Conservative pundit Scott Jennings blamed Democrats' focus on identity politics and transgender issues for Vice President Kamala Harris's waning sympathy among black male voters during CNN's “State of the Union” on Sunday.
“A lot of men think that Democrats care more about guys who want to be women than they do about guys who just want to be guys,” Jennings said. “And no amount of hunting, cosplay, or funny movies will change that. The bed is made.”
Jennings' fellow CNN panelists interrupted him with a resounding “No.”
Since President Joe Biden withdrew from the race, Harris has gained support from more black voters. But it still lags Biden's number of Black voters in the 2020 election, according to a New York Times/Siena College poll of likely Black voters.
Harris currently has 78% support from black voters, Biden has about 90% in 2020 and Hillary Clinton has about 92% in 2016, according to the Times/Siena poll.
In particular, the media noted the lack of support from black men for Harris.
“I mean this morning on the front page of The New York Times, front-page story: Democrats struggling with African-American voters, especially African-Americans,” Jennings said Sunday. “The problem of gender inequality is real.”
The New York Times reported that Harris's support from black male voters had dropped significantly.
Although he performs very well among women – he has about 83% support among black women – according to The New York Times, the vice president only has 70% support among black male voters.
Meanwhile, the report found that Biden had about 85% support among black men in 2020.
The flap appears to be part of a larger gender gap among the parties, especially as young male voters began to join the Republican Party in large numbers and young female voters remained loyal to the Democratic Party.
Former President Barack Obama – Harris' top supporter – recently criticized black male voters for declining support and accused them of sexism.
During a speech Thursday at the Harris campaign's Pittsburgh field office, Obama said he wanted to “tell some truth” about why “all the neighborhoods and communities” weren't showing enthusiasm for the Harris campaign.
He said the problem “seems to be more pronounced with brothers” who “come up with all sorts of reasons and excuses” for not voting for the Democratic candidate.
“You just can't imagine a woman being president,” Obama said.
He urged black male voters to express their support for Harris and reminded them that “the women in our lives have supported us all along.”
Harris responded to the disappointing polls on Monday by unveiling a new “Opportunity Agenda for Black Men” – reminiscent of her “opportunity economy” plan.
The program, aimed at black male voters, promises millions in loans that will forgive black entrepreneurs up to $20,000, as well as cheaper banking options and a new regulatory framework to protect cryptocurrency assets.
Harris also promised to create more apprenticeship opportunities and help more black men become teachers.
Her agenda also includes legalizing marijuana nationwide – because Black men are disproportionately arrested for marijuana possession despite similar use among Black and white people – and creating ways for Black men to take advantage of the industry's resulting business potential.
