Harris Rambles About ‘Middle Class’ And Lawns When Asked How She’ll Make Life Better

In a Friday interview with 6ABC Philadelphia’s Action News, Vice President Kamala Harris was asked by anchor Brian Taff about her plans to improve affordability for Americans, but her response veered off into a lengthy reflection on her middle-class upbringing and the significance of well-maintained lawns.

Instead of addressing specific policy details, Harris spoke about her childhood, highlighting her mother’s hard work and the aspirations of her community. She focused on the symbolic value of well-kept lawns rather than providing concrete strategies for making life more affordable for the vast majority of Americans who have been struggling under record inflation and sky-high interest rates throughout the Biden-Harris administration.

“I’ll start with this. I grew up a middle-class kid. My mother raised my sister and me. She worked very hard, she was able to finally save up enough money to buy our first house when I was a teenager. I grew up in a community of hardworking people, you know, construction workers and nurses and teachers,” Harris told the interviewer.

“I tried to explain to some people who may not have had the same experience, you know, a lot of people will relate to this. You know, I grew up in a neighborhood of folks who were very proud of their lawn, you know. And I was raised to believe and to know that all people deserve dignity. And that we as Americans have a beautiful character,” she rambled.

Eventually, Harris touched on the idea of an “opportunity economy” during the interview, suggesting it as a means to support small business startups. However, she did not provide details on the mechanisms or strategies for implementing that policy.

“So when I talk about building an opportunity economy, it is very much with the mind of investing in the ambitions and aspirations and the incredible work ethic of the American people and creating opportunity for people, for example, to start a small business,” Harris said.

In a speech on August 16 in North Carolina, Harris outlined a plan to impose a federal restriction on “price gouging” to lower food and grocery costs. However, critics, including some within her own party and various media commentators, have dismissed the proposal as extreme and impractical, arguing that it resembles collectivist price control and would only result in higher, not lower, prices as well as shortages.

 

Also, earlier this week, Shark Tank star Kevin O’Leary said Harris’s tax policies could severely harm the U.S. economy, particularly in terms of capital growth and sustaining the American dream.

The O’Leary Ventures chairman cautioned the Democratic presidential nominee about the “multiple effects” her tax policies could have, warning that they would negatively impact not only businesses but also Americans on a personal level.

“Taxes will go up with their proposals,” he said on FOX Business’ “The Big Money Show” Thursday, also adding, “She’s admitting that she’s not denying it. That’s a debate that’s going on in terms of the classic, ‘make the rich pay their fair share.’” He added: “That’s a narrative that goes into every single election cycle.”

Harris’ campaign website outlines several proposals, including quadrupling the tax on stock buybacks, imposing a 25% minimum tax on wealthy households, and increasing the tax rate on capital gains and dividends for households earning over $1 million from 20% to 28%. However, O’Leary, also known as “Mr. Wonderful,” has expressed significant concerns about the potential impact of setting the corporate tax rate at 28%.

“The more concerning one for the economy, not just personal taxes, is corporate tax rates. That, at her proposed 28%, would put the U.S. economy in an uncompetitive position.”

“Last time we did this to ourselves, we started to see dislocation of headquarters moving to places like Ireland and other lower tax jurisdictions,” he explained. “That, we shouldn’t do. That’s a mistake for either party. That’s a huge mistake.”

“We’re right in the middle, right now, in the G7, G20. So if all of a sudden we start charging [a] 28% corporate tax rate, plus add on state [taxes], in some cases, you’re in the 30 [percentile] and that’s just not competitive anymore in terms of the G20 or G7,” he said. “That’s, to me, the most horrific outcome, and I’m very nervous about that.”

“This [is] a policy-lite election. I’m disappointed that Harris doesn’t give us more policy specifically on taxes, specifically on corporate taxes. I need to know that,” he added.