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Critics say CNN's Bash used 'kid gloves' with Harris and Walz, while Vance 'grilled'
Vice President Kamala Harris sat down for her first media interview Thursday since ascending the Democratic presidential ticket, with some critics arguing the CNN interviewer should have taken a tougher approach similar to an interview just weeks before with former President Trump's running mate.
CNN’s Dana Bash interviewed Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, for a total of roughly 26 pretaped minutes, which aired Thursday night. Harris was asked about inconsistencies in her political record, Trump’s personal attacks and what she would accomplish on day one in the Oval Office.
Walz was asked about comments he made on the campaign trail related to his military service — that he once carried weapons in war, though he was never deployed to a war zone.
Some critics say they wish Bash had pressed the pair in the way she grilled GOP vice presidential candidate JD Vance in a one-on-one interview just weeks before.
Vice President Kamala Harris raised eyebrows when telling CNN's Dana Bash that her "values haven't changed" after making complete reversals on far-left positions she held in 2019. (Screenshot/CNN)
"Mixed marks for Bash, who pushed on some necessary subjects, but missed glaring follow-ups," Fox News contributor Guy Benson posted on X.
More specifically, Vanessa Santos, president of Renegade PR, told Fox News Digital on Friday, "Dana was fired up when she grilled JD about his 'cat lady' comments. If she would've brought even half of that energy to the Harris-Walz interview, voters might have learned something last night."
"Instead, she let their nonsensical answers go unchecked and unchallenged," she said.
Bash asked Walz during the interview, "You said that you carried weapons in war, but you have never actually deployed in a war zone. A campaign official said that you misspoke. Did you?"
Walz replied, "I'm incredibly proud. I've done 24 years of wearing the uniform of this country, equally proud of my service in a public-school classroom, whether it's Congress or the governor. My record speaks for itself, but I think people are coming to get to know me. I speak like they do. I speak candidly. I wear my emotions on my sleeves. And I speak especially passionately about our children being shot in schools and around guns. So, I think people know me. They know who I am. They know where my heart is. And again, my record has been out there for over 40 years to speak for itself."
"And the idea that you said that you were in war, did you misspeak as the campaign has said?" Bash pressed.
"Yeah. I said we were talking about, in this case, this was after a school shooting, the idea of carrying these weapons of war. And, my wife, the English teacher, she told me my grammar is not always correct," he said.
In contrast, during her interview earlier this month with Vance, Bash pressed the Ohio senator for roughly six minutes about his leading the charge on criticizing Walz’s characterization of his military record, challenging his criticisms three separate times during the segment.
She also pressed him multiple times on his "childless cat ladies" comments from an interview a few years ago.
Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, speaks during a campaign event in Henderson, Nevada, on July 30. (AP Photo/Ellen Schmidt)
But critics argued that Bash didn't ask the hard-hitting questions Americans wanted to hear during her interview of Harris and Walz on Thursday.
In one light exchange, Bash questioned Harris about a viral photo of Harris' young niece watching her speech at the Democratic National Convention.
"You didn’t explicitly talk about gender or race in your speech. But it obviously means a lot to a lot of people. And that viral picture really says it. What does it mean to you?" Bash asked.
Harris replied, "I am running because I believe that I am the best person to do this job at this moment for all Americans, regardless of race and gender. But I did see that photograph, and I was deeply touched by it."....
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Bash threw fast balls at Vance but threw softballs at Harris. Vance hit them out of the park and Harris struck out.
