Harris Backtracks on 2020 Commitments in First Interview as Dem Candidate — but Can’t Explain Why

Vice President Kamala Harris addressed several high-profile flip-flops Thursday night in her first sit-down interview since ascending to the top of the Democratic ticket — but failed to explain exactly why she’s backed away from the progressive positions she staked out during her primary run four years ago.

CNN’s Dana Bash first asked Harris about fracking, which the vice president came out in favor of banning during her ill-fated 2020 presidential primary campaign.

“You know, and I made that clear on the debate stage in 2020 that I would not ban fracking as president, I did not ban fracking as vice president,” Harris said. “I will not ban fracking.”

Bash noted that Harris said there was “no question” that she would outlaw the practice during a 2019 town hall and asked the vice president to elaborate.

“In 2020, I made very clear where I stand,” Harris replied. “We are in 2024, and I have not changed that position, nor will I going forward. I kept my word and I will keep my word.”

Bash continued to press Harris on her change of heart on fracking, and Harris shifted the topic of conversation to the Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act.

“Well, let’s be clear: My values have not changed,” she said. “I believe it is very important that we take seriously what we must do to guard against what is a clear crisis in terms of the climate. And to do that, we can do what we have accomplished thus far: The Inflation Reduction Act, what we have done to invest, by my calculation, over probably a billion dollars over the next ten years investing in a clean economy. That tells me, from my experience as vice president, we can do it without banning fracking.”

Another issue on which Harris has changed her publicly-expressed views is immigration. Though President Joe Biden named her the official responsible for tackling the immigration crisis, Harris has attempted to distance herself from her previous assignment and mainstream media outlets have cast doubt on her designation as “border czar.”

During her 2020 presidential campaign, Harris argued that crossing the border illegally should not be considered a crime and raised her hand during a debate in response to a question about whether the border should be decriminalized. When Bash asked her why her views have shifted, Harris declined to give a detailed explanation.

“I believe there should be consequence,” she said. “We have laws that have to be followed and enforced that deal with people who cross our border illegally, and there should be consequences. And let’s be clear, in this race, I’m the only person who has prosecuted transnational criminal organizations who trafficking guns, drugs and human beings.  I’m the only person in this race who actually served a border state as a presidential to enforce our laws, and I would enforce our laws as president going forward. I recognize the problem.”

Ultimately — despite the substance of her policy views being radically different from those she promoted in her 2020 campaign — Harris said her “values have not changed,” though she did not elaborate on what that meant.

Harris has drawn scrutiny for her decision to wait 37 days after being elevated to the top of the Democratic ticket to conduct an interview or press conference — and for bringing her running mate, Governor Tim Walz (D., Minn.) along for the ride — yet was not asked during her sit-down with Bash why she had neglected to appear in front of reporters for so long. President Joe Biden has avoided media scrutiny as well, allowing only two on-camera interviews since July 17.