>>> I’M PART OF THAT OBAMA COALITION.
COALITION. I COME OUT OF THE BLACK
COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF MY
SUPPORT.
SUPPORT. IF YOU NOTICE I HAVE MORE PEOPLE
SUPPORTING ME IN THE BLACK
COMMUNITY THAT ARE OUT FOR ME
BECAUSE THEY KNOW ME, THEY KNOW
WHO I AM.
WHO I AM. FORMER CHAIRS OF THE BLACK
CAUCASUS.
CAUCASUS. THE ONLY AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN
TO HAVE EVER BEEN ELECTED TO THE
UNITED STATES SENATE.
>> THAT’S NOT TRUE.
>> THAT’S NOT TRUE.
>> THE OTHER ONE IS HERE.
>> I SAID THE FIRST.
I SAY THE FIRST --
>> THANK YOU.
>>HE FIRST -- THE FIRST
AFRICAN AMERICAN.
AFRICAN AMERICAN. SO MY POINT IS, MY POINT IS THE
REASON I WAS PICKED TO BE VICE
PRESIDENT, IT WAS BECAUSE OF MY
RELATIONSHIP, LONGSTANDING
RELATIONSHIP, LONGSTANDING RELATION WITH THE BLACK
COMMUNITY.
COMMUNITY. I WAS PART OF THAT COALITION.
>> ALL RIGHT.
JOINING US NOW, DEMOCRATIC
PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, SENATOR
KAMALA HARRIS.
KAMALA HARRIS. MY GOSH, BRIGHT AND EARLY, I
DON’T KNOW HOW YOU’RE DOING
THESE HOURS, ALL OF YOU.
>> IT’S 2 1/2 HOURS SLEEP AND
WE’RE HERE.
WE’RE HERE. >> HOW DO YOU THINK IT WENT LAST
NIGHT?
NIGHT? >> I THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD
NIGHT.
NIGHT. A LOT OF IMPORTANT ISSUES WERE
COVERED AND, YOU KNOW, THIS
IS -- THERE’S SO MUCH AT STAKE.
AND, AS I SAY OFTEN, IF NOT ALL
THE TIME, JUSTICE IS ON THE
BALLOT AND SO TALKING ABOUT THE
VARIOUS INJUSTICES, INCLUDING
THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THE
IMPEACHMENT PROCESS, IT’S AN
IMPORTANT DISCUSSION.
IMPORTANT DISCUSSION. >> SO MOVING FORWARD
STRATEGICALLY FOR YOUR CAMPAIGN,
WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES?
HOW DO WE GET THE DEBATE STAGE
DOWN TO TWO OR THREE CANDIDATES
AND HOW DO YOU MAKE SURE KAMALA
HARRIS IS ONE OF THEM?
>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, MIKA, THE
REALITY, YOU KNOW, I’M JUST INTO
REAL TALK AT THAT POINT.
THE REALITY IS THAT THE TOP OF
THE, YOU KNOW, THE TOP OF THE
FIELD MANY HAVE BEEN ON THE
STAGE FOR DECADES.
THEY’RE FAMILIAR, THEY’RE KNOWN,
AND THEY HAVE NAME I.D. FOR THAT
REASON.
REASON. MY CHALLENGE IS TO UP MY NAME
I.D. AND INTRODUCE MYSELF TO
PEOPLE.
PEOPLE. YOU KNOW, A LARGE PART OF IT IS
THE FUNDRAISING PIECE.
I NEED TO RAISE THE MONEY TO BE
ON TV IN IOWA.
YOU KNOW, AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
THAT’S JUST A CRUDE FACT OF
RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT.
AND UNTIL WE HAVE CAMPAIGN
FINANCE REFORM, WHICH WILL BE
ONE OF MY FIRST AREAS OF FOCUS
WHEN ELECTED, UNTIL THAT
HAPPENS, THAT’S A PART OF THE
PROCESS.
