Carlson Hits Back at Sanders’ Childless Remarks, Calls GOP Rhetoric ‘Full-Court Offensive’
(CNN)
Journalist and women’s rights activist Gretchen Carlson fired back at Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders for her recent attack on Vice President Kamala Harris. Sanders suggested that Harris has nothing keeping her “humble” because she doesn’t have biological children. Carlson, an advocate known for her #MeToo activism, revealed her theory on what’s fueling the GOP’s “offensive” strategy.
Harris is the stepmother to two children, Cole and Ella Emhoff, through her marriage to Doug Emhoff. Carlson argued that step-parents, like Harris, deserve more recognition for their role. “That’s probably more difficult in some cases than if you actually have your own biological children,” she said during an interview with CNN’s Anderson Cooper.
She also emphasized that this toxic rhetoric “starts at the top” and gradually filters down to others. Drawing on her experience working for former Fox News chairman Roger Ailes, Carlson explained how toxic behavior becomes normalized when it’s modeled by influential figures. “I would know something about this having worked for Roger Ailes at Fox News,” she noted.
Carlson expressed little surprise that Trump allies have embraced such rhetoric, linking it to the environment fostered by the former president. “They’ve watched him have absolutely no repercussions for saying crazy things, and now they say the same thing,” she said.
The activist also offered her take on the strategy behind these comments, theorizing that it’s a deliberate attempt to fire up Trump’s most loyal supporters. According to Carlson, these attacks play directly to the MAGA base. “I think the strategy right now is full-court press. Say all the offensive things. There have been no repercussions,” she explained. Carlson believes this approach is designed to energize Trump’s core voters, as the outcome of the election may hinge on voter turnout.
In her view, the remaining undecided voters aren’t likely to follow every inflammatory statement closely or feel personally offended, making the GOP’s aggressive rhetoric an effort to mobilize their base rather than persuade new voters. “Turnout will decide this election,” Carlson concluded.
