Once Again, People Are Not Sure Exactly What the Vice President is Talking About

Somewhere in the puzzling mind of Vice President Kamala Harris racial and economic injustice connect with climate change. 

The vice president said at a forum that the Biden Administration would focus on “communities of color” when giving out aid related to climate change.

The message was in response to a question from actress Priyanka Chopra Jonas at the Democratic National Committee Women’s Leadership Forum on Friday. Jonas was asking about aid in Florida in response to Hurricane Ian. 

“It is our lowest income communities and our communities of color that are most impacted by these extreme conditions, and impacted by issues that are not of their own making,” said Harris.

“And women!” interjected Jonas.

“Absolutely,” Harris agreed.

“And so we have to address this in a way that is about giving resources based on equity, understanding that we fight for equality but we also need to fight for equity, understanding not everyone starts out in the same place, and if we want people to be in an equal place sometimes we have to take into account those disparities, and do that work,” Harris continued.

The comments from the vice president were posted on Twitter and writers just were not sure whether she was talking about the needs from the Hurricane or was she talking about U.S. efforts to address climate change globally.

Christina Pushaw is the rapid response director for Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. She made it clear that aid was being distributed without any racial bias. 

“This is false. @VP’s rhetoric is causing undue panic and must be clarified. FEMA Individual Assistance is already available to all Floridians impacted by Hurricane Ian, regardless of race or background,” she tweeted.

“The areas impacted in SWFL are not particularly minority areas. They are getting help based on need not based on race,” she noted in a second tweet.