In a rousing speech in Chicago, where Oprah Winfrey has spent decades filming her television show, the legendary anchor rallied Democrats behind Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, telling a packed convention hall that “this election is not about us and them.” It’s you and me and what we want our future to look like.”
His speech praised Harris and Waltz, saying, “Common sense tells you that Kamala Harris and Tim Waltz can give us decency and respect.”
But Winfrey also made several digs, citing former President Donald Trump and his running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance. Vance’s statement about “childless cat ladies” in 2021 He runs the Democratic Party.
“Some people think we’re not that different from our neighbors. When a house is on fire, we don’t ask the race or religion of the homeowner. We don’t care who their partner is or how they vote. No, we try to do the best we can to save them,” Winfrey said. before adding, “If this place belongs to a childless woman, we’re trying to get that cat out, too.”
In his speech, he continued to reflect on Harris’ life and path to the Democratic nomination, telling the excited crowd, “Someone at school and at home did a wonderful job of showing this young lady how to challenge people. give strength to the people above and below.”
“Soon and very soon,” Winfrey continued, “we will teach our daughters and our sons how this child of an Indian mother and a Jamaican father grew up to be the 47th President of the United States of America.”
The former TV host and producer has been involved in Democratic politics for years, most recently supporting President Joe Biden and Harris in 2020, and supports the Democrats Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman In key Senate races in 2022.
In her address Wednesday, she told the story of Tessie Prevost Williams and paid tribute to the leading black women who came before her and Harris. who died last monthand the rest of the “New Orleans Four” – the kids who united the New Orleans school system in 1960.
“Tessie passed away six weeks ago, and I’m telling the story tonight to honor her,” Winfrey said, before linking Prevost Williams to Harris attending school in California.
“[The New Orleans Four] they overcame obstacles and paid dearly for it,” she said. “But the grace, courage and bravery of women like Tessie Prevost Williams paved the way for another young girl to integrate into the second grade nine years later. public schools in Berkeley, California.”