PROCESS. >> SENATOR HARRIS, WILLIE GEIST.
GOOD TO SEE YOU THIS MORNING.
>> HI.
>> HI. >> I KNOW YOU’RE BUSY PREPARING
FOR A DEBATE YESTERDAY, BUT
THERE WAS SOME, AS WE’VE BEEN
TALKING ABOUT ALL MORNING SOME
INCREDIBLY DAMNING TESTIMONY PUT
FORWARD BY AMBASSADOR SONDLAND
AND TWO WITNESSES LATER IN THE
DAY.
DAY. I UNDERSTAND YOU’RE A POTENTIAL
JUROR IN THIS CASE AS A UNITED
STATES SENATOR, BUT YOU’RE ALSO
A PROSECUTOR.
A PROSECUTOR. >> YES.
>> YES. >> AS YOU LISTEN TO THE
EVIDENCE, IS THERE ANY DOUBT IN
YOUR MIND THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP
HAS COMMITTED AN IMPEACHABLE
OFFENSE HERE?
OFFENSE HERE? >> WE HAVE NOT YET, THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE HAVE NOT YET BEEN
PRESENTED WITH ANYTHING THAT IS
EVIDENCE-BASED THAT CAUSES ANY
QUESTION ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED.
I MEAN, WE’VE GOT A CONFESSION,
IT HAPPENED IN PLAIN SIGHT AND
SONDLAND’S TESTIMONY YESTERDAY
WAS BASICALLY ALL THE
PRESIDENT’S MEN.
PRESIDENT’S MEN. HE SAID, YOU KNOW, EVERYONE WAS
IN THE LOOP.
AND SO I THINK IT GETS WORSE AND
WORSE FOR THE PRESIDENT,
FRANKLY.
FRANKLY. AND WE’LL SEE HOW THIS ALL ENDS
UP.
UP. OBVIOUSLY THE PROCESS IS STILL
UNFOLDING.
UNFOLDING. BUT AT THIS POINT, I THINK THAT,
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE BEEN PRESENTED
WITH A LOT OF INFORMATION THAT
TELLS US THAT THIS PRESIDENT HAS
COMMITTED IMPEACHABLE OFFENSES
AND REALLY SHOULDN’T BE IN
OFFICE.
OFFICE. >> AS YOU TALK TO YOUR
REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES, THE
CONVENTIONAL WISDOM IS BASED ON
WHAT WE KNOW HE WILL BE
IMPEACHED IN THE HOUSE
CONTROLLED BY DEMOCRATS, BUT
IT’S NOT GOING ANYWHERE IN THE
SENATE BECAUSE IT’S CONTROLLED
BY MITCH McCONNELL AND
REPUBLICANS.
REPUBLICANS. DO YOU SHARE THAT SFLU DOVIEW?
DO YOU SEE ANY WORLD WHERE
REPUBLICANS WATCH THIS AND SAY
I’M GOING TO VOTE TO CONVICT HIM
IF THERE’S A TRIAL IN THE
SENATE?
SENATE? >> WILLIE, YOU KNOW, I’M CLEAR
I’D ABOUT IT.
I’VE BEEN IN THE SENATE NOW
ALMOST THREE YEARS AND I’VE NOT
SEEN MUCH EVIDENCE OF MY
COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE AISLE
WILLINGNESS TO STAND UP AND
SPEAK OUT.
SPEAK OUT. AND THOSE THAT HAVE HAVE NOT RUN
FOR RE-ELECTION OR, YOU KNOW,
FOLKS LIKE THE LATE GREAT JOHN
McCAIN.
McCAIN. BUT I DO -- I WILL SAY THIS.
I DO BELIEVE THAT THE ELECTED
REPUBLICANS ARE ONE THING, BUT
WHEN WE’RE TALKING ABOUT THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE INCLUDING THOSE
WHO ARE REGISTERED AS
REPUBLICANS, MY APPEAL IS TO
THEM.
