Despite the backlash over Sen. J.D. Vance’s controversial comments about “childless cat ladies,” the rhetoric has resurfaced within the GOP, with Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders becoming the latest Republican to take aim at those without children. During a rally ahead of Donald Trump’s town hall in Flint, Michigan, on Tuesday, Sanders made a pointed comment about Vice President Kamala Harris, hinting at her lack of biological children.
“My kids keep me humble,” Sanders said before launching her attack. “Unfortunately, Kamala Harris doesn’t have anything keeping her humble,” she added, alluding to the fact that Harris doesn’t have children of her own. However, Harris is a stepmother to two children, Cole and Ella Emhoff, through her marriage to Doug Emhoff.
Sanders’ remark follows the recent resurfacing of Vance’s criticism of childless leaders. In a July 2021 interview on Fox News, Vance accused “childless cat ladies” of governing the nation, claiming they are “miserable in their own lives and the decisions they’ve made” and aim to spread that misery. He specifically named Vice President Harris, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, suggesting that the future of the Democratic Party is “controlled by people without children,” whom he argued lack a “direct stake” in the country’s future.
The comments have drawn widespread condemnation, even catching the attention of pop star Taylor Swift, who posted a playful photo with her cat while endorsing Harris, a subtle jab at Vance’s remarks. On Tuesday evening, Chris Hayes, host of All In on MSNBC, addressed the issue, noting that Sanders’ attack on Harris seemed to indicate that these jabs against childless individuals are not merely political tactics but reflect a deeper ideological contempt within the GOP.
“I’ll say this: at this point, this isn’t some savvy political calculation: they genuinely, as an ideological matter, have contempt for people without children,” Hayes wrote on X (formerly Twitter). In a lighter moment, Hayes also poked fun at Sanders’ statement about humility, commenting, “also kinda funny to brag about how humble you are!”
The resurgence of these personal attacks has sparked a broader conversation about the role of parenthood in politics, with critics questioning why childless individuals are being singled out and targeted for their personal choices.