Presidential hopeful Nikki Haley found herself at the center of a social media firestorm after making a tweet that implied her reservations about Kamala Harris becoming President of the United States. Here’s the whole story.
“The Media Needs To Stop Protecting Biden and Tell America the Truth”
The tweet, posted on Sunday, August 27, ignited a heated debate and led to accusations of racism and political opportunism.
Haley wrote, “Everyone in America can see Joe Biden’s decline and have concerns about his ability to serve a second term. They know a vote for Joe Biden is a vote for Kamala Harris. The media needs to stop protecting Biden and tell America the truth.”
The tweet immediately drew responses from various corners of social media, with one of the most prominent critics being writer Jemele Hill from The Atlantic.
Hill accused Haley of playing on racial fears, suggesting that Haley’s words were rooted in an appeal to racists who might be uncomfortable with a multiracial woman potentially becoming the president.
“OH MY GOD, A BLACK WOMAN MIGHT BE PRESIDENT IF YOU DON’T VOTE FOR ME”
Hill tweeted, “So part of the reason racism is such a terrible sickness in this country is because politicians like this know they can rally a certain base with the fear of OH MY GOD, A BLACK WOMAN MIGHT BE PRESIDENT IF YOU DON’T VOTE FOR ME.”
Hill expressed concern that such rhetoric could incite hatred from certain sections of the population.
“Then we want to act all surprised when the most hateful part of the base decides they need to act out on their feelings of hatred,” she added.
However, Haley’s background, being of South Asian descent, led to a nuanced discussion on social media.
If the Vice President Were a White Man, Haley Likely Wouldn’t Have Made the Same Comments
Journalist Andrew Neil highlighted the diverse backgrounds of both Harris and Haley, suggesting that the criticism based solely on race might not fully apply.
Neil wrote, “Nikki Haley’s parents were immigrant Sikhs from Punjab, India. Kamala Harris’ mother was an immigrant Tamil Indian (who became a distinguished biologist). I fail to see what race has to do with Ms. Haley’s remark.””
As the debate continued, some users defended Haley, arguing that she hadn’t explicitly mentioned race in her tweet.
Hill suggested that if the vice president were a white man, Haley likely wouldn’t have made the same comments.
“She Knows What She’s Doing and It’s Sick”
Hill wrote, “If the vice president had been a white guy named Tim Harris then Haley likely wouldn’t have made the comments at all. She knows what she’s doing and it’s sick.”
Haley’s criticisms of Vice President Harris are not new. She has consistently expressed her opposition to Harris potentially becoming president.
In an interview with Maria Bartiromo, Haley voiced her concerns about Harris’s potential presidency: “My concern is we cannot have Kamala Harris as president. We can’t change this.”
She further emphasized the need for a new generation of leaders to appeal to a broad range of voters, including Republicans, independents, suburban women, Hispanics, and the Asian community.
“If the Truth Hurts, Call It Racism”
Several social media users expressed their thoughts on the incident. One user wrote, “If the truth hurts, call it racism.”
Another user commented, “So if I do not want Harris as president, it is because I am a racist? Doesn’t it have to do with her poor diplomatic skills and pathetic leadership skills?”
The post Haley’s Bombshell Tweet Sparks Outrage! Is America Bracing for a Harris Takeover? first appeared on The Net Worth Of.
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Source: OK Magazine