Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey feigned ignorance of false comments made by Vice President Kamala Harris about American soldiers, taking aim at former President Donald Trump in a transparent dodge that drew sharp criticism and left the Democrat squirming on live national television.
Healey, a first-term executive, appeared as a Harris surrogate on ABC’s “Meet the Press” to ostensibly defend the vice president’s lack of candor with the press and scare the nation into believing Trump represents an existential threat to the free world. That plan went out the window as Martha Raddatz challenged Healey to explain a recent statement by Harris that no American soldiers are currently in combat zones. “As of today, there’s not one member of the United States military who is in active duty in a combat zone in any war zone around the world, the first time this century,” Harris said during last week’s debate.
“Our fact-checkers found that to be false,” Raddatz told Gov. Healey with a smile, “and I have a lot of experience in that area as well.” Raddatz was previously an international correspondent for the network, having multiple assignments overseas during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. She rattled off the true figures. “There are currently 900 U.S. military personnel in Syria, 2,500 U.S. troops in Iraq. All have been under regular threat from drones and missiles for months. We also have action in the Red Sea” and elite soldiers deployed at a moment’s notice. “So why would she make that claim?” Raddatz asked. Healey delivered a word salad of an answer.
“I think what’s important here, Martha, is Kamala Harris, in contrast to Donald Trump, demonstrated herself to be commander in chief. We are in a world where there are all sorts of conflicts, and it’s all the more reason we need somebody who’s serious and who supports the military,” Healey replied before Raddatz had enough. “Governor, excuse me,” the reporter interrupted, repeating that what Harris said was false. “You say she demonstrated her ability to be commander in chief, but did she not know about these people in Syria, in Iraq? Why would she say that?”
Undaunted, happy warrior Healey soldiered on. “Look, that was a comment… that was a comment in a debate. I think the point that she was trying to make was a broader point,” she stammered before turning it back to the dangers posed by a second Trump administration.
Post-debate polls show no significant gain for Harris, who may have hit a ceiling among voters following her nomination at last month’s Democratic National Convention. She is tied with Trump or maintains a narrow lead nationally, though the picture becomes muddled in swing state polling where both candidates have posted dueling leads. In addition, the removal of former candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. from ballots in key battleground states like North Carolina is almost certain to benefit Trump; the Democrat-turned-independent endorsed Trump after dropping out in August.
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