After the Republican presidential campaign turned to race-based attacks on Democratic presumptive nominee Kamala Harris, many of the nation’s top Republican leaders are cautioning against the new tactic, urging Presidential Nominee Donald Trump and Vice Presidential Nominee J.D. Vance to focus on the policy differences rather than race-based attacks.
Trump’s Remarks at Black Journalists Event
Trump said this week at a National Association of Black Journalists event, “I’ve known [Harris] a long time indirectly. Not directly very much. She was always of Indian heritage. And she was only promoting Indian heritage.”
“I didn’t know she was Black until several years ago when she happened to turn Black. And now she wants to be known as a Black. So I don’t know, is she Indian or Black?” Harris claims both Indian and Jamaican heritage.
Harris’s Response to the Attacks
Harris responded to the line of attack, saying, “It was the same old show. The divisiveness and the disrespect. We deserve a leader who understands that our differences do not divide us; they are essential to our strength.”
Senate Republican Whip Calls for Focus on Issues
Senate Republican Whip John Thune from South Dakota, who is running to replace Minority Leader Mitch McConnell at the top of the GOP Conference, said, “The campaign is, needs to be, must be about the issues, and there’s plenty to talk about. I think that’s where the focus needs to be. That’s how we’re going to win in November.”
Republican Leaders Warn Against Identity Politics
Trump’s remarks came days after it was reported that Republican leaders in Congress, such as House Speaker Mike Johnson, were warning their colleagues to avoid making arguments based on diversity, equity, and inclusion identity politics. No matter the target of the attacks, they will not be well-received by the general electorate.
Response from Democratic Leaders
Immediately following Trump’s remarks at the Black Journalists event, Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock, a Black Democrat, said, “I’ll tell you what it’s not: It’s not surprising. This is who Donald Trump is. This is the politics of insult, revenge, resentment, and retribution, and I suspect we’ll hear that until November.”
Senator Warnock Defends Harris
Senator Warnock continued, “I think the people of America will reject that at the end of the day. They know what Kamala Harris represents. Here’s a woman who is the daughter of a Jamaican man and an East-Asian immigrant mother.”
“She went to Howard University. She’s married to a Jewish man. She embodies in her life story the American covenant, E Pluribus Unum, out of many, one. Donald Trump doesn’t understand that.”
Concerns from Republican Operatives
Top Republican operatives are concerned about the turn of arguments against Harris. Political pundit Scott Jennings said the line of attack is detrimental to Republican prospects in November up and down the ballot.
Pundit Says Trump “Crapped the Bed” With Comments
“He did crap the bed,” said Jennings on a CNN segment, “The only question is whether he’s going to roll around in it or get up and change the sheets.”
Trump Praised for Unscripted Participation in Conference
Despite the imprudent line of attacks, according to Jennings, Trump deserves credit for appearing at the event to answer questions from the crowd, many of which may not support Trump’s candidacy.
Harris Not In Attendance at Conference for Black Journalists
Harris did not attend the event, reportedly due to schedule conflicts resulting from her new Presidential candidacy.
Trump and Vance Double Down
Despite condemnation and caution from many quarters, the Trump ticket does not heed the correction. Trump doubled down by posting on social media resurfaced clips from a 2019 TV segment in which Harris was filmed cooking with actress Mindy Kaling, also Indian American.
Trump Attacks “Crazy Kamala” for 2019 Cooking Video With Indian American Celebrity
Trump said of the video, “Crazy Kamala is saying she’s Indian, not Black. This is a big deal. Stone cold phony. She uses everybody, including her racial identity!”
JD Vance Joins Attacks, Calls Them “Hysterical”
Trump’s running mate, J.D. Vance, has referred to Trump’s attacks on Harris’s race as “hysterical.”
He said, “I think he pointed out Kamala Harris’s fundamental chameleon-like nature. She’s flip-flopped on every issue. She’s fake. She’s phony. And I think our whole campaign is going to have a very fun time pointing that out. And it sounds like the President kicked us off in stride.” Vance’s wife is Indian American, as are his children.