THEM. WHICH IS THAT I THINK WE ALL
KNOW THIS IS JUST NOT RIGHT.
IT’S NOT RIGHT.
AND IN SO MANY WAYS OUR
DEMOCRACY IS BEING CHALLENGED
WHEN WE HAVE THIS KIND OF ABUSE
OF POWER.
OF POWER. AND FRAMERS OBVIOUSLY IMAGED
THAT THERE MIGHT BE THIS MOMENT,
AND THERE SHOULD BE A CHECK AND
BALANCE.
BALANCE. SO MY APPEAL REALLY IS TO THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE, REGARDLESS OF
WHO THEY VOTED FOR IN THE LAST
ELECTION, THAT WE SHOULD ALL
STAND UP AND SAY IT IS NOT RIGHT
AND IT HAS TO END.
>> KOOMAMALA, IT IS CLAIRE.
>> HI, CLAIRE.
>> I THOUGHT YOU WERE TERRIFIC
LAST NIGHT.
LAST NIGHT. >> THANK YOU.
>> I WANT TO TALK ABOUT ONE
THING THAT WAS A PHONING US LAST
NIGHT, PROBABLY REALLY FOR THE
FIRST TIME.
FIRST TIME. THAT WAS WOMEN, AND PARTICULARLY
WOMEN OF COLOR AND THE STRUGGLES
THEY FACE.
THEY FACE. >> YEAH.
>> YEAH. >> YOU MADE A POINT ABOUT SO
MANY WOMEN ARE HAVING CHILDREN
IN THEIR 30s AND THEY HAVE DUAL
RESPONSIBILITY OF CARING FOR
PARENTS AND CARING FOR CHILDREN,
AND THAT REALLY RESONATED WITH
WOMEN ACROSS THIS COUNTRY.
>> RIGHT.
>> RIGHT. >> DO YOU THINK WE HAVE DONE
ENOUGH ON THE DEBATE STAGE AND
IN THIS CAMPAIGN, TALKING ABOUT
NOT LUNCH BUCKET JOE, BUT RATHER
32-YEAR-OLD SINGLE MOM, YOU
KNOW, ASSOCIATES DEGREE, STILL
HAVING TO WORK TWO JOBS TO TAKE
CARE OF HER KIDS.
>> THAT’S RIGHT.
>> TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT
AND WHETHER OR NOT YOU THINK WE
ARE BEGINNING TO GET PARITY ON
THESE WOMEN’S ISSUES THAT ARE SO
IMPORTANT TO DEMOCRATS, BECAUSE
IT IS WOMEN AND PARTICULARLY
BLACK WOMEN THAT ELECT
PRESIDENTS IN THE DEMOCRATIC
PARTY.
PARTY. >> WE HAVE NOT DONE ENOUGH,
THERE’S NO QUESTION.
WOMEN ARE NOW THE MAJORITY
POPULATION IN AMERICA, AND
CERTAINLY IT HAS NOT -- THE
ISSUES THAT IMPACT WOMEN AND
THEIR FAMILIES HAVE NOT BEEN THE
MA SQUORT
MA SQUORT MAJORITY OF SUBJECTS RAISED IN
THESE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES.
THERE’S NO QUESTION.
EVERYTHING FROM CHILD CARE, I’M
VERY GLAD IT WAS BROUGHT UP AND
THE MODERATORS LAST NIGHT ARE
EXCEPTIONAL AS PROFESSIONS AND
THEY WERE ALL WOMEN.
THERE ARE SO MANY ISSUES ABOUT
PAID FAMILY LEAVE.
IT IS ABOUT EQUAL PAY.
IT IS ABOUT WHAT WE NEED TO DO
AROUND SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE
WORKPLACE.
WORKPLACE. JUST THE TOPICS GO ON AND ON.
