Kamala Harris hits back at ‘childless’ attacks on Call Her Daddy podcast: ‘This is not the 1950s anymore’
The vice president slams ‘outdated’ cat lady remarks on popular sex-positive podcast
Vice President Kamala Harris responded to Republican criticisms of her family structure on the popular sex-positive podcast "Call Her Daddy," dismissing the remarks as outdated and emphasizing the diversity of modern families. The comments came in response to Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders' statement last month that "my kids keep me humble" and that "unfortunately, Kamala Harris doesn't have anything keeping her humble." Harris countered, "I feel sorry for [her]. I don't think she understands that there are a whole lot of women out here who, one, are not aspiring to be humble, two, a whole lot of women out here who have a lot of love in their life, family in their life, and children in their life." She further stated that "it's really important for women to lift each other up."
This exchange follows a resurfaced remark from 2021 by Republican Senate candidate JD Vance, who referred to Harris as a "childless cat lady." This comment was widely criticized, with many pointing out its absurdity given Harris' role as a stepmother to her husband Doug Emhoff's children, Ella and Cole. Ella Emhoff herself addressed Vance's comment in August, stating, "How can you be 'childless' when you have cutie pie kids like Cole and I? I love my three parents."
Harris emphasized the multifaceted nature of family on the podcast, stating, "We have our family by blood, and then we have our family by love, and I have both, and I consider it to be a real blessing. And I have two beautiful children, Cole and Ella, who call me Momala. We have a very modern family. My husband's ex-wife is a friend of mine." She continued, "Family comes in many forms and I think that increasingly, all of us understand that this is not the 1950s anymore. Families come in all shapes or forms and they are family nonetheless."
Harris also addressed the Republican vice presidential nominee's original comment that the "entire future of the Democrats is controlled by people without children," questioning its logic and implications. Harris asserted, "I think that most Americans want leaders who understand that the measure of their strength is not based on who you beat down, the real measure of the strength of a leader is based on who you lift up."
The podcast interview also delved into Harris' personal experiences, including her decision to become a prosecutor, which was driven by a desire to protect women, particularly after her friend Wanda was sexually assaulted. This story, which Harris recounted at the Democratic National Convention in August, underscores her commitment to advocating for women's rights.
The conversation with podcast host Alex Cooper also revived a viral moment from 2018 when Harris pressed Brett Kavanaugh during his confirmation hearings about his stances on abortion. Cooper asked Harris the same question she had posed to Kavanaugh: "Can we try to think of any law that gives the government the power to make a decision about a man's body?" Harris responded with a resounding, "No! No. No. No."
Harris' appearance on "Call Her Daddy" offered a platform for her to address personal attacks on her family structure and to champion the evolving understanding of family in modern society. By highlighting the importance of family and its diverse forms, Harris challenged outdated notions of family and leadership, advocating for a more inclusive and progressive vision.
This exchange follows a resurfaced remark from 2021 by Republican Senate candidate JD Vance, who referred to Harris as a "childless cat lady." This comment was widely criticized, with many pointing out its absurdity given Harris' role as a stepmother to her husband Doug Emhoff's children, Ella and Cole. Ella Emhoff herself addressed Vance's comment in August, stating, "How can you be 'childless' when you have cutie pie kids like Cole and I? I love my three parents."
Harris emphasized the multifaceted nature of family on the podcast, stating, "We have our family by blood, and then we have our family by love, and I have both, and I consider it to be a real blessing. And I have two beautiful children, Cole and Ella, who call me Momala. We have a very modern family. My husband's ex-wife is a friend of mine." She continued, "Family comes in many forms and I think that increasingly, all of us understand that this is not the 1950s anymore. Families come in all shapes or forms and they are family nonetheless."
Harris also addressed the Republican vice presidential nominee's original comment that the "entire future of the Democrats is controlled by people without children," questioning its logic and implications. Harris asserted, "I think that most Americans want leaders who understand that the measure of their strength is not based on who you beat down, the real measure of the strength of a leader is based on who you lift up."
The podcast interview also delved into Harris' personal experiences, including her decision to become a prosecutor, which was driven by a desire to protect women, particularly after her friend Wanda was sexually assaulted. This story, which Harris recounted at the Democratic National Convention in August, underscores her commitment to advocating for women's rights.
The conversation with podcast host Alex Cooper also revived a viral moment from 2018 when Harris pressed Brett Kavanaugh during his confirmation hearings about his stances on abortion. Cooper asked Harris the same question she had posed to Kavanaugh: "Can we try to think of any law that gives the government the power to make a decision about a man's body?" Harris responded with a resounding, "No! No. No. No."
Harris' appearance on "Call Her Daddy" offered a platform for her to address personal attacks on her family structure and to champion the evolving understanding of family in modern society. By highlighting the importance of family and its diverse forms, Harris challenged outdated notions of family and leadership, advocating for a more inclusive and progressive vision.