Cal Thomas: Kamala Harris owes us some answers

MYRNA BROWN, HOST: Today is Thursday, September 26th. Good morning! This is The World and Everything in It from listener-supported WORLD Radio. I’m Myrna Brown.

LINDSAY MAST, HOST: And I’m Lindsay Mast. Up next, WORLD commentator Cal Thomas says it's past time for Vice President Kamala Harris to talk with the press…and for the press to ask the Democratic candidate some important questions.

CAL THOMAS: It’s been more than two months since Vice President Kamala Harris was deeded the Democratic presidential nomination. During that time, she has not held an open news conference or sat with many mainstream journalists to answer serious questions about how she would lead the country and who she would choose as her advisers. The recent Presidential Debate didn’t shed much light on that either.

Harris has promised to bring down the cost of everything, though costs still remain high partly because of the spending policies of the current administration. Will those policies continue and if not, what policies will replace them? She has said she wants to impose price controls, but they’ve never worked. Wouldn’t it be better to address and change the policies that have caused prices and inflation to rise?

How would she handle the war in Ukraine? If China were to invade Taiwan on her watch, would she commit U.S. troops and resources to defend the democratic nation? Would she support laws already on the books to keep migrants who are not U.S. citizens from voting in federal elections? How would she do this?

Does she still intend to tax unrealized capital gains, meaning people would pay for the increased value of assets like their homes, 401K’s and other retirement savings, even though they have not yet benefited from those gains?

The Republican presidential nominee, Donald Trump, has promised to bring in outside auditors to reduce the size, cost and reach of the federal government. Is this something Harris endorses? If not, what would she do to reduce the debt which is a record $35 trillion?

All of this – and more – could be discussed if Harris would stop engaging in a stealth strategy that keeps her from having to answer hard questions the public has a right to know.

Real journalists, not the kind who used to work for politicians and activist organizations, should be demanding she start holding long news conferences. Immediately.

Every other president for the last century has done so before and after elections. John F. Kennedy held his in the State Department auditorium. Lyndon Johnson fielded reporters’ questions as he walked around the White House driveway, sometimes pulling the ears of his dogs. Barack Obama was a master of the news conference. Ronald Reagan, too, projected strength and good humor.

This is the 100th anniversary year of Calvin Coolidge’s ascension to the presidency following the death of Warren Harding. Coolidge’s oldest son, John, once told me his father invented the modern news conference. Even while traveling, Coolidge made sure the press had information of at least some value. The favor was returned in mostly helpful coverage and not the cynicism and one-sided “reporting” that characterizes so much of what’s left of real journalism today. Reporters sought facts and did not cheerlead for one candidate or another.

So madam Vice President, it’s time to hold a news conference. Americans need to know as much as possible about each candidate and how he or she will lead. Elections shouldn’t be an “arranged marriage” in which neither side knows much about the other. The public has a right to know what they’re voting for.

I’m Cal Thomas.

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