AS YOU AND I KNOW EVERY ISSUE IS
A WOMAN’S ISSUE AND WOMEN’S
ISSUES SHOULD BE EVERY WOMAN’S
ISSUE.
ISSUE. WOMEN HAVE EXPERIENCE AROUND
THINKS ISSUES THAT SHOULD BE
UNIQUE AND SHOULD BE DISCUSSED.
THERE’S MORE TO BE DONE.
THE EQUAL PAY ISSUE, 1963 --
DIES, THINK ABOUT THIS.
THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS IN
1963 ACKNOWLEDGED THAT WOMEN ARE
NOT PAID EQUAL FOR EQUAL WORK.
LET’S CLOSE OUR EYES FOR A
MOMENT AND IMAGINE WHO WAS IN
THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS IN
1963.
1963. >> WASN’T FOLKS THAT LOOK LIKE
US.
US. >> BUT HERE IS THE THING.
THOSE GUYS KNEW IT WAS AN ISSUE.
>> RIGHT, RIGHT.
>> BUT YET FAST FORWARD TO THE
YEAR OF 2019 AND WOMEN ARE STILL
PLAYED 80 CENTS ON THE DOLLAR,
BLACK WOMEN 51 CENTS, LATINOS
54.
54. WE HAVE NOT DONE ENOUGH.
WOMEN DON’T WANT TO BE
FLATTERED.
FLATTERED. YOU KNOW, I’M DONE WITH THAT.
I THINK MOST WOMEN ARE.
DON’T FLATTER US.
DON’T SAY, HEY, YOU ARE THE
REASON THAT WE WIN.
OH, WE’RE SO PROUD WE ELECTED
100 WOMEN TO THE UNITED STATES
CONGRESS.
CONGRESS. YES, ACKNOWLEDGE THAT, BUT THEN
WHAT ARE YOU DOING FOR WOMEN?
THAT’S PART OF THE ISSUE.
SO I APPRECIATE YOUR QUESTION
AND THERE’S MORE TO BE DONE,
BOTH ON THE DEBATE STAGE AND IN
POLICY.
POLICY. >> HEY, SENATOR HARRIS.
I’M GOING TO EKCHO CLAIRE AND SA
YOU HAD A STRONG DEBATE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ALSO, I WANT TO COMMEND YOU
ON LIFTING UP BLACK WOMEN WHEN
YOU HAD THE STAGE AND THE MOMENT
AND TO TALK ABOUT HOW BLACK
WOMEN ARE TREATED BY THE PARTY
AND FORGOTTEN AFTER THEY COME
OUT AND VOTE.
MY QUESTION TO YOU IS THAT YOU
ARE IN GEORGIA, GROUND ZERO FOR
VOTER SUPPRESSION.
VOTER SUPPRESSION. WE ALL KNOW DEMOCRATS WILL NOT
WIN IN 2020 WITHOUT OVERWHELMING
TURNOUT FROM THE BLACK
COMMUNITY.
COMMUNITY. IF WE DO WIN NEXT YEAR, IT IS
GOING TO BE IN SPITE OF VOTER
SUPPRESSION.
SUPPRESSION. WE SEE IT ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
>> THAT’S RIGHT.
>> WHAT CAN DEMOCRATS DO TO
PROTECT THE VOTE?
>> YOU’RE SO RIGHT CAREEN.
2013 THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT WAS
GUTTED AND IMMEDIATELY
THEREAFTER TWO DOZEN STATES PUT
IN LAWS, INCLUDING IN THE STATE
OF GEORGIA, BUT FAMOUSLY IN
NORTH CAROLINA THE SUPREME COURT
SAID IT WAS DESIGNED TO SUPPRESS
THE BLACK VOTE.
WE HAVE SEEN THE PURGING OF
VOTERS IN GEORGIA.
IT IS A VERY REAL ISSUE.
WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT IN TERMS
OF THE LEGISLATION TO GET
PASSED, WHICH I SUPPORT AND TO
PUT TEETH BACK IN THE VOTING
RIGHTS ACT.
