Kamala Harris Condemns Trump’s Cruel Comments on Abortion \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ At an Atlanta rally, Kamala Harris criticized Donald Trump’s remarks about the family of a Georgia woman who died after complications from an abortion pill, calling him “cruel.” She highlighted restrictive abortion laws in Georgia and Trump’s refusal to take accountability. Harris is focusing on abortion rights as a key campaign issue, rallying support for Democrats ahead of the election.
Harris Condemns Trump’s Abortion Remarks: Quick Looks
- Kamala Harris criticized Donald Trump for his “cruel” response to the family of Amber Thurman, a Georgia woman who died after waiting hours for medical treatment.
- Harris is campaigning on abortion rights and seeks to restore national access after Roe v. Wade was overturned.
- Trump’s remarks about the Thurman family during a town hall were a major focus of Harris’ rally speech.
- Harris is pushing voters to cast early ballots and rallied support in Georgia and Michigan, key battleground states for the 2024 election.
- Music stars Usher and Lizzo have joined Harris at campaign events to increase voter turnout and energy.
- The vice president emphasized the importance of early voting, citing former President Jimmy Carter as an example.
Deep Look
Harris’ speech was part of a broader campaign strategy to place abortion rights at the forefront of her pitch to voters. The vice president made a strong connection between the personal tragedy of Thurman’s family and the broader impact of Georgia’s abortion laws, which are some of the most restrictive in the nation. Thurman’s story, now a focal point in one of Harris’ closing campaign ads, underscores her larger political goal of reinstating national access to abortion rights should Democrats secure the White House and enough seats in Congress.
One of the most pointed moments in Harris’ speech came when she addressed a recent comment Trump made during a Fox News town hall. When asked about the Thurman family, who had joined a media call to share their grief and experience, Trump responded with a flippant remark, saying, “We’ll get better ratings, I promise.” Harris seized upon this comment as an example of what she described as Trump’s cruelty, accusing him of making the family’s suffering about himself and his television ratings rather than showing compassion.
“A grieving family, a grieving family, sharing the memory of their daughter with our nation. Where is the compassion?” Harris asked the crowd, her voice filled with emotion. She went on to say, “Donald Trump still refuses to take any accountability for the pain and the suffering he has caused.” Harris framed Trump’s response as emblematic of his larger failure to consider the real-life consequences of his policies, especially those restricting access to healthcare and abortion.
Amber Thurman’s family attended the rally in Atlanta, with her mother holding a photograph of her late daughter in the audience. The emotional resonance of Thurman’s story has become a key part of Harris’ campaign to galvanize voters, particularly those concerned about the erosion of reproductive rights in the United States. Harris and her fellow Democrats are banking on this issue to mobilize voters, particularly women, in key swing states like Georgia.
Early voting is already underway in Georgia, with more than 1.2 million ballots cast so far either by mail or in person. Harris urged voters to follow the example of former President Jimmy Carter, who cast his vote by mail just days after celebrating his 100th birthday. “If Jimmy Carter can vote early, you can too,” Harris said, underscoring the importance of getting to the polls in this crucial election.
The vice president also highlighted how Trump’s policies and the actions of the Supreme Court have deeply affected the lives of ordinary Americans, particularly women. Ian Summer, a 19-year-old voter who attended the rally, echoed these concerns. He had planned to vote against Trump even before Harris became the Democratic nominee, but since Harris entered the race, Summer said her energy has revitalized his enthusiasm for the campaign. He voiced concerns about the future of abortion access under Trump, noting, “The fact that I could have a wife in the future that may not be able to receive the care that she needs, that’s a very scary thing.”
Harris’ campaign efforts also extended to Michigan, where she rallied voters alongside music superstar Lizzo in Detroit. As in Atlanta, the theme of abortion rights and early voting took center stage. Lizzo, a Detroit native, gave an impassioned speech, playfully praising the city’s cultural contributions—from Coney Dogs to Faygo soda to herself—while emphasizing the importance of voting early. “It’s a power move,” the singer told the crowd, adding that she had already cast her ballot for Harris.
In recent weeks, Trump has made disparaging remarks about Detroit during his campaign stops, but Harris and Lizzo used the opportunity to celebrate the city’s rich history and resilience. Harris told the crowd, “Like the people of Detroit, we have grit, we have excellence, we have history.” The vice president’s comments were a clear rebuttal to Trump’s negative characterization of the Motor City.
Harris’ appearance at the Detroit rally was notably casual, with her donning a “Detroit vs. Everybody” T-shirt under her blazer. The shirt, given to her by the owner of the local business that produces them, symbolized her connection to the city and its people. Throughout the rally, Harris eschewed a teleprompter, using a handheld microphone as she moved confidently around the stage. Her message to the crowd was clear: early voting is crucial, and Michigan voters have the power to make history.
Michigan has already seen more than 1 million voters cast their ballots by mail for the upcoming Nov. 5 election, and Harris predicted that early voting turnout in Detroit would break records. “Who is the capital of producing records?” Harris asked the crowd, referring to Detroit’s storied history in the music industry. “We are going to break some records here in Detroit today,” she added, pushing voters to set new highs in early voting participation.
While Harris has garnered widespread support from voters concerned about reproductive rights, the Republican National Committee remains critical of her campaign. RNC Chairman Michael Whatley dismissed Harris’ rallies as distractions, accusing her of relying on celebrity endorsements like Lizzo to cover up what he described as the failures of the Biden administration. According to Whatley, Michiganders were better off economically under Trump, with higher wages and lower prices.
Despite such criticisms, many voters at Harris’ rallies expressed strong support for her campaign. Talona Johnson, a product manager from Rochester, Michigan, said she planned to vote for Harris and saw women’s rights as her top priority. “I believe she’s telling the truth. She’s trying to help the people,” Johnson said, adding that while she might not agree with every policy Harris has proposed, she views her as a far better option than the alternative.
In comments to reporters before her rally in Detroit, Harris emphasized the importance of organizing and registering voters in the final days of the campaign. She praised Detroit as a “great American city” filled with hardworking people and reiterated her respect for the city’s grit and ambition.
As for concerns that the Biden administration’s support for Israel amid its war with Hamas could hurt Harris’ standing with Arab American voters in Michigan, particularly in the Detroit suburb of Dearborn, which has the largest Arab American population in the country, Harris acknowledged the difficulties of Middle East policy. “It has never been easy,” Harris said, “but that doesn’t mean we give up.”
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