Bernie Sanders calls Harris 'pragmatic' amid attacks over her being too liberal
By: nypost (New York Post)
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
By Ryan KingPublished Sep. 8, 2024, 4:36 p.m. ET
Self-described Democratic Socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders fended off criticisms that Vice President Kamala Harris has veered too far to the left in the past, calling her changing policy positions "pragmatic."
Sanders (I-Vt.) claimed Harris has been recalibrating and "doing what she thinks is right in order to win the election.
"No, I don't think she's abandoning her ideals. I think she's trying to be pragmatic," Sanders told NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday.
"My own view is slightly different. I think that in America today there are a lot of people, rural people, working class people, who no longer believe that the United States Congress and government represents their interests, too dominated by big-money interest."
3Bernie Sanders suggested that Kamala Harris' policy flip flops were 'pragmatic.' NBC News / Meet the Press
Harris had similarly defended her past flip-flopping, telling CNN in her first major sit-down since clinching the nomination last month that her "values have not changed."
There's a laundry list of policy items that Harris has reversed herself on including a ban on plastic straws, a ban on fracking — a position seen as needed to win Pennsylvania. She has also softened on pushes for Medicare for all, a mandatory gun buyback program that aides reportedly suggested dropping, the decriminalization of illegal border crossings and a federal jobs guarantee.
During 2019, Harris was ranked by Govtrack as the most liberal member of the US Senate — further to than left than Sanders, who is typically the king — though the organization subsequently retracted the ranking.
Last week, the vice president seemingly shifted to the center when unveiling her tax policy on capital gains, while taking not of the potential toll that a dramatic hike could have on entrepreneurs.
She called for a a top rate of 28% on long-term capital gains for individuals making at least $1 million per year. Currently, the top capital gains tax rate is 20%.
3Kamala Harris has shifted to the center on an array of hot button issues. AP
That's markedly lower than President Biden's budget for fiscal year 2025 — a budget that Harris supported. Biden's plan calls for up to 44.6% at the highest level, per some analyses of the plan that were predicated on Biden's push for a top rate of 39.6% along with a 5% investment-income tax. It's unclear what Harris would do with that 5% tax.
"I would go higher than that," Sanders said bluntly, complaining that "you've got three people on top owning more wealth than the bottom half of American society" and declaring "you could substantially raise taxes on the billionaire class and the people on top."
Sanders affirmed that he still considers Harris to be a progressive.
"I do. Look, she is not where I am," he explained while pointing to her support for expanding the child tax credit and rattling off a few other examples.
"When she talks about building 3 million units of affordable housing, that's a big deal because we have a major housing crisis in America. When she talks about passing the PEARL Act to make it easier for workers to join unions, that's a big deal," he said. "I do consider her progressive."
The Independent senator from Vermont also took note of the differences he has on policy with Harris, while stressing he believes that she would move the needle significantly in the direction he wants, using health care as an example.
3Bernie Sanders contended that the vice president will move the US in his direction. Ron Sachs - CNP for NY Post
"I think that there is something wrong, personally, when we are the only major country on earth not to guarantee health care to all of our people," he said. "That is why I support Medicare for all. She does not.
"She has another approach toward moving toward universal health care."
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I feel sorry for those who can't see right through her bullshit. And there are some already. Hoping she will do as she says........but it's politics and we all should know, she isn't really changing her mind. Just a wolf in sheep's clothing
How do you feel about those in NC who can't see through Robinson's bullshit?
Same as I feel about those who can't see through Stein's bullshit. That is, sorry. But at least Robinson isn't flip-flopping like Harris.
O boy ... bonus bonner bumper points.
Yep. She admitted in that CNN "interview" that her values hadn't changed. Just no way she can be believed in what she says as it's all done to win in November.
And blatant as hell.
Can you name a presidential nominee that hasn't done that?
No shit? I have voted in 13 presidential elections. In every single one of those elections candidates have "tacked to the center" in the general election after being more ideological in the primaries.
What we are seeing now is simply the right going for whatever they can to try and discredit Harris, much the same way they attacked Biden for being too old. Now that the candidate is no longer too old they need "Plan B".
And did you believe other presidential nominees when they do that? Do you allow them to get away with their flip-flop behavior?
What makes you think I believe any of them when they say anything?
Do you have any suggestions on getting all politicians to stop? My commenting on it in some random social media thread that will never been seen by any of them hasn't had much effect so far.
Yep, two peas in a pod
"Kamala Harris is a very normal establishment Democrat."
No, she is about as far left as you can get, even more progressive than Berne
Who gives a damn what that fucking self-loathing Jew who is happy to be a speaker for anti-Israel organizations, who LONG before Oct 7 wants America to stop sending weapons to Israel, who intentionally skipped Netanyahu's speech to Congress, even though Netanyahu's speech had nothing to do with Netanyahu himself, but was a magnificent speech about Israel and how important Israel is to America and in fact to the world and how grateful Israel is to have America's support? IMO he's more of a Nazi than a Jew and deserves no better respect. He should marry Rashida Tlaib, they see eye-to-eye.
Not me
Harris is a career liberal California politician, that is all you need to know