RIGHTS ACT. WE NEED TO LITIGATE CASES IN THE
COURTROOMS AROUND THE COUNTRY AS
RELATES TO SPECIFIC LAWS PUT IN
PLACE, BUT WE NEED TO EMPOWER
THE COMMUNITY GROUPS AND
NONPROFIT GROUPS THAT ARE
ATTEMPTING TO HELP PEOPLE
REGISTER TO VOTE AND GET TO THE
POLLS AND TO GET AROUND THESE
OBSTRUCTIONS BECAUSE WHILE WE
ARE LATE GATINGITIGATING THESE C
ELECTIONS ARE HAPPENING.
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO REALLY
MOVE AROUND THE OBSTACLES TO GET
PEOPLE TO VOTE.
I BELIEVE WE SHOULD HAVE
ELECTION DAY AS A HOLIDAY.
I BELIEVE WE NEED TO HAVE
AUTOMATIC VOTER REGISTRATION,
BUT UNTIL WE GET THOSE THINGS WE
HAVE TO HELP THE PEOPLE ON THE
GROUND GETTING FOLKS TO THE
POLL, GETTING PEOPLE REGISTERED
TO VOTE.
TO VOTE. MY FINAL POINT IS THIS.
IN ADDITION TO THE CLASSIC VOTER
SUPPRESSION WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE
RUSSIAN INTERFERENCE AND WHAT IT
HAS MEANT IN TERMS OF THE
MISINFORMATION CAMPAIGN THAT
TARGETED BLACK VOTERS.
WE NOW HAVE THE CLASSIC VOTER
SUPPRESSION, AND ON TOP OF THAT
THE CONTEMPORARY OR MODERN-DAY
VOTER SUPPRESSION WHICH IS
FOREIGN INTERFERENCE TARGETING
BLACK VOTERS, TO TURN BLACK
VOTERS OFF ON THE WHOLE PROCESS
AND TO BASICALLY STAY AT HOME.
THAT’S VOTER SUPPRESSION.
SERVING ON THE SENATE
INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE WE
PUBLISHED A REPORT A FEW WEEKS
AGO.
AGO. I URGE EVERYONE TO READ IT TO
KNOW WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT
AND WHAT WE’RE DEALING WITH.
IT IS A REAL ISSUE, A VERY BIG
ISSUE.
ISSUE. >> SENATOR KAMALA HARRIS, THANK
YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING ON THIS
MORNING.
MORNING. >> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. >> WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
TO HER POINT ABOUT RUSSIAN
INTERFERENCE, WE JUST GOT THE
OPENING STATEMENT FROM DR. FIONA
HILL, WHO WILL BE TESTIFYING
TODAY BEFORE THE HOUSE INTEL
COMMITTEE, AND SHE IS A MEMBER
OF THE NATIONAL SECURITY
COUNCIL, SOVIET, RUSSIAN AND
EUROPEAN AFFAIRS.
EUROPEAN AFFAIRS. HER OPENING STATEMENT IS REALLY
A WARNING TO CONGRESS.
RIGHT NOW RUSSIA SECURITY
SERVICES AND THEIR PROXIES HAVE
GEARED UP TO REPEAT THEIR
INTERFERENCE IN THE 2020
ELECTION.
ELECTION. WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF TIME TO
STOP THEM.
STOP THEM. >> YOU KNOW WHAT ELSE SHE DOES?
SHE TEARS TO SHREDS IN THIS
OPENING STATEMENT THE CONSPIRACY
THEORY THAT UKRAINE SOMEHOW
MEDDLED IN THE ELECTION.
IT IS A THEORY PUSHED BY DONALD
TRUMP AND THE WHITE HOUSE.
SHE SAYS I REFUSE TO BE PART OF
AN EFFORT TO LEGITIMIZE AN
ALTERNATIVE REALITY, THAT YU