CNN contributor and former Obama adviser David Axelrod told analysts to remain “clear-eyed” about “racism” and “sexism” as a reason for Vice President Kamala Harris’s defeat to former President Donald Trump in the presidential election.
Trump was declared the winner by most outlets over Harris early Wednesday, after a historic political comeback that will see him return to the Oval office in January.
In the post-election night analysis, Axelrod was hesitant to blame Harris’ loss entirely on prejudice but said that anyone who doesn’t think “racial bias” or “sexism” impacted the outcome was “wrong.”
“There were appeals to racism in this campaign, and there is racial bias in this country and there is sexism in this country, and anybody who thinks that that did not in any way impact on the outcome of this race is wrong,” Axelrod said.
“I am not saying that was the main reason that Kamala Harris lost and Donald Trump won,” he said, noting that the Trump “ran, honestly, strategically,” and a “very smart campaign.”
“It was ultimately a rational, well-conceived and well-executed campaign for an often irrational candidate, and they overcame him to sell his message or the message that they thought he should be selling to the country,” Axelrod said.
“But let‘s not confuse what this was and wasn‘t,” he added. “Let‘s be very clear-eyed about it.”
Co-panalest Van Jones echoed Axelrod’s frustration, explaining that there were limitations for candidates of color.
“There is a license that [Trump] had to just be a fool, just to be an obnoxious ass to everyone,” Jones continued, saying that for candidates lacking “that phenotype,” such behavior is unthinkable.
Jones suggested that despite Harris’ qualifications as a prosecutor, senator and vice president, her defeat reflects society’s bias.
“She is not Oprah or Beyoncé,” he concluded.
