California Democratic Sen. LaFonza Butler said on CNN on Sunday that Vice President Kamala Harris' repeated policy shifts show she's “human,” and insisted he has “no concerns” about her continuing to do so.
During her “State of the Union” show, CNN host Dana Bash mentioned Harris' policy shifts on issues like police budget cuts, illegal immigration and health care. Bash asked Butler what voters should “think” about Harris' policy changes, to which the Democratic senator responded that the vice president is “human” and “learns something new” every day.
“I think voters should see her as someone who is capable of taking the time and effort to learn something new every day and listen to everyone's concerns. I think they should be confident that she is a fighter and a leader who will act on behalf of the people to get us an economy that leaves no one behind,” Butler said.
“There's a tone that we're going to continue to address the climate crisis in a way that secures the planet for young people and the next generation of leaders,” Butler continued. “I think they absolutely have to trust that she's a leader who cares about people and has put people first throughout her career.”
Bash continued questioning Butler, asking if she was concerned about Harris' “frequent shifts in attitude,” to which the Democratic senator countered that Harris has “always stood for my values.” (Related: The Harris campaign is adamant that Kamala won't repeal fracking, but does anyone believe that?)
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“No, I'm not worried about attitudes shifting. This is part of our country changing every day. The landscape of our country is changing every day. The vice president has consistent values and there are many ways to solve the challenges that are before us,” Butler said. “We need to make sure we have a candidate who is willing to listen and, frankly, a leader who puts the people first.”
When Harris first ran for president in 2020, the then-California senator supported a string of left-leaning policies, including a ban on fracking, a federal gun buyback requirement and an end to private health insurance. But since becoming the party's new presidential nominee after Biden gave up his reelection bid on July 21, Harris and her team appear to be trying to make clear that they have shifted course on some issues.
When pressed on CNN last week about Harris's vacillating stance on defunding the police, Mitch Landrieu, national campaign co-chair for Kamala Harris, argued that “her actions show that she wants to increase the police budget, but she also wants to do other things, because the combination of both will make American streets safer.”
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