Vice President Harris Faces Heat from NABJ Moderators, Accused of Condescension

During an interview with the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), Vice President Kamala Harris was met with tough questions and accused of condescension by the moderators, particularly when pushed to answer questions about her platform and treatment of the media.

In a highly anticipated address to the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) on Tuesday, Vice President Kamala Harris faced a barrage of pointed questions from the moderators, including accusations of condescension when she sidestepped or evaded certain inquiries.

The interview marked Harris' first solo appearance with the national media since taking office and was held at NPR's Philadelphia station, WHYY, moderated by Eugene Daniels of Politico Playbook, WHYY's Tonya Mosely, and TheGrio's Gerren Keith Gaynor.

Vice President Harris Faces Heat from NABJ Moderators, Accused of Condescension

During the interview, Harris was confronted about her economic plan, abortion stance, support for Israel, and gun control measures. However, it was her handling of questions related to race and community safety that drew the most scrutiny.

Moderators pressed Harris on her response to former President Trump's racially charged remarks about Haitian migrants in Ohio, which she condemned as "harmful, hateful, and grounded in age-old stuff that we should not have the tolerance for."

Vice President Harris Faces Heat from NABJ Moderators, Accused of Condescension

When asked if this incident warranted a federal response, Harris sidestepped the question, drawing criticism from the moderators.

Another heated exchange occurred when Harris was asked about her stance on reparations for the Black community. Harris stated that she believes a federal reparations commission will be created by Congress, negating the need for her to take action on the matter at the federal level.

Vice President Harris Faces Heat from NABJ Moderators, Accused of Condescension

On the topic of Black voters, Harris took a different approach than President Biden, who had controversially declared that Black voters who supported Trump "ain't Black." Harris emphasized the need to "earn" the Black vote, particularly among Black men.

Harris also addressed gun control, reaffirming her support for an assault weapons ban and universal background checks. However, she did not endorse a mandatory gun buyback program, a policy she had previously backed as a presidential candidate.

Vice President Harris Faces Heat from NABJ Moderators, Accused of Condescension

Moderators raised concerns about the recent assassination attempts on former President Trump, to which Harris responded by condemning political violence and expressing confidence in the Secret Service's ability to protect her.

However, Harris acknowledged that not everyone enjoys the same level of protection, citing incidents of violence against the LGBTQ community, immigrants, and women.

The interview concluded with Harris reiterating her commitment to fighting for democracy and ensuring the safety of all Americans, regardless of their background or circumstances.