The White House on Thursday denounced as “abhorrent” the growing sexist and racist attacks on Vice President Kamala Harris that have intensified after she became the Democratic Party’s presumptive presidential nominee.
“I think it’s desperate. I think it’s disgusting and I think it’s a dog whistle. We shouldn’t forget she’s the vice president of the United States. She should have that respect. She’s been doing this job with the president for almost four years,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters at her daily news conference.
When asked about the rise in racist and sexist attacks against Harris, Jean-Pierre said, “She is a former senator and has been a key partner in restarting the economy and making sure that we deal with the pandemic. And it’s obviously disgusting to hear that.” Harris is of Indian and African descent.
It escalated to such a level that House Speaker Mike Johnson had to ask his Republican lawmakers to refrain from such attacks.
“When the speaker of the House, obviously he’s a Republican, and this is something you’ve all reported on, held a meeting to tell Republican leaders to stop being racist, to stop being misogynistic, to stop being sexist, I think that says a lot that they should be told not to do that,” Jean-Pierre said.
According to Politico, “House Republican leaders told lawmakers to focus on criticising Vice President Kamala Harris’ record without reference to her race and gender, following sharp comments by some Republicans attacking her on the basis of identity.” At an election rally in North Carolina, former US President and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump had said that Vice President Harris is “unfit to govern” and described her as a “radical left-wing lunatic”.
“For three and a half years, Lean Kamala Harris has been the ultra-liberal driving force behind every single Biden disaster. She is a radical left wing lunatic who would destroy our country if she ever got the chance to get into office. We will not let that happen,” Trump said Wednesday and launched a barrage of attacks against her.
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