WASHINGTON: US Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance is learning the hard way that the Internet not only loves cats, but also childless cat women, as comments surfaced in which he claimed He said that those who do not have children are not suitable for government.
In a 2021 clip, Vance told Fox News of now-Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris, among others, that those who haven't fertilized, especially “childless cat ladies,” are “unfortunate” and don't have a “direct counterpart.” . in country.
The comments have sparked a firestorm of scorn and accusations that the father-of-three represents an out-of-touch republican mindset that has no place in the modern age.
“It would be funny if it wasn't so sad,” Minnesota Gov. Tim Walls told MSNBC, adding, “My God, they went after the 'Cat People,' good luck!”
If Harris, who has two adopted children, defeats former Republican President Donald Trump in November's election, she will become not only the first female president, but also the first black and Asian woman, putting her at risk. A number of attacks have been placed along the population. lines
While several Republicans have raised her lack of biological children as an issue, the “KHive” has defended her online fan base through memes, outrage and supportive posts, including celebrities, politicians and family members.
An angry Jennifer Aniston pointed out her infertility, which the actress has talked about in the past, while comedian and talk show host Whoopi Goldberg asked her, “Now, what the hell?”
In the clip, which resurfaced in 2021, Vance, then a candidate for the U.S. Senate from Ohio, tells Fox's Tucker Carlson that the United States is run by “a bunch of childless cat ladies who are miserable in their lives and the choices they've made.” are. So they want to make the rest of the country miserable as well.”
“It's just a basic fact — you look at Kamala Harris, Pete Buttigieg, the AOC — the entire future of the Democrats is controlled by people without children,” Vance said.
And how is it logical that we entrust our country to people who really have no direct stake in it?
Buttigieg, who is the US secretary of transportation and adopted two children that same year, told CNN the comments were hurtful given the adoption failures he was dealing with at the time.
“He couldn't have known that, but maybe that's why you shouldn't talk about other people's children,” Buttigieg said.
Harris has two adopted children, Cole and Ella, with her husband, Doug Emhoff, and her first wife.
Their mother, Christine Emhoff, told CNN in a statement that the attacks on Harris were “baseless.”
“For over 10 years, since Cole and Ella were teenagers, Kamala has been a co-parent to Doug and me,” she said.
“I love our blended family and am grateful to have her in it.”
Ella, 25, who refers to Harris as “Momala,” meanwhile wrote on Instagram that “I love my three parents.”
“How can you be a 'kid' when you have beautiful children like me and Cole.”
Harris fans are quick to point out that no US president has ever physically given birth, since they've all been men. A handful have also never produced children.
Among them was George Washington, the first American president who, like Harris, helped raise his wife's children from a previous marriage.
Meghan McCain, daughter of the late Republican Sen. John McCain, warned that Vance's comments would “activate women on all sides, including Trump's most conservative friends.”
The focus on politicians' children comes as reproductive health and abortion access — issues Harris has championed — take center stage in this year's election.
Political leaders should have children. Surely they should at least get married.
“If you do not govern or cannot govern a family yourself, how can you relate to a field of families or govern wisely with regard to future generations?” He said.
In a speech in 2021, Vance went so far as to suggest that people with children should have more votes.
“When you go to the polls as a parent in this country, you should have more power,” he said in quotes discovered by The Washington Post. , maybe you shouldn't sound nearly the same.”
Vance's campaign has since dismissed the comments as a “thought experiment.”
