The Republican US Senate race in Ohio is heating up. Five GOP candidates hope to replace Republican Rob Portman, who is stepping down this year.
A live TV debate was broadcast state-wide last night. It included the Republican primary contenders.
None of them have yet been officially endorsed by former President Trump. As his nod of approval will likely result in a boost at the polls, most of them are saying whatever they can to court his favor.
This includes candidate JD Vance, the venture capitalist who also became a bestselling author with the publication of his memoir, Hillbilly Elegy.
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Vance, 37, has not always been a fan of the former President. In 2016, he said he would not be voting for Donald Trump and posted a string of anti-Trump tweets. This included calling Trump “reprehensible”. These tweets have now been deleted and Vance has completely reversed his position.
Asked about his change of heart last night, Vance said Trump’s performance in the White House had impressed him.
“All of us say stupid things and I happened to say stupid things very publicly,” said Vance. “I’ve been very public about the fact that I voted for the president in 2020, that I was wrong about the president back in 2015 [and] 2016, and that he’s been the greatest president of my lifetime for the very simple reason, there are many, but one very important reason, that he revealed the corruption within Washington DC.”
Vance went on to say his age in 2016 had been a factor.
“One thing I’d point out is that I was just north of 30 years old when I said a lot of those things. A lot has changed in my life. I re-engaged with my faith. I got baptized three years ago. I’ve had three kids since then. You know, a lot’s different. And one of the things that’s different is that I did change my mind about Donald Trump. He was a great President.”
After calling Trump and “idiot,” “noxious,” and “reprehensible” in 2016, JD Vance now says he is the greatest president in his lifetime. pic.twitter.com/iGDBMZWMV9
— Ron Filipkowski 🇺🇦 (@RonFilipkowski) March 21, 2022
Related: J.D. Vance posts racist video but all anyone’s talking about are his erect nipples and bad eyeliner
Since announcing his political ambitions, Vance has taken an increasingly far-right, America First standpoint on a range of issues.
This included last year suggesting that childless people, such as Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg (childless at the time), should have fewer votes than people with children. In the same speech, Vance praised Hungary’s far-right, anti-LGBT President Viktor Orbán, for encouraging married couples to have children.
He also mocked Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for highlighting the existence of two-spirit individuals.
I’m sorry but what the hell is two-spirit? Would love if progressives just stopped inventing words. https://t.co/QfxM0GRhQX
— J.D. Vance (@JDVance1) September 8, 2021
Earlier this year, he criticized President Biden for contemplating conflict with Russia over Ukraine, telling Steve Bannon, “We did not serve in the Marine Corps to go and fight Vladimir Putin because he didn’t believe in transgender rights. Which is what the U.S. State Department is saying is a major problem with Russia.”
Related: JD Vance suddenly gives AF about Ukraine after saying he doesn’t care if Putin attacks trans people
Also on last night’s Ohio debate was former state treasurer Josh Mandel. He also said he was hoping for Trump’s endorsement.
“I’m doing everything I can to earn his support,” said Mandel before suggesting Trump critics like Sen. Mitt Romney (Utah) should be “eliminated” from the Republican party.
The only candidate who didn’t fall over himself to praise Trump was local Senator Matt Dolan. When all five were asked to raise their hand if they believed the Republican party should move on from the 2020 election, Dolan was the only one to do so.
The primary is due to take place on May 3. According to a survey conducted by The Hill last week, Businessman Mike Gibbons is the current frontrunner, polling around 22%, followed by Mandel on 15%, and then Vance on 8%. Dolan and former Ohio GOP chair Jane Timken both polled around 6%.
SamB
His explanation sounds reasonable. I don’t understand the hate this guy gets just because he literally pulled himself out of poverty and avoided a family history of drug abuse. We used to applaud this.
ZzBomb
What exactly is rational about saying that people with kids should have their votes count more than people without? I’d love to see this explanation!?
SamB
Zz: I’m sure you’ve said some nonsensical things as well.
ZzBomb
So you can’t “reasonably” answer the question? Yes, I’ve said dumb things before, I’m a human being, but I have never said something THAT DUMB as to suggest that people’s votes should be weighted more or less depending on their family makeup.
Cam
What a shock, the right wing, anti-LGBTQ bigoted troll defends the right right wing, anti-LGBTQ bigoted politician.
Eternal.Cowboy
Interesting, you said Kamal Harris had no “moral compass” because she had taken different positions with respect to Joe Biden but you give this guy a complete pass for the same behavior. It would seem to me you would understand the “hate” directed at this guy as you have held similar contemptuous opinions of people for the exact same reasons people don’t like Vance.
SamB
Zz: He wasn’t the first person I heard try to make that argument but they could never make it stick when in a debate and I bet the same would be with him.
Cowboy: There is a HUGE difference between JD and Kamala. She basically called Biden a r@cist and claimed she believed that he abused women, but then all of that is forgotten in order to work with him. No comparison.
ZzBomb
So then you admit his stances are not “reasonable” then if he/they can’t “reasonably” defend such an idea? This is how a debate works.
Eternal.Cowboy
@SamB
Your criticism of her was because she said negative things about him and then changed her mind when it benefited her and had nothing to do with the nature of what she said. It’s completely inline with what Vance did. So you are being completely inconsistent in how you apply your own standards. You can attempt to move the goal posts but there it’s completely hypocritical on your part.
SamB
Zz: Yes, if he can’t defend his argument, then he doesn’t really understand what he’s saying. I don’t agree with that idea but it’s hardly the scariest thought out there. If it ever gets close to a vote, then I’ll worry about it.
Cowboy: No, I don’t believe she changed her mind. I believe she wanted to be VP so bad that she chose to work with him regardless of what she believes he did or is.
Eternal.Cowboy
Again, it’s the same behavior. For her it made her “untrustworthy” and without “moral compass”. For Vance it’s all find and dandy. Of course you used sexist language when talking about her and Vance is a guy so. … kinda know how you landed treating them differently.
SamB
Cowboy: They are NOT the same thing no matter how hard you try. JD said he was anti Trump initially then he changed his mind when he saw what Trump did in office. Kamala said she’s anti-Biden on stage calling him a r@cist and abuser but literally weeks/months later said she only said those things because it was a debate! No reason for why she changed her mind. Get the difference? JD evolved his thought