CNN Contributor: Harris Made ‘Tactical Mistake’ By Visiting The Border
Democrat presidential candidate, Vice President Kamala Harris, might have made a significant misstep for her campaign.
In what can be described as a publicity stunt or photo op, Harris visited the Southern border on Friday, marking just her second visit to the border during her tenure as vice president and ‘border czar.’
CNN Republican commentator Scott Jennings criticized her actions, calling it a "tactical mistake" that would only remind voters of her and President Joe Biden's failure to secure the border.
“I think Republicans should be very happy tonight. I bet Scott Jennings is going to give her a lot of crash night because he wanted something done on the border. She got something done on the border. She wanted him to separate from Biden. She separated from Biden. So I expect Republicans to give her a lot of love today,” said Democrat commentator Van Jones, speaking with host Anderson Cooper and Republican commentator Jennings.
“I love brother Van, as he knows, I mean that, I love him like a brother, but no. There’ll be there’ll be no love from me or Republicans for Kamala Harris today. In fact, I think the Trump campaign line today ought to be ‘arsonist returns to the scene of crime.’ I mean, look at the last three-and-a-half years, we’ve got– the border is effectively been opened. People flowing across. ICE today released information that there are 13,000 noncitizens convicted of homicide and almost 16,000 noncitizens convicted of some kind of sexual crime who are in the country right now,” Jennings said.
“Only because we’re in the shadow of an election is Kamala Harris trying to rush and pay some lip service to this issue as a tactical matter, Anderson. I don’t think Harris should be trying to elevate this issue because this is the best ground from which Donald Trump has to fight. So no, I think the Harris campaign is making a tactical mistake and I think they have very little to say that the American people are going to buy on this today,” he continued.
Speaking at the border, the vice president tried to position herself as tough on immigration.
“Those who cross our borders unlawfully will be apprehended and removed and barred from reentering for five years,” she said to supporters at Cochise County College Douglas Campus.
“We will pursue more severe criminal charges against repeat violators and if someone does not make an asylum request at a legal point of entry and instead crosses our border unlawfully, they will be barred from receiving asylum. While we understand that many people are desperate to migrate to the United States, our system must be orderly and secure,” she stated.
She spoke about her record as California attorney general, criticizing former President Donald Trump, who is significantly ahead of her in polls regarding border security. She claimed Trump “tanked” the “strongest border security bill we have seen in decades” and argued that had he not done so, it would be functioning effectively.
“It is my pledge to you that as President of the United States I will bring it back up and proudly sign it into law,” she vowed.
Republicans had opposed the Democrat-sponsored measure due, among other reasons, to a provision that would still permit up to 5,000 migrants to enter the country illegally each day before enforcement provisions would be triggered.
Nevertheless, Harris, who leans to the far-left, asserted she would "understand how solutions get formed," promising to "reach across the aisle" and to "embrace common sense approaches and new techniques to get the job done."
“Because I know transnational gangs coming across the border, trafficking in guns, drugs, and human beings could[n’t] care less who somebody voted for in the last election,” the vice president said.