CBS News is under fire after it emerged that the network edited out a portion of Vice President Kamala Harris’ recent interview on 60 Minutes, which many labeled as a “word salad.” The original, unedited clip featured Harris fumbling through a response about the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, but it has since been conspicuously removed from the final aired segment.
Recently, Israel has escalated its military campaign in southern Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah, while airstrikes continue in Beirut. Israeli forces raised their flag near a Lebanese village, and Israel’s Prime Minister announced the killing of Hezbollah’s new leader. In response, Hezbollah launched over 100 rockets at Haifa and Galilee and now supports ceasefire efforts.
Sunday’s interview, conducted by CBS correspondent Bill Whitaker, was supposed to showcase Harris’ foreign policy acumen, a crucial aspect as she navigates the 2024 presidential campaign. However, during the original segment, Whitaker posed a question regarding Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s response to U.S. diplomatic efforts in the Middle East. Harris’ answer, filled with vague statements and repetitive phrases, quickly drew criticism online.
Whitaker asked, “But it seems that Prime Minister Netanyahu is not listening.” In response, Harris said, “Well Bill, the work that we have done has resulted in a number of movements in that region by Israel that were very much prompted by or a result of many things, including our advocacy for what needs to happen in the region… We are not going to stop pursuing what is necessary for the United States to be clear about where we stand on the need for this war to end.
Her answer, which some labeled as incoherent, was met with a wave of backlash on social media, with many accusing the vice president of dodging the question and failing to offer any substantial insight into the administration’s plans for resolving the conflict. However, the aired version of the interview saw this entire portion removed, replaced by a much shorter and more polished response from Harris.
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It’s no secret that Harris has struggled with clear messaging in the past, with numerous instances of her making convoluted or unclear statements during interviews. However, CBS’ decision to eliminate what was, for many viewers, a revealing moment, suggests a calculated move to protect the Democratic candidate from criticism. This comes as the Harris campaign ramps up its media appearances ahead of the 2024 election.
Harris has been making the rounds, appearing on platforms that generally provide a more favorable environment. Just this past weekend, she sat down with Alex Cooper, host of the popular Call Her Daddy podcast, an interview aimed at reaching younger female voters.
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This isn’t the first time Harris’ interview responses have sparked controversy. In recent months, she has been accused of avoiding direct answers and resorting to filler statements that lack substance. This week marked a change as Americans saw Harris dashing through a series of media stops aimed at maximizing her visibility. She started her day on ABC’s ‘The View,’ and plans to continue with an interview with radio host Howard Stern, followed by a segment on Stephen Colbert’s late-night show.
