In a recent interview with MSNBC’s Jen Psaki, California Senator Laphonza Butler robustly defended Vice President Kamala Harris against a barrage of racist and sexist attacks, notably from figures like JD Vance.
Butler’s impassioned statements highlight her support for Harris and reflect the broader coalition rallying behind the Vice President.
“It is not the Vice President’s first rodeo,” Butler remarked, underscoring Harris’s extensive experience in leadership roles. “Every occasion that she has had to lead on behalf of the American people or the people of California, she has leaned right into it. And so in her words, to those that are name-calling already, who were making dismissive, sexist, racist statements, bring it on.”
Butler stated the importance of Harris’s resilience and the support she garners from diverse communities nationwide:
“The people of this country are tired of mediocrity being their only option. We have in this moment the opportunity to do something great, to show women and girls, young men, the next level of excellence for this country,” Butler asserted. “And what I say to them is, bring it. Because we are not new to this. We are true to this.”
When questioned about JD Vance’s derogatory comments, Butler did not hold back:
“I find his comments derogatory and dismissive. They are representative of, frankly, the extreme right wing of his party, exclusionary and yet another category of people who simply don’t belong in the American electorate and in the fabric of our country,” she said. “If they are going to continue to tell groups that they don’t belong — women who don’t have children, LGBTQ communities — that electorate is going to get smaller and smaller. And what we have to do is throw the doors of this democracy wide open and create a space for everyone.”
Butler’s strong stance is further supported by her extensive background in advocacy and leadership roles, including her work with labor organizations and pro-choice women’s groups.
“What I look forward to is the telling of the story of California that truly does encompass the totality of America. In order to be a successful elected official in California, you have to be able to bring people together,” she said to highlight the state’s diversity as a microcosm of the nation.
The coalition forming in support of Harris is broad and inclusive, comprising Black women, Latina women, API women, the LGBTQ community, and more.
Butler highlighted the collective effort to reject the divisive rhetoric prevalent in today’s political climate:
“It’s incredible the kind of coalition that is coming together to reject the vision of hate that is being put forth, to reject the vision of division, and coming forward to bring a new story.”
Butler’s message is clear: the support for Kamala Harris is strong, resilient, and ready to face any challenge head-on.
