Kamala Harris has a whole list of problems that we have been talking about here at 19FortyFive for quite a long time now.
However, her response a few months back to the China spy balloon incident really was a perfect case study of why so many Americans don’t trust her to be the commander-in-chief someday.
For example, consider these comments:
“We shot it down because it needed to be shot down because we were confident that it was used by China to spy on the American people.”
Wow, well, you have to admit, she can read her talking points well.
But where is the substance? Where is the fire in the belly that people want to see on this issue?
She does get millions of Americans don’t like that our number one geopolitical foe violated our sovereignty?
These were the words of Vice President Kamala Harris used in an interview with NBC News as she attended the Munich Security Conference, representing the United States in a critical dialogue that the entire world is watching as we quickly move to the one-year anniversary of the war in Ukraine.
Keep in mind, this was on top of the phone interview she gave Politico when she said China’s spy balloon would not impact relations. So what does she actually believe?
She took two weeks after the incident to, seemingly issue a tougher statement. Has she seen the level of bipartisan outrage on this issue? Did she look at public opinion and just change tact?
Poor Kamala Harris
Considering her history of attending these forums is downright awful, I almost think the Biden administration wants her to fail. They don’t, of course, but the entire situation is rather strange.
From here it gets worse – but you knew that was coming. This is Kamala Harris, of course.
In that same NBC News interview, Harris then declared that the Chinese Spy Balloon was “not helpful”.
What? Does she want to give her opponents in the GOP even more ammo to attack her with?
Honestly, her comment was not helpful.
And then the kicker: “We will maintain the perspective that we have in terms of what should be the relationship between China and the United States,” Harris said in an exclusive interview with NBC News. “That is not going to change, but surely and certainly that balloon was not helpful, which is why we shot it down.”
Translation: The Obama White House and now the Biden Administration share the same staffers and hence the same strategy on China. That Washington and Beijing will compete for influence in the vast Indo-Pacific region and indeed around the world. What they fear is that competition accidentally sparking an armed conflict – something President Joe Biden has said time and time again.
Ok, so to be fair and upfront, I feel like I am picking on her a little bit. But if her team booked this big interview, in Germany to surely highlight her national security credentials you bring your A game. You are prepared. You have your one-liners and zingers ready to go. And she did the interview with a friendly outlet that wants her to succeed.
She seemed prepared during the 2020 Democratic debates to take on Joe Biden and did effectively. So we know she can do it.
Kamala Harris should have not only nailed this interview but reassured allies and partners in Europe that we have a coherent national security strategy. An hour or so prep and she should have been good to go. Heck, do it on the plane if you have to.
Instead, the person that so many on the left say could be president someday proved again she doesn’t seem to care. And that’s a real shame. No wonder so many pundits say she should be replaced on the 2024 ticket. Can you blame them?
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Harry J. Kazianis (@Grecianformula) is a Senior Editor for 19FortyFive and serves as President and CEO of Rogue States Project, a bipartisan national security think tank. He has held senior positions at the Center for the National Interest, the Heritage Foundation, the Potomac Foundation, and many other think tanks and academic institutions focused on defense issues. He served on the Russia task force for U.S. Presidential Candidate Senator Ted Cruz, and in a similar role in the John Hay Initiative. His ideas have been published in the New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, CNN, CNBC, and many other outlets across the political spectrum. He holds a graduate degree in International Relations from Harvard University and is the author of the book The Tao of A2/AD, a study of Chinese military modernization. Kazianis also has a background in defense journalism, having served as Editor-In-Chief at The Diplomat and Executive Editor for the National Interest.
