Wyoming Rep. Harriet Hageman criticized Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday, referring to her as a “DEI hire.”
These comments came after President Joe Biden announced on Sunday that he would not seek reelection. Biden quickly endorsed Harris as his preferred Democratic presidential nominee.
In a video posted on X, Hageman stated that she believes Harris is “one of the weakest candidates I’ve ever seen in the history of our country.”
“Intellectually, she is really at the bottom of the barrel… I believe she was a DEI hire. And I think that’s what we’re witnessing, and I simply don’t believe they have anyone else,” she continued.
The Wyoming Democratic Delegation endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday for the 2024 Democratic presidential nomination, and on Wednesday, the party denounced Hageman’s statement, calling her remarks racist.
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“It took only three days for Harriet Hageman to disgrace herself on national television by launching a reprehensible and racist attack on Vice President Kamala Harris. Her baseless and offensive remarks, suggesting that Vice President Harris is stupid, unqualified, and a “DEI hire,” are not only false but also represent the thread of racism that has become common among right-wing extremists,” a press release from the party states.
“We call on Harriet Hageman to issue a full and sincere apology for her appalling behavior. Her comments are a stain on our political landscape, and she must take responsibility.”
The Democratic National Convention — where Harris is expected to become the nominee — is scheduled for Aug. 19-22 in Chicago. Hageman told the Star-Tribune that Harris’ appointment as vice president was a fulfillment of a promise made by Biden.
“Joe Biden said he was going to hire a black female, and that’s what he did. Take it up with him,” she said. “As far as Wyoming is concerned, Kamala Harris is anti-life, anti-oil, gas, and coal, and anti-meat consumption — none of which align with Wyoming.” Hageman is just one of several lawmakers who has referred to Harris as a “DEI hire.”
Tennessee Rep. Tim Burchett and Wisconsin Rep. Glenn Grothman have made similar comments regarding Harris’ race, according to media reports.
In a press release following Biden’s announcement, Hageman expressed that Democrats now face “a catastrophe of their own making” and that she is confident that any candidate put forward by the party will be “demolished by President Trump in November.”
“It has long been apparent that Joe Biden has no business running a popsicle stand, let alone the most powerful nation on Earth,” Hageman said. “His decision to withdraw from the race is the right one, but it is not the only such decision he should make: He should now resign from the presidency itself.”
