As Democrats largely coalesce around Kamala Harris as their presidential nominee, some politicians and pundits on the right have resorted to racist dog whistles in their attacks on the vice president, a Black and South Asian American woman.
Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., called Harris a “DEI hire.”
Rep. Glenn Grothman, R-Wis., claimed that many Democrats feel they must support Harris’ candidacy “because of her ethnic background.”
Sen. JD Vance of Ohio, Donald Trump’s running mate, said Harris does not feel “grateful” for the country.
Sen. JD Vance of Ohio, Donald Trump’s running mate, said Harris does not feel “grateful” for the country. “I never hear that gratitude come through when I listen to Kamala Harris,” Vance said at a rally in Ohio.
Former Trump White House adviser Kellyanne Conway suggested that Harris is inarticulate and lazy, two pervasive negative stereotypes that are used to disparage Black Americans. “She does not speak well, she does not work hard, she doesn’t inspire anyone,” Conway said.
The ugly attacks on Harris started even before President Joe Biden dropped out of the race Sunday and endorsed her to run in his place. As Democrats began openly defecting after Biden’s debate performance and the discussion about who would replace him at the top of the ticket ramped up, so did the claim that Harris was only in her position because of identity politics, and not because she earned the spot on her merits.
The New York Post recently published a column by Fox Business senior correspondent Charles Gasparino, who warned about Harris becoming the country’s “first DEI president.” In a way, these Republicans are following the example that their standard-bearer has set. Sebastian Gorka, a former Trump White House aide and a prominent figure on the right, echoed a similar insult shortly after: “She’s a DEI hire, right? She’s a woman! She’s colored! Therefore, she’s got to be good.” In a way, these Republicans are following the example that their standard-bearer has set. Trump, the GOP presidential nominee, has called people of color “animals” and elevated racist conspiracy theories against nonwhite opponents — including fellow Republicans. He has attacked the appearance of some women while sexualizing others. Trump has also attacked Harris personally. In 2020, after Biden picked her as his running mate, Trump helped fuel a false, racist “birther” conspiracy theory about her and also called her a “monster,” “nasty” and “the meanest, the most horrible, most disrespectful of anybody in the U.S. Senate.” More recently, he has mocked her laughter and tried to put down her intelligence.
Clarissa-Jan Lim is a breaking news reporter for MS NOW. She was previously a senior reporter and editor at BuzzFeed News.
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