Valerie Jarrett Reacts to Kamala Harris’ Candidacy For VP

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR: Obviously, before she forcefully endorsed him, and now has accepted the vice-presidential ticket, everybody was talking about that moment in the first debate, when there was a bit of tension over the issue, as I said, of segregation and bussing. Let’s just play the sound bite.

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SEN. KAMALA HARRIS (D-CA):  It was hurtful to hear you talk about the reputations of two United States senators, who built their reputations and career on the segregation of race in this country. And it was not only that but you, also worked with them to oppose bussing. And, you know, there was a little girl in California, who was part of the second class to integrate her public schools, and she was bussed to school every day. And that little girl was me.

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AMANPOUR: So, Valerie Jarrett, up close, tell me the strengths and weaknesses of that kind of exchange, now that they’re in it together, as a team.

VALERIE JARRETT, FORMER SENIOR ADVISER TO BARACK OBAMA: Look, I think what it — the fact that Vice President Biden selected Senator Harris shows that he is a bigger man. He doesn’t have a thin skin. He doesn’t hold grudges. He looked at the strength of her character, her track record, her accomplishments, her service, both on the Senate, on the Judiciary Committee, the Intelligence Committee, and he reached the conclusion that she would be the right partner. And I think that’s what we want. We want somebody who isn’t just so sensitive that they forget what’s important. And, that is, how we lead this country. How we move beyond this horrendous pandemic that has cost us over 160,000 lives in the United States alone, and counting. How do we heal our racial wounds that have been festering for far too long? How do we close the health disparities? How do we rebuild our economy? They are going to have a lot on their plate, come January 20th. And he wanted to make sure he had somebody who was up for that job, who was ready on day one. And a little, minor skirmish in a campaign means nothing to him. And his selection of her proves that.