I think Democrats, like Republicans, are not all the same. A good number are not a fan of identity politics.
That article was just fascinating to me because it was only last year, and as others have pointed out, Kamala was not very popular, even among Dems. And a lot of the same criticisms you see being leveled at her now by Republicans were also being voiced by NYT readers - a generally liberal and decidedly Democrat group.
It wasn't just what she said, it was the way she said it and then started giggling. Not exactly presidential.
And whatever she found so funny, woke (or pretending to be woke), the other ladies with her were not amused. That's what made it so awkward.