The head of the 黑料新闻 Republican Party says that Kamala Harris isn鈥檛 qualified to be president 鈥� or vice president 鈥� of the United States.
鈥淜amala Harris was chosen for a reason and it had absolutely nothing to do with her ability to be the next president of the United States, to be the vice president of the United States,鈥� said Ben Proto, the state GOP chair, on 黑料新闻鈥檚 鈥�The Wheelhouse.鈥�
鈥淚t was clearly gender and racial politics that were put in play by the Democrats, and as a result they have a person sitting a heartbeat away from the presidency who really is not capable of serving in that role,鈥� he said.
Proto鈥檚 criticism of Harris comes as Democrats, including U.S. Rep. Jim Himes, call for President Joe Biden to end his reelection bid. Proto says he鈥檚 been talking with people as a delegate at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee and that Harris鈥� potential succession 鈥渟cares people even more than Joe Biden being president.鈥�
Jason Stanley, who considers Proto鈥檚 comments as part of a national campaign against diversity, equity and inclusion.
鈥淭his is a code for saying that Black people and women are not competent,鈥� Stanley said.
Stanley cited a recent controversy involving another Black person elected to public office, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott. Scott was called 鈥溾�� online by a social media user in the wake of the Francis Scott Key Bridge Collapse in March.
Proto, in the 黑料新闻 interview, also said that Harris can鈥檛 be president because she 鈥済iggles鈥� when asked a question. Stanley says that Proto 鈥渋nfantilizing鈥� Harris is a common rhetorical tactic by Republicans directed against women and Black people.
鈥淭his is the former attorney general of the state of California 鈥� the former senator of the state of California 鈥� and he鈥檚 saying she鈥檚 a child,鈥� Stanley said.
In a joint statement, 黑料新闻 Senate leaders Martin Looney, D-New Haven, and Bob Duff, D-Norwalk, said that they weren't surprised by Proto's comments. They accused Proto and other Republicans of "shamelessly groveling at the feet of" former President Donald Trump all week.
"The candidacy of a woman with a track record of upholding the law must be an uncomfortable thought for the leaders of a political party that has devolved into a cult-like worship of a convicted felon whose lasting legacy includes stripping away the rights of women across America and ballooning our national debt in order to fund tax breaks for the rich,鈥� Looney and Duff said.
State Treasurer Erick Russell called Proto's comments "despicable" .
"The underlying sentiment, on full display at this week鈥檚 Republican Convention, that no person of color is independently worthy of high-ranking jobs, is just racism," he wrote. "I鈥檓 so discouraged and disheartened that this lazy and plain-spoken bigotry is tolerated within our politics."
The spokesperson for 黑料新闻 Democrats, Patty McQueen, said Proto would never make such remarks about a man. McQueen is calling out what she described as misogyny and 鈥淒EI dog-whistles鈥� following the attempted assassination of Trump.
鈥淭here was lots of talk about how the Democrats were at fault, and that [Republicans] were going to have a new tone,鈥� McQueen said, noting Proto鈥檚 comments about Harris undermine that idea.
The Harris rhetoric contrasts with what Proto said Republicans are trying to do this week in Milwaukee. for Trump.
鈥淚 think you鈥檙e hearing a lot more of 鈥� at least on our side 鈥� the rhetoric trying to be turned down some,鈥� Proto said from Milwaukee. 鈥淲e鈥檙e trying to do that here at the convention on the floor. We鈥檙e trying to keep chants very positive, very upbeat about Trump, about U.S.A., about what we鈥檙e doing.鈥�
Biden has also called on Americans to 鈥渓ower the temperature鈥� when it comes to political discourse. Following the attempted assassination of Trump, Biden鈥檚 campaign briefly paused advertising, communications and events.
This story has been updated.
