TRAINWRECK: Guthrie Repeatedly Shuts Down Harris Hackery

During an unusually contentious interview with Vice President Kamala Harris on NBC’s Today show Thursday morning, co-host Savannah Guthrie repeatedly shut down the Democrat’s attempts to filibuster with White House talking points and left-wing political spin. Harris got visibly irritated several times as Guthrie grilled her on President Biden’s disastrous Wednesday press conference and even cut off the VP’s rambling answers.

The tough exchange began with Guthrie referencing Biden’s dangerous suggestion during the presser that the U.S. would tolerate Russia launching a “small incursion” into Ukraine: “Did the President essentially give the green light to Vladimir Putin to take a piece of Ukraine, to take a bite out of Ukraine?”Harris claimed bizarrely: “I will tell you that the President has been very clear….the posture that we have taken is grounded in the respect and the value we place in sovereignty and territorial integrity….the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.”

Guthrie interrupts and calls out the apparent contradiction “Of course, and I’m so sorry to interrupt but it is – it is less than clear because 30 minutes after the news conference, the White House Press Secretary had to actually clarify the President’s remarks.”Harris laughed: “Savannah, I’m being clear with you right now….And so, if you’re interested, I’ll continue to be clear.”

Guthrie kept pressing in a number of follow-ups:

> “Is there any amount of land that Russia could take that the President would allow, turn a blind eye to, not issue those, quote, ‘severe sanctions’ he’s been threatening for that massive full-scale invasion?”

> “The President said yesterday, among other things, that he thinks that Putin probably will invade Ukraine. Later he said he wasn’t sure, but he said, ‘he probably will go in.’ Is that, for all intents and purposes, acknowledging that this threat of severe sanctions that the administration has made, is having no effect on Putin? That he’s actually not deterred by it?”

> “The President also openly talked about division within NATO countries and NATO allies about what to do in the event of a Russian incursion. How damaging is that, when the message that’s being preached overseas at this moment, by our Secretary of State and others, is that NATO stands united?”

Guthrie concluded the discussion by requesting: “I know the White House tried to clarify it and clean it up afterwards, but was the damage done? You can’t un-ring the bell. Is Vladimir Putin likely to listen to a later statement from the White House Press Secretary or the words of President Biden?”Harris was frustrated and replied, “I will repeat myself, and I’m Vice President of the United States, and the President and I work closely together and I know his position because he has been consistent in that regard.”

Guthrie began to wonder “How” Biden “openly cast doubt on whether the 2022 midterm elections would be legitimate.”The Vice President was asked by her: “Is he really concerned that we may not have fair and free elections?”

Harris attempted to avoid the consequences by lobbying Congress for unsuccessful attempts to have a Federal Takeover of Elections enacted.

This is a matter that the President has addressed consistently. There are two bills: the John Lewis Voting Rights Act as well the Freedom to Vote Act. These are designed to fix the issue of the states in our country making it harder for Americans to vote. These laws will affect at least 55 millions Americans regardless of party affiliation or geographic location. And so, we have been clear –   

Guthrie halted the talk points “Well, to the point though, because those bills were debated – the bills were debated and they didn’t pass.”Harris moaned: “If I may finish, if I may finish – ” Guthrie continued: “Of course, but the specific question, if you don’t mind. Does he think, now that these bills haven’t been passed, that the ’22 midterms won’t be legitimate or fair or free?”

Harris complained: “Let’s not conflate issues….let’s not be distracted by the political gamesmanship…”

Referring to the failed, radical voting legislation, Guthrie noted: “…should you have been more willing to compromise to try to get all Democrats on board? These initiatives failed because Democrats weren’t united, let alone Republicans. Was that an error, as you look back on this year?”

Harris began Harris’ answer with a quote: “Well, when I look back on this year, I think about things like the bipartisan infrastructure law.” Guthrie cut in: “Well, doesn’t that show Republicans were willing to help? If the initiatives were good?”Harris wept again: “Please let me finish, please let me finish.”

Guthrie said that Harris was done rambling on about infrastructure moments later. “Well, Vice President Kamala Harris, I am way out of time. Next time they’ve got to give us an hour so I don’t have to interrupt and you can go as long as you want.However, we have run out of time. I so appreciate the back and forth and you answering the questions.”

After the exchange, Guthrie joked to her fellow co-hosts: “She and I, we should go on C-SPAN, you know? We can both go on as long as we like.”

Guthrie is a liberal media host who has become accustomed to aggressively questioning Republican politicians. However, viewers are rarely able to witness a Democrat being questioned. In fact, this was the second week in a row that Harris had a disastrous appearance on NBC’s Today show.

Here is a transcript of Guthrie’s questions to Harris during the January 20 interview:

7:07 AM ET

SAVANNAH GUTHRRIE: Kamala Harris is the Vice President for the United States. Madam Vice President, good morning, it’s good to see you.

KAMALA HARRIS: It’s good to see you, Savannah, thank you.

GUTHRIE: Well let’s just start right there with Ukraine. The President was pretty clear: “Russia will be held accountable if it invades, and it depends on what it does. It’s one thing if it’s a minor incursion and then we end up having to fight about what to do and what not to do.” Did the President essentially give the green light to Vladimir Putin to take a piece of Ukraine, to take a bite out of Ukraine?

