Additional Coverage:
- It took less than 24 hours for the attacks on Kamala Harris to get deeply sexist and extremely ugly (newsbreak.com)
Vice President Kamala Harris has come under a wave of sexist and racist critiques following President Joe Biden’s official backing of her presidential candidacy.
After targeting Biden with derogatory labels like old and senile, Republican figures are now scrutinizing Harris’s racial, gender, and immigrant heritage. Such discrimination, experts suggest, is often anticipated in heated political contests.
Rep. Tim Burchett from Tennessee bluntly categorized Harris as a lackluster “DEI hire” during an interview with CNN.
Another GOP member, Rep. Glenn Grothman of Wisconsin, suggested the Democratic Party supports Harris solely due to her ethnic background.
Conservative commentator Paul Ingrassia falsely stated that Harris, who was born in Oakland, California, is not a “natural-born citizen.” This claim misrepresents her eligibility to run for president under the U.S. Constitution.
Moreover, Harris has been the target of sexist allegations, including baseless accusations by far-right blogger Laura Loomer, who called her an “escort” and alluded to past relationships with influential figures which have been misrepresented.
Historically, Harris has faced similar maligned characterizations. In 2021, senate candidate JD Vance pejoratively called her a “childless cat lady,” despite her being a stepmother.
Political experts believe such attacks will not sway undecided voters and are more likely to solidify the GOP base. Professors Thomas Hollihan and Costas Panagopoulos noted that while such attacks are expected, they generally offend many voters who anticipate higher standards from political discourse.
Experts also expressed that attacks on Harris might be harsher compared to what Hillary Clinton faced in 2016 due to the intertwining of racial and gender biases.