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How do you pronounce Kamala? Her grandnieces explain at the DNC

Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) β€” The final night of the Democratic National Convention included a tutorial on pronouncing Kamala Harris’ name β€” featuring none other than the candidate’s great nieces.

The actress Kerry Washington introduced the girls by saying β€œit’s come to my attention that there are some folks who struggle β€” or pretend to struggle β€” with the proper pronunciation of our future president’s name.”

She added, β€œConfusion is understandable. Disrespect is not. So tonight we are going to help everyone get it right.”

Out came Amara, 8, in a pink pant suit and Leela, 6, in a light blue frilly dress. They’re the daughters of Harris’ niece Meena Harris.

β€œFirst you say β€˜comma’ like the comma in a sentence,” Amara said.

“Then you say β€˜la’ like la-la-la-la-la,” added Leela.

β€œOK, let’s practice,” Washington said.

Amara pointed stage left and said, β€œEverybody over here say comma!”

Leela turned to stage right and said, “Everybody over here say la!”

The United Center roared in response β€” β€œComma! La!”

Some of the speakers at the Democratic National Convention have stumbled over Harris’ first name, including former President Bill Clinton who said it as β€œCAM-UH-LA” in his speech on Wednesday night.

Others played it safe. When Leon Panetta spoke, a reporter spotted that the teleprompter said β€œComma-la.”

Republican candidate Donald Trump has relished opportunities to mangle the pronunciation, which Democrats describe as a sign of disrespect.

He usually says β€œKah-MAH-la.” When asked why, Trump said last month that he had heard Harris’ first name said β€œabout seven different ways.”

β€œI said, β€˜Don’t worry about it, it doesn’t matter what I say,,’” Trump said. “I couldn’t care less.”

Article Topic Follows: AP National News

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Associated Press

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