Democratic presidential candidate U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris speaks to supporters during a campaign rally at West Allis Central High School on July 23, 2024 in West Allis, Wisconsin.
Jim Vodruska | Getty Images
ONE “White Dudes for HarrisOnline fundraising and rally organizing raised more than $3.5 million for Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign Monday night, with speakers that included aspiring candidates, Hollywood actors and labor leaders.
More than 150,000 tuned in to the online stream for the event, which aired on YouTubesurpassing the original goal of 10,000 RSVPs set by the organizers several days ago.
The call is the male version of a “White Women: Answer the Call” Zoom fundraiser that drew more than 160,000 women to support Harris last week after President Joe Biden dropped out of the race against former President Donald Trump and endorsed the vice president. as his replacement at the top of the Democratic ticket.
“I’m white, I’m a dude, and I’m here for Harris,” said actor Jeff Bridges, who played the loose baller and White Russian character “The Dude” in the Coen brothers’ film. “The Big Lebowski,” on the call.
“I’m excited, man! Bridges said.
LinkedIn found that Reid Hoffman and director JJ Abrams during the call pledged to match $50,000 in donations raised by attendees.
“Ninety-nine days from now we have a chance to help Kamala Harris make history, we also have a chance to change our minds, have some tough but fair conversations, meet other white dudes where they’re at and address some things that, frankly , they just weren’t mentioned,” “White Dudes for Harris” organizers said in a statement.
“We are honest, open and ready to support our first black female president.”
Speakers during the session included US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, who were reportedly considered potential candidates for Harris.
All four are also “white dudes.”
Walz said, “We’re not alone in this. The rest of the world needs us.”
“Here’s the great news,” Walz said.
“How often in a hundred days do you manage to change the trajectory of the world? How often in a hundred days can you do something that will affect generations to come?” Walz asked.
“And how many times in the world do you make that bastard wake up later and know that a black woman kicked his ass and sent him out on the street, and you know that’s something the guy’s going to have to live with for the rest of his life. “
Buttigieg said, “The vibes right now are incredible… the momentum is great.”
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris delivers remarks at a press conference after meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington, DC, U.S., July 25, 2024.
Nathan Howard | Reuters
“Donald Trump’s unfitness for office is clear, and no one is better placed to prosecute this case than Kamala Harris,” Butitzig said.
Cooper announced online during the call that he was withdrawing as Harris’ running mate.
“I strongly support Vice President Harris’ campaign for the presidency,” Cooper wrote in X. “I know he will win and I was honored to be considered for this role. It was not the right time for North Carolina and for me to possibly be on a national ticket”.
On the call, Cooper criticized Trump and his allies for labeling Harris a “DEI candidate,” arguing that what Republicans were really saying was that a woman of color was by definition unqualified to be president.
“I know we all love our country and we can show it by going to work,” Cooper said.
Pritzker pointed to the fact that Trump was convicted earlier this year of 34 felonies related to paying hush money to porn star Stormy Daniels, who was found responsible for sexually assaulting author E. Jean Carroll and is a “born liar.”
“He’s a fraud,” Pritzker said.
Harris became the de facto nominee of the Democratic Party last week, following Biden’s surprise decision to drop out of the race.
Harris, if elected, would be the first woman and only the second person of color to be elected president of the United States. The vice president’s father is a black man from Jamaica and her mother is from India.
Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance of Ohio, are both white.
“As White Dudes, we know all too well how MAGA cynically preys on grievances,” White Dudes for Harris organizers said in a statement social media kit for the event. “This moment of crisis challenges us, but we will not let fear define who we are and lead us – or our country – down a dark path
“As white men, we very clearly recognize the culture of toxic entitlement that surrounds Donald Trump,” the organizers wrote. “We must be honest with ourselves and each other about the part we have played in our nation’s history – good and bad.”
