As a seasoned gamer who has spent countless hours immersed in political dramas like “Veep” and “Seinfeld”, I can’t help but be captivated by Julia Louis-Dreyfus‘ real-life political activism. The actress, who once hilariously mocked her character’s politically correct speeches on “Veep”, has now become a champion for women in politics.
Who could be more suited to assemble the nation’s eight Democratic governors than Julia Louis-Dreyfus, an actress well-known for her role in Veep, portraying a fictional female politician? In this series, she humorously never advocated for women’s rights. Recently resurfaced scenes from Veep have sparked memories among fans of the HBO comedy about how she mercilessly criticized her political aides for starting speeches with “As a woman…” or proposing an all-female ticket. (“The American people work hard for a living,” she joked, “They don’t need that kind of empty rhetoric.”)
However, in reality, this Emmy-winning actress, producer, and activist, known for her public roles, is actually quite different. Currently in town for the Democratic National Convention, she’s a passionate supporter of Kamala Harris. She organized a discussion with the eight democratic women governors of the country.
On Wednesday, during the 2024 DNC’s third day, rather than focusing on a character like Selina Meyer, the aim was to highlight governors who have broken new ground by promoting women into executive positions and smashing glass ceilings in the process.
But, she still brought some humor.
Following a friendly greeting where she shook hands with each guest and shared high-fives, Julia Louis-Dreyfus didn’t waste any time criticizing Donald Trump, the Republican presidential candidate, and his vice presidential pick, J.D. Vance.
Inviting eight ladies onto the stage, she criticized Vance’s controversial remarks on childless women, which he had labeled as “childless cat ladies.” She referred to this group as one that Vance might describe as a “gathering of nearly menstruating witches,” instead.
Then adding to the crowd’s laughter, “We’re gonna have fun here.”
Alongside the famous star from Seinfeld, present were Governors Katie Hobbs of Arizona, Laura Kelly of Kansas, Janet Mills of Maine, Maura Healey of Massachusetts, Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico, Kathy Hochul of New York, and Tina Kotek of Oregon.
On Stephen Colbert’s Late Show, Louis-Dreyfus appeared during its broadcast on Monday night. She mentioned that she’s been grinning non-stop since Kamala Harris was selected as the Democratic candidate for the 2024 presidential election. “My face is aching from all the smiling,” she remarked.
“Did anyone else find themselves emotional for two hours last night during the second night of DNC’s prime-time speakers, as Doug Emhoff and the Obamas spoke? We were laughing, crying – truthfully, I must admit I’m emotionally drained. Yet, we’re filled with optimism and joy. And it’s clear that the women on that stage are living proof that Martin Luther King Jr.’s words, ‘The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice,’ hold true. It can be easy to forget this truth when Trump tries to shift it in another direction.”
In our conversation, Louis-Dreyfus shifted from lighter questions like quizzing them about their state flowers, exchanging tales of office pranks (for instance, New Mexico Gov. Grisham recounted a prank where she emptied a congressional member’s office, laid sod, and returned the furniture to the grass), and casually mentioning Harris’ Brat summer, to more serious topics that are of great concern to voters at present.
Reminding the women how, on Veep, her character once joked, “If men got pregnant, you could get an abortion at an ATM,” she asked New York Gov. Hochul about her experience dealing with the overturning of the Dobbs decision and Roe v. Wade.
“Hochul vowed to battle fiercely to restore it for her granddaughter’s sake, referring to a difficult situation yet one that called for action. ‘Yes,’ she affirmed, ‘abortion is legal in New York, but there are women across the country who will soon require our assistance.'”
She claims she initiated the growth of clinics to establish her state as a sanctuary by enacting laws shielding doctors from being prosecuted across different states. “We legislated, we acted swiftly. I personally visited Planned Parenthood clinics right away. However, due to this decision, currently, about one-third of women in their reproductive years reside under an abortion ban within the country.”
In November, Governor Hobbs stated that Arizona has an opportunity to secure the right to abortion as a constitutional guarantee. “Women seeking pregnancy care may not receive the necessary services,” she explained. “We aim to be surrounded by pro-abortion states and ensure that individuals can obtain the healthcare they require.”
Kansas Governor Laura Kelly remarked, “They shouldn’t have provoked us. When Kansans turned out in droves for the primary election, we saw a record turnout. And 60% of Kansans affirmed women’s right to privacy and reproductive rights. I believe this paved the way for other states to take similar actions, and it has certainly sparked renewed interest. In fact, it seems to have awakened our citizens, especially our younger generation.”
Beginning from 2018, the DGA has put over $80 million towards supporting states and campaigns for the election and reelection of this specific group. Additionally, they established the Women Governors Fund, a program aimed at electing Democratic female governors.
Observe as the women converse about the topic at hand, offering guidance to Harris (“Allow Kamala to be herself”) and emphasizing the importance of fighting for each and every vote, in the conversation section located underneath.
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2024-08-22 00:55