Tim Walz says Harris chose him for VP to ‘code talk to white guys’ – Washington Examiner
During a recent forum at Harvard Kennedy School, minnesota Governor Tim Walz commented on being selected as Vice President Kamala Harris’s running mate for the 2024 election. He stated that he was chosen becuase he could effectively communicate with white male voters, humorously describing it as his ability too “code talk to white guys.” Walz highlighted his achievements in Minnesota while acknowledging that the campaign had shortcomings, particularly in swing states.
In the discussion, he asserted that while he and Harris offered a strong platform for progressive policies, their messaging could have been broader. Walz expressed confidence in their qualifications, contrasting Harris’s capabilities with those of former President Donald Trump. He emphasized the need for Democrats to diversify their interaction approaches to connect better with voters. Additionally, he addressed critiques of his masculinity and public persona, asserting his authenticity and the misguided focus of some of his opponents on his character.
Tim Walz says Harris chose him for VP to ‘code talk to white guys’
Minnesota Governor and former Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz continued his national “listening tour” at a Harvard Kennedy School forum, where he explained that Vice President Kamala Harris selected him as her 2024 running mate to help “code talk to white guys.”
“I would argue because we did a lot of amazing progressive things in Minnesota that improved people’s lives, but I also was on the ticket, quite honestly, you know, because I could code talk to white guys watching football fixing their truck, doing that, that I could put them at ease,” Walz said to the audience Monday night.
“I was the permission structure to say, look, you can do this and vote for this,” he added.
Walz acknowledged the campaign’s shortcomings, saying, “If you look across those swing states, with the exception of Minnesota, we didn’t get enough of those votes.”
Pressed by moderator Brittany Shepherd, a national political reporter for ABC News, on whether his messaging should have gone beyond the campaign trail and onto television, Walz responded with characteristic bluntness.
“I understand myself. I think I’ll give you pretty good stuff, but I’ll also give you 10% problematic,” he said. “Someone has to make the call on what to put out there. Those are just decisions that were made, and I don’t think it’s fair to second-guess them after the fact.”
He went on to praise his former running mate, saying, “We had the most qualified person to ever run for president at the top of the ticket. That alone should’ve been enough to win.”
Walz also took a swipe at President Donald Trump, contrasting their qualifications. “I think history will prove me right — there was a very unqualified person on the other side. And we had to decide how to make that case. Was it worth calling him ‘weird’? Or was it better to pitch that we’re different — that our policies would actually improve people’s lives?”
He stressed that Democrats are broadening their communication strategy across more platforms to better connect with voters.
“There’s room for Gavin Newsom’s podcast, and there’s room for Bernie Sanders’ rallies,” Walz said.
In March, Walz made headlines for comments about his masculinity during an appearance on Newsom’s podcast, claiming conservatives are threatened by his image.
“I think I scare them a little bit, [which is] why they spend so much time on me,” Walz said. Newsom laughed, and Walz continued, “No, I’m serious — because they know I can fix a truck. They know I’m not bulls—ting on this.”
Walz has emphasized his background as a football coach and avid hunter on the campaign trail, but he’s also faced ridicule from the right. Critics have dubbed him “Tampon Tim,” mocking both his advocacy for menstrual product access in schools and his sometimes awkward public appearances.
CAITLYN JENNER TAKES JABS AT TIM WALZ AFTER GOVERNOR BRAGS ABOUT MASCULINITY
Among those who responded was Caitlyn Jenner, the former Olympian and transgender advocate, who posted on X: “I am more ‘masculine’ than this (clown emoji) Gov Walz.”
Walz said he remains perplexed by the attacks: “It just baffled me how much time they spent trying to attack me for not being masculine enough in their vision.”
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