(…)

HARRIS: On the subject of Ukraine, I will tell you that the President has been very clear and we as the United States are very clear – if Putin takes aggressive action, we are prepared to levy serious and severe costs, period. You will also hear me tell you the part of the position we took is founded in our respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity.

GUTHRIE: Madame Vice President, I’m sorry to interrupt –

HARRIS: Ukraine’s sovereignty and territoriality are under our control. So we are very clear and we’ve had –

GUTHRIE: Of course, and I’m so sorry to interrupt but it is – it is less than clear because 30 minutes after the news conference, the White House Press Secretary had to actually clarify the President’s remarks.

HARRIS: Savannah, I’m being clear with you right now.

GUTHRIE: Yes, okay.

HARRIS: And so, if you’re interested, I’ll continue to be clear.

(…)

GUTHRIE: Is aggressive action, just to be – let’s be clear, because there are 100,000 Russian troops amassed at the border with Ukraine and people there are hanging on the President’s every word. Is there any amount of land that Russia could take that the President would allow, turn a blind eye to, not issue those, quote, “severe sanctions” he’s been threatening for that massive full-scale invasion?
(…)

GUTHRIE. Yesterday, the President stated, among others, that he believes that Putin will invade Ukraine. Later he said he wasn’t sure, but he said, “he probably will go in.” Is that, for all intents and purposes, acknowledging that this threat of severe sanctions that the administration has made, is having no effect on Putin? That he’s actually not deterred by it?

(…)

GUTHRIE. The President spoke out about the possibility of divisions within NATO and NATO allies regarding what to do in case of an incursion by Russia. How damaging is that, when the message that’s being preached overseas at this moment, by our Secretary of State and others, is that NATO stands united?

HARRIS: I will tell you – and I think your audience knows – Joe Biden has been working, as the former head of Foreign Relations and as the former vice president and a senator, in a role of leadership on foreign policy for years.

(…)

GUTHRIE Although the White House did try to correct it and fix it, was there any damage done? You can’t un-ring the bell. Vladimir Putin will likely listen to the White House Press secretary’s statement or to President Biden’s words?

HARRIS: I will repeat myself, and I’m Vice President of the United States, and the President and I work closely together and I know his position because he has been consistent in that regard. Russia or Vladimir Putin will take aggressive actions, which will result in a severe cost.

GUTHRIE: Let’s talk about another comment the President made. Openly, he questioned whether 2022’s midterm elections will be valid. He said, “It all depends.” Which is astonishing, to hear a president question whether our elections will be legitimate. We’ve heard it before, but not from this president. Does he actually fear that free, fair and democratic elections may be impossible?

HARRIS – The President is consistent in this area. And the issue at hand, the issue – I was there last night, in the chamber of the Senate – and the issue is that there are two bills, the John Lewis Voting Rights Act and the Freedom to Vote Act, that have been the solution that has been offered to address the fact that around our country, states have put in place laws that are purposely making it more difficult for the American people to vote. These laws will affect at least 55 millions Americans regardless of party affiliation or geographic location. And so, we have been clear –   

GUTHRIE: Well, to the point though, because those bills were debated – the bills were debated and they didn’t pass. The specific –

HARRIS: If I may finish, if I may finish –

GUTHRIE: Of course, but the specific question, if you don’t mind. Does he think, now that these bills haven’t been passed, that the ’22 midterms won’t be legitimate or fair or free?

HARRIS: Let’s not conflate issues. What we’re focusing on, and what was the subject of much discussion last night, is that America cannot afford this massive erosion of democracy. The right to cast a ballot without restriction for all Americans eligible to vote. That is the topic of the conversation and let’s not be distracted by the political gamesmanship when what is truly at stake are issues like whether Americans with disability have the opportunity to vote by mail, whether a single parent has the opportunity, with three kids in the back seat, to vote by dropping off their ballot in a drop box instead of having to stand in line with those three kids for hours. These are important issues.

GUTHRIE: And the President laid a lot of –  

HARRIS: These are important and crucial issues for our democracy.

(…)

GUTHRIE You are aware that there’s a 50-50 tie in Senate. Is it possible that the government failed to adjust its policies to political realities? Or, could you have been willing to compromise in order to win over all Democrats? These initiatives failed because Democrats weren’t united, let alone Republicans. This year, do you think it was an error?

HARRIS: When I reflect back on the year, I remember things such as the bipartisan infrastructure bill. Administrations, both Democrat and Republican, have tried for years to do what –  

GUTHRIE: Well, doesn’t that show Republicans were willing to help?  

HARRIS – Please allow me to finish.
                        
GUTHRIE  

(…)

HARRIS – Broadband, as outlined in the law is now easier and more affordable for Americans across America from rural to urban locations. What we are doing now with public transportation –

GUTHRIE : I’m out of time, Vice President Kamala Harir. Next time they’ve got to give us an hour so I don’t have to interrupt and you can go as long as you want. We are running out of time. It was so nice to have you back and forth, answering questions and letting me know.

HARRIS: Thank you very much.

GUTHRIE: We are grateful.

HARRIS: We are grateful.

HODA KOTB : Just five more minutes.

C-SPAN or GUTHRIE.

C-SPAN: Also known as KOTB.

GUTHRIE (She and I): We should both go to C-SPAN. Both of us can go on for as long as you like.

CRAIG MELLIN: There’s a lot of good news and lots of information to be unpacked.