MSNBC's Ruhle Defends Harris' Platitudes: "Politicians All Speak in Platitudes

MSNBC host Stephanie Ruhle defended Vice President Kamala Harris' avoidance of questions in her interview, arguing that she is like any other politician who resorts to platitudes. Bill Maher, host of "Real Time," criticized MSNBC's softball interview with Harris.

MSNBC host Stephanie Ruhle has sparked controversy by defending Vice President Kamala Harris' refusal to answer questions directly during an interview. Ruhle argued that Harris is no different from other politicians who often resort to platitudes and general statements when faced with tough questions.

Ruhle's comments came during an interview with former California Governor Jerry Brown on "The Stephanie Ruhle Show." When asked about Harris' performance in the interview, Ruhle said, "She's not running for perfect. She's running against Trump."

MSNBC's Ruhle Defends Harris' Platitudes: "Politicians All Speak in Platitudes

Ruhle argued that Harris is facing the challenge of being a politician and that her approach is not surprising. "We have two choices. And so there are some things you might not know her answer to. And in 2024, unlike 2016 for a lot of the American people, we know exactly what Trump will do, who he is and the kind of threat he is to democracy," Ruhle said.

However, Ruhle's defense of Harris has drawn criticism from some quarters. "Real Time" host Bill Maher took a swipe at MSNBC's interview with Harris during his opening monologue, saying he didn't expect the network to be "rubbing her feet."

MSNBC's Ruhle Defends Harris' Platitudes: "Politicians All Speak in Platitudes

Maher said, "Working to shore up [Harris'] vulnerabilities, there has been a lot of pressure on her. She doesn't do interviews. She doesn't answer [questions]- so she sat for an interview. She said ‘Ok, I will answer your hardball questions.’ So she went on MSNBC."

"There were not-hardball questions, but I still expected not them to be rubbing her feet," Maher added, sparking laughs from his audience.

MSNBC's Ruhle Defends Harris' Platitudes: "Politicians All Speak in Platitudes

MSNBC's interview with Harris has been widely criticized for its lack of substance. Critics argue that Harris failed to provide clear answers to important policy questions, such as how she plans to address inflation and the economy.

Harris' performance in the interview has raised concerns about her ability to connect with voters and inspire confidence in her leadership. Some experts argue that her unwillingness to engage in substantive discussions on policy issues could hurt her chances in the upcoming presidential election.

MSNBC's Ruhle Defends Harris' Platitudes: "Politicians All Speak in Platitudes

In the interview, Harris dodged questions about how she would raise taxes, claiming that it is too complicated an issue to answer directly. She also refused to provide details about her economic agenda, saying that she will need to work with Congress to develop a plan.

Ruhle defended Harris' non-answers, arguing that it is okay for politicians to speak in generalities. "It's complicated, right?" Ruhle exclaimed. "We're a country of 330 million people, our economy is complicated. In the same way — is the economy good or bad? It totally depends! So tariffs, if used in the right places, can work. And one could watch that and say, 'Well, she didn't give a clear, direct answer.' That's okay, because we are not talking about clear or direct issues."

Ruhle's comments have sparked a debate about the role of politicians and the media in addressing complex policy issues. Some argue that it is important for politicians to provide clear and direct answers to voters, while others believe that it is acceptable to speak in generalities and avoid taking firm positions.

The controversy over Harris' interview highlights the challenges facing politicians in an era of increased media scrutiny and public skepticism. As voters demand greater transparency and accountability from their elected officials, politicians may find it increasingly difficult to avoid tough questions and provide clear and concise answers.