Harris Responds To Political Ad
Vice President Kamala Harris has recently defended her evolving position on fracking, calling out an ad that highlights her past comments as misleading and a deliberate attempt to stir fear among voters.
In a conversation with CBS Pittsburgh’s Jon Delano, Harris was asked to clarify her stance on fracking, given her prior statements that suggested she supported a ban on the practice. The ad in question features a clip from a 2019 town hall where Harris unequivocally stated, “There’s no question I’m in favor of banning fracking.”
During the interview, Delano pressed Harris on whether she has shifted her view on fracking since making those statements. Harris responded firmly, dismissing the ad’s portrayal as a distortion of her true position.
“Let me be absolutely clear, as I’ve been when I said it back in 2020, I will not ban fracking. I did not as vice president. In fact, I cast the tie-breaking vote to open up more fracking leases,” she stated, referring to her pivotal role in passing the Inflation Reduction Act in the Senate.
Kamala Harris wants to BAN fracking.
“No question I’m in favor”
Fracking supports tens of thousands of jobs in swing states like Pennsylvania.
There’s no question that energy is on the ballot in November. pic.twitter.com/8w1Agvrq0e
— Daniel Turner (@DanielTurnerPTF) July 22, 2024
Harris’s stance on fracking has indeed been a source of contention. During the 2020 vice-presidential debate, when confronted by then-Vice President Mike Pence, she assured the American public that Joe Biden would not ban fracking. At the time, her response lacked the clarity of a direct personal reversal but emphasized Biden’s commitment to preserving fracking operations.
On Tuesday, Harris expanded on her current perspective, emphasizing a balanced approach to energy policy. “My perspective on this is grounded in a number of things, including that we don’t have to ban fracking to do the work that we can do to also invest in a clean energy economy,” she explained.
Harris’s comments suggest a nuanced strategy that seeks to both support the fracking industry and pivot towards clean energy investments, appealing to voters in states like Pennsylvania where fracking plays a crucial economic role.
In her bid to reassure Pennsylvanians, Harris made several pledges aimed at bolstering job growth in areas dependent on the energy sector. “I’m going to bring jobs back to rural communities. I’m going to make sure that we invest in those communities that have done the kind of work that you have in mind when you talk about Pittsburgh, when you talk about the greater aspect of Pennsylvania,” she promised.
Despite her insistence on supporting fracking, the ad has reignited scrutiny over Harris’s previous statements and her perceived flip-flopping on the issue. Critics argue that her shift in rhetoric reflects political maneuvering rather than a consistent policy stance. However, Harris remains steadfast, reiterating, “That’s where I stand, period. As President of the United States, I will not ban fracking.”