Jesse Watters Triggers Co-Host Tarlov During Live Segment: ‘Such A Jerk!’
During a live segment on Tuesday’s "The Five," co-hosts Jesse Watters and Jessica Tarlov had a heated exchange while discussing Vice President Kamala Harris' economic policies, which have been slammed by both the left and right as "draconian" and "socialist" in nature.
The conversation began with Tarlov emphasizing the supposed benefits of Harris' so-called "opportunity economy," which includes a significant initiative offering $25,000 for first-time homebuyers. Tarlov contended that this plan would not only boost homeownership but also encourage community investment, leading to safer neighborhoods and improved public schools.
Tarlov then posed a question to Watters, “And when she talks about home ownership, which is something that we all aspire to… Right, Jesse?”
Watters, in a playful response, quipped: “I wasn’t paying attention. What did you just say?” His remark provoked a quick reaction from Tarlov, who shot back, “you’re really an incredible jerk sometimes.”
WATCH:
Since launching her presidential campaign alongside President Biden, Harris has largely avoided interviews, press conferences, and direct engagement with reporters. Now, even Democrats are advising her to stick with this strategy instead of revealing more about her policy priorities, after the controversial rollout of economic plans that, to many Americans, resemble "some hybrid form of Venezuelan communism and Cuban socialism."
Among her proposals are Soviet-style price controls on corporations and a housing subsidy that critics argue would drive up home prices.
“She doesn’t need to negotiate against herself. We’ve got the biggest possible tent right now,” said Rep. Ann McLane Kuster, a New Hampshire Democrat, in an interview with Politico. “I don’t think there’s a real strong reason for her to try to weed out any points of view right now.”
A House Democrat from a battleground state noted, “They [voters] have very little knowledge about who she is, what her job has actually been. They know Trump. They know what his policies are. They don’t know Kamala. And so Kamala has a ton of room right now to define herself.”
However, The Wall Street Journal pointed out that Harris' policy positions are likely to be closely aligned with President Joe Biden’s, which is why she might be avoiding sharing the specifics with voters.
“Instead, they expect small shifts in emphasis that highlight her résumé and priorities,” while keeping the details of her agenda "hidden," especially amid concerns from Democrats that revealing too much could open her up to criticism from both Republicans and fellow Democrats.
“The policy framework is expected to outline broad policy areas she supports while avoiding many of the thorny details. Aides said they want her agenda to provide a contrast with Trump without reading like a think tank white paper,” reported The Journal.
“Harris’s rise to the top of the ticket has energized Democrats, and some allies have warned against doing anything that could slow that momentum, including lengthy interviews with media outlets,” the article added.
Still, some argue that the lack of transparency may come back to haunt her.
“There’s already uncertainty with just what does she believe, what she would do,” said Jeff Nobers, executive director of Pittsburgh Works Together, in a statement to The Washington Post. “And if she doesn’t support a ban on fracking, what is her energy policy plan?”
Republicans and the Trump campaign have been pressing Harris to disclose the details of her agenda, believing voters will reject her more extreme ideas.
“Kamala needs to stop insulting the intelligence of voters and speak for herself to explain why she is running from every liberal policy she has ever supported,” said Karoline Leavitt, the national press secretary for the Trump and Vance campaign. “The mainstream media needs to stop being complicit in her lies and demand answers.”