Speaking about Biden’s record on busing — which has become a flashpoint after Sen. Kamala Harris of California confronted him at the debate — Jackson said that Harris “established Biden on the states’ rights side of history,” which “cannot stand the test of time.” He framed Biden’s opposition to federally mandated busing as part of a larger debate over the federal government’s trying to create racial equality.

"“He’s for voluntary busing, I’m for court-ordered busing — well, everyone’s for voluntary busing,” Jackson said. “[T]he federal government had to order the abolition of slavery, the federal government had to order the right to vote, they had to order the desegregation of schools and jobs and contracts. So ‘voluntary’ assumes that those who are oppressive have some will to move based on moral values, and that does not happen.”

"Jackson added that Biden had done “a lot of good things.” . . . . . .

https://www.politico.com/story/2019/06/30/jesse-jackson-2020-democratic-party-1391027

[Demsrule86]

49. Really...did you feel the need to talk about it when you had your t-shirts printed?

I found the attacks revolting. It wasn't the criticism which I honestly viewed as dumb...busing in the 21st century...come on...it was a failed program almost 50 years ago...no one in their right mind would run on it. It was the contrived nature of the thing...IE 'prepping'...and the contrived emotional aspect of the thing...

[R B Garr]

63. Yup, and she also banked on people being stupid enough to

buy her twist that Biden was “nostalgic” about segregationists. Give me a break! If anything, she has boxed herself out of confronting Trumpland’s actual racists by these distortions.

Bottom line is that arguing and distorting 40 year old issues are the “food fights” she lamented in the debates. Quit giving Trump ammunition.

[Demsrule86]

83. She basically accused him of being racist and now her followers are saying he supported segregation.

He did no such thing. No one like busing.

[Zambero]

57. And have those T-shirts ready to roll out!

What could be more "spontaneous"? Harris has an inspiring and worthy story to tell, but it should not been delivered in such a cynical and calculating manner.

[shanny]

59. Horrors! She prepped

about an issue that was up close, personal...and had much wider ramifications.

Can we please stop calling policy differences personal attacks?

[SouthernProgressive]

67. There isn't a policy difference.

No one is promoting it as a policy. Harris didn't have a formed opinion when it was policy.

[shanny]

70. oh OK

The need for federal action v local action is not a policy difference. Thanks for the clarification, Southern.

[SouthernProgressive]

71. No. It is not. The policy is not on the table. At all. NT

[shanny]

73. I assume you are just trying to make this about busing

which would be convenient for Biden. But the real issue is federal action in the face of state inaction...since our leading contender for the nomination decided to Bring It Up.

When you open a can of worms you get to deal with it.

[SouthernProgressive]

74. I am not only talking about busing.

Please not the policy being put forward by Biden that you are referencing.

This isn't an argument in the favor of Harris. She argued states rights more than once. This is the difficulty of running a DA.

Again, highlight the current states rights policy that is of clear concern to you.

[shanny]

75. I did.

[SouthernProgressive]

76. Not in our conversation. NT

[shanny]

99. "I assume you are just trying to make this about busing" NT

[SouthernProgressive]

102. Again, not in our conversation.

Your C&P is deflection and not what was being referenced. Clearly.

[shanny]

106. I guess you weren't paying attention to "our conversation."

[customerserviceguy]

66. Isn't that great?

Now she's playing shy again, like when people said she was too cautious.

She reminds me of Lucy, Charlie Brown, and the football.

[Butterflylady]

68. Question: If biden had been in the lower bracket

Would she have questioned him at all?

I think not.

[emmaverybo]

88. No. She didn't question Bernie on it. She didn't question Biden, she attacked and smeared him.

Questioning would have been fair.

[Skid Rogue]

86. I'm a Biden supporter...

however I'm not bothered by Harris's actions during the debate. She has to go after him on race. Without the AA vote she won't win the primary. Harris is out to get the most powerful job in the world, and apparently she's going to swing for the rafters. I don't want our candidate to get beat up in the primaries, but Biden should have known this would come up. I still believe Biden will do better in the general election than Harris, but I'm not hating Harris for playing hardball.

[emmaverybo]

89. It was low ball, underhanded. He was not prepared for her to attack him using personal dynamics.

He was prepared to answer for his stance against federally mandated busing, not be confronted with “ I know you aren’t a murderer. But you voted for abortion. There was a baby nearly aborted through the law you supported. Guess what? I am that baby. “

Cue baby senator pic, start selling
Baby Senator t-shirts.

Problem is that in addition to using surprise tactics, she misrepresented herself as having been federally bused.

[Skid Rogue]

94. I'm sorry,

but I saw nothing underhanded in this move. It was just your basic political debate tactic. Throw your opponent off their game, score a point. That's what debate prep is for.

Biden has been in politics a long time, he can handle a surprise or two.

If everyone would stop villainizing each other's candidate this whole thing would blow over a lot quicker.

[Thekaspervote]

101. Oh thank you!!! A voice for sanity!!

[Act_of_Reparation]

104. Of course she did.

And no doubt she calculated Biden would respond exactly the way he did. Can't fault her for that.

[emmaverybo]

108. I can. I do. NT

[tirebiter]

105. Just tell the truth

It’s the easiest thing to remember

[TrunKated]

107. I feel the need to never vote for her...

... in the primary.

[RandySF]

109. She does her homework.

[oasis]

116. The same Biden history was available to Obama when he chose him for VP.

I guess he slept that one.

[aikoaiko]

114. And she executed the confrontation brilliantly.

Last edited Tue Jul 2, 2019, 08:46 AM - Edit history (1)

She made that moment happen by demanding some time before the comercial Break. If you recall, Rachel Maddie was only going to give Harris 30 seconds, but it ended up being 1min 50 sec.

And the impact is showing in the polls. Biden is continuing to lose support and Harris is going up.

[IMG][/IMG]

[honest.abe]

115. The way I see this, she is auditioning for the big show... the general election.

If she is able to successfully hammer Joe Biden down, imagine what she can do to Trump.

I think either Joe or Kamala can beat Trump but the question is do we want to win with a handshake or a kick to the groin.