Squad Member Summer Lee Says Pelosi Wrong That Harris Should Govern From Center: ‘Progressive Ideals’ Are ‘What Average American Wants’

Pennsylvania Democrat Rep. Summer Lee said she does not agree with former Democratic Speaker of the House Rep. Nancy Pelosi that party nominee Vice President Kamala Harris must govern “from the center” if elected in November, saying instead that Americans prefer progressive left ideas and policy.

On the latest edition of Face the Nation from CBS News on Sunday, Lee was asked by anchor Margaret Brennan about Pelosi commenting during the Democratic National Convention that Harris, if elected, would “have to govern from the center because that’s where the public is.”

“I know you are a progressive Democrat,” said Brennan. “Do you think that this pivot to the center, particularly on issues like the border and immigration and crime, are they going to hurt support for the Harris-Walz ticket or is it – what’s required?”

Lee somewhat cautiously said she disagrees “a bit” and that “anecdotal evidence” from around the country indicate it’s better to run “to” not “from progressive ideals.” She added that Republicans are ‘inhumane” and “fear-mongering” about the border and immigration.

When Brennan asked if, therefore, Lee disagreed with Harris endorsing the bipartisan border bill, Lee did not answer directly, instead saying she hopes Democrats can “recognize” the need for “comprehensive’ immigration reform, and then offered some vague commentary on people seeking a better life without interruption from Brennan.

BRENNAN:Congresswoman, you were talking before the break about the need to focus on issues for – for the campaign. This past week former Speaker Pelosi stated Vice President Harris will, quote, “have to govern from the center because that’s where the public is.”

I know you are a progressive Democrat. Do you think that this pivot to the center, particularly on issues like the border and immigration and crime, are they going to hurt support for the Harris-Walz ticket or is it – what’s required?

LEE: Yes. So, I have to say, and I – and I like to hope that we’re able to do this. I have to – I have to disagree a bit. I think that we have data, we have polling, we have anecdotal evidence from American – Americans all over the country, but especially out in Pennsylvania, in a swing state, where we’re not actually asking for our – our candidates to run away from progressive ideals. We’re asking them for – for them to run to them.

You know, there’s this idea that to say that, you know, having health care or an equitable education or even talking about, you know, immigration reform and the border in a humane way is somehow to the left. But I think that that’s what the average American wants. And I think that in too many – in very many ways we’ve ceded ground to Republicans, especially around immigration. They have the tendency of talking about it in incredibly fear mongering and inhumane way. And I don’t think that it’s wise that we join them in that.

I think people want to see us distinguish ourselves as a party. I think they want to see that we offer solutions for working class people, for marginalized people. And I think that we can do that vocally and proudly and still bring people to the party and not have them run away from it.

BRENNAN: OK. So, that means you disagree with the Harris endorsement of the bipartisan border bill, which was a fairly conservative bill, and that’s the policy stated for what the vice president would enact if she’s elected?

LEE: I think that what I’d like to hope – I hope that – what I think so many of us want to see, and not just progressives, I mean even just Democrats, is that we can recognize that we need comprehensive immigration reform. That there are millions of folks in America who are impacted by this. Folks who want to come here for a better life. Who are looking for opportunities. And they are finding that the pathway, the window to achieving those opportunities is shutting, not opening.

We know that in the past there were systems in place that – that created a – an easier pathway for folks to obtain citizenship, for folks to work, for folks to contribute. And that’s what people want now. And I think that we need to be real about the solutions, what’s driving folks to our border.

BRENNAN: Yes.

LEE: And what’s driving folks to want to make a life here in the United States at the same time.

BRENNAN: All right, Congresswoman Lee, thank you for your perspective.

Watch the clip above via CBS News.

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