‘It’s important, the thing we’re talking about.’
‘It’s important, the thing we’re talking about.’
Q : Vice President Harris, some economists are worried that the United States may be headed toward a recession. Does the administration have a view on the likelihood of that outcome?
A: I am standing here today, and, when you think about it — when you stop to think about it — we are talking about something important here. The thing we are talking about is — it’s important. It’s important, the thing we’re talking about. Listen, one of the key issues here is time. And I want to ask you all: What is it? What is time? Because that’s an issue that all of us [laughs] know — that we know, is necessary, even now. And I think: How about yes? How about, as a country, and a people, and as Americans, and also Lithuanians, where I am today — Romanians, where I am today, here in Asia — we know that. We know that.
Q: Madam Vice President, President Biden has signaled his intention to rescind the Title 42 order that has allowed his administration to deport undocumented immigrants more quickly in order to stop the spread of Covid-19. Republicans say that this shows that the pandemic is over. Is the pandemic over?
A: Listen, Terry—
Q: It’s Barbara.
A: [laughs] I’m not a biologist. Listen, I think the president has been clear on this, as has everyone here in Washington—
Q: Des Moines
A: — including the president, but also others who aren’t the president, and one who is, and I have been clear — that the Biden-Harris administration, the Harris-Biden administration, the administration — which is an administration, that administers and administrates, and that’s what it’ll do on a continuing basis — because we are working with our partners to ensure a steady flow of migrants with Covid-19, and to — ensure that they can stay, in line with our values, in a way that is very dynamic, because, if not every hour, certainly every day, there are more of them, in ways that relate to an increase in the number, which is larger, in terms of its size, than it has been before — and that’s an enormous challenge, Edgar—
Q: Barbara
A: [laughs, for a good 25 seconds]
Q: Vice President Harris, do you agree with critics who say that NATO has never been weaker?
A: Look. Tender is the night. And this administration, in partnership with our allies, intends to ally with our partners, to — to partner, and to ally, with the administration, with our administration, Joe, in a way — because that’s what’s important about [laughs] our values. So, the moment for this moment to be our moment is now. This is that moment. Not before, or after, but now, for a future we all share, for the people, not just the few. And so, NATO — we are committed to NATO, just as our colleagues in China are committed to NATO, and we are all committed to NATO, because we need to think about where we want to be within the international community.
Q: Do you have any comment on the recent controversies involving the Walt Disney Company?
A: Well, I would say — and I must say — that, 70 years ago — 70 years ago, going back about 70 years — a young woman from France was imprisoned by her stepmother and her stepmother’s evil cat, and forced to do chores around the house until her hands hurt. She was forced to live in the attic, and her only friends were mice and the occasional bird. And that young woman was me.