Kamala Harris fails to answer for failures on economy, border during 60 Minutes interview

During the course of her interview with CBS News' Bill Whitaker, Harris was asked about the different topics that the Biden-Harris administration has had a hard time dealing with, namely the border and the economy. Both have been top issues for voters following their tenure.

"You recently visited the southern border and-- embraced President Biden's recent crackdown on asylum seekers. And that crackdown produced an almost immediate and dramatic decrease in the number of border crossings. If that's the right answer now, why didn't your administration take those steps in 2021?" Whitaker asked.

Harris responded, citing a border bill from earlier this year that would have allowed in at least 1.4 million illegal immigrants into the country annually. She blamed Donald Trump for the bill not passing, saying, "Donald Trump got word that this bill was afoot and could be passed and he wants to run on a problem instead of fixing a problem, so he told his buddies in Congress, 'Kill the bill. Don't let it move forward.'"

Whitaker, appearing unimpressed by the answer, pressed her on the issue asking why there has been a "historic flood of undocumented immigrants coming across the border the first three years of [her] administration." Whitaker also asked her if it "was it a mistake to loosen the immigration policies" as much as she did in her tenure, which led to a fourfold increase of illegal border crossings.

Harris only cited recent moves from the Biden-Harris administration to slow down the number of crossings by "half" further blamed Congress for the record illegal immigration.

When Harris was asked about the economy, Whitaker leaned into a question surrounding inflation, asking the vice president, "There are lots of signs that the American economy is doing very well, better than most countries, I think. But the American people don't seem to be feeling it. Groceries are 25 percent higher and people are blaming you and Joe Biden for that. Are they wrong?"

Harris responded, touting her plan to bring down prices, where she has floated ideas on price controls as well as giving up to $25,000 for first-time home buyers' down payments.

Whitaker listed these economic policies, along with other proposals from Harris that would lead to more spending done by the government and then asked, "How are you gonna pay for that?"

"So the other economists that have reviewed my plan versus my opponent and determined that my economic plan would strengthen America's economy. His would weaken it." Harris did not explain how she was going to pay for the new programs, but instead focused on Trump.

Whitaker pressed Harris again, "Pardon me, Madame Vice President ... the question was, how are you going to pay for it?"

Harris answered that the richest people in America will "pay their fair share in taxes" and emphasized taxing more businesses and billionaires.

Whitaker pushed back on her answer again, this time saying, "But we're dealing with the real world here. How are you gonna get this through Congress?"

Harris claimed that people in Congress know "exactly what I'm talking about, 'cause their constituents know exactly what I'm talking about." Whitaker, still not satisfied with the answer, said that Congress has "shown no inclination to move in your direction."

Harris disagreed and answered, still not explaining in detail how things would be paid for: "There are plenty of leaders in Congress who understand and know that the Trump tax cuts blew up our federal deficit. None of us, and certainly I cannot afford to be myopic in terms of how I think about strengthening America's economy. Lemme tell you something. I am a devout public servant. You know that. I am also a capitalist. And I know the limitations of government."

The interview has been part of a dubbed "media blitz" from the Harris campaign. The blitz also featured Harris on the explicit "Call Her Daddy" podcast last week on the Tuesday following the destruction of Hurricane Helene.