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"If what you want is a centrist campaign that's quiet on trans issues ... that candidate existed, and she just lost," Oliver said during a recent episode of Last Week Tonight.
If you're "pointing the blame at one specific demographic" for Democrats' losses in last week's elections, you're gravely "missing the mark," according to John Oliver.
The comedian tackled Kamala Harris' defeat during the most recent episode of Last Week Tonight, calling out supposed progressives who have turned against transgender people and blamed so-called "woke" issues for Donald Trump's win.
"It's telling how quickly some are jumping to predetermined conclusions that don't match the campaign that just wrapped up," Oliver said. "For instance, some Democrats are loudly claiming that the party needs to move to the center."
The host then referenced comments from New York congressman Tom Suozzi, a Democrat, who recently argued that "the Democrats have to stop pandering to the far left ... I don't want to discriminate against anybody, but I don't think biological boys should be playing in girls' sports." Other Democratic lawmakers have made similar claims in the wake of Harris' loss.
Oliver gave them all a reality check, pointing out that Harris' campaign largely ignored trans issues. In comparison, the GOP spent over $215 million on anti-trans attack ads — which the comedian noted is roughly $134 spent on each individual trans person in the U.S.
"If what you want is a centrist campaign that's quiet on trans issues, tough on the border, distances itself from Palestinians, talks a lot about law and order, and reaches out to moderate Republicans — that candidate existed, and she just lost," Oliver said.
"Guess how many trans speakers there were at the DNC. I'll give you a hint: it was a very round number," he continued, making his hand into a zero.
Oliver argued that Democrats should have instead been stronger in their support of trans people, noting how it was "frustrating to see the Harris campaign fail to formulate a response" to attacks, "especially because it's pretty easy to do."
"Watch, I'll do it for you right now," he said, listing off four points. One, "There are vanishingly few trans girls competing in high schools anywhere." Two, "Even if there were more, trans kids like all kids vary in athletic ability and there is no evidence they pose any threat to safety or fairness." Three, "It is very weird for you to be so focused on this subject."
"And finally, if you genuinely want to address the biggest concern for most girls who play high school sports, you'd be less worried about this, and more about the creepy assistant volleyball coach that keeps liking their posts on fucking Instagram," Oliver concluded.
Despite the devastating outcome of the presidential election, the host still noted that there have been "small victories along the way" that are worth celebrating. Oliver cited the overwhelming success of abortion referendums even in red states, as well as Sarah McBride's election in Delaware.
"Even amid the GOP's massive anti-trans ad campaign, on Tuesday, Delaware elected the country's first openly trans member of Congress," Oliver said. "And around the country, at least 35 trans and otherwise gender-expansive candidates won races in places like Montana, Hawaii, and Kentucky, where Emma Curtis was elected to the Lexington city council. And that is a big deal."
"It is a powerful thing to have one group saying 'I don't think you exist,' and to be able to respond with 'I'm literally an elected official,'" he said.
