'Intellectually bottom of the barrel': GOP ignores Johnson’s plea as reps attack Harris

Although House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) is enthusiastically supporting Donald Trump in the United States' 2024 presidential race, he has cautioned fellow Republicans to be careful in the way they criticize presumptive Democratic nominee Kamala Harris. The speaker has warned against using racist or sexist language to attack her.

Regardless, right-wing pundit Larry Kudlow — during an appearance on Fox Business — said of Harris, "Her whole history is DEI: diversity, exclusion and equity."

DEI stands for "diversity, equity and inclusion." And Kudlow's critics are calling out that attack as a racist and sexist dog whistle.

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On X, formerly Twitter, journalist Aaron Rupar commented, "That's code for she's a black woman."

Far-right Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-Wyoming) used a "DEI" attack on Harris as well, saying, "Intellectually, (she's) just really kind of the bottom of the barrel…. I think she was a DEI hire. And I think that that's what we're seeing, and I just don't think that they have anybody else."

Meanwhile, National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) Chairman Richard Hudson (R-North Carolina) is, like Johnson, urging Republicans to stick to policy-based criticism of Harris. And Johnson fears that racist or sexist language could backfire on Republicans.

The Associated Press' Lisa Mascaro, in an article published on July 23, explains, "The warnings point to the new risks for Republicans in running against a Democrat who would become the first woman, first Black woman and first person of South Asian decent to win the White House. Trump, in particular, has a history of racist and misogynistic attacks that could turn off key groups of swing voters, including suburban women, as well as voters of color and younger people Trump's campaign has been courting."

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Mascaro adds, "The admonitions came after some members and Trump allies began to cast Harris, a former district attorney, attorney general and senator, as a 'DEI' hire — a reference to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives."

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Read the Associated Press' full report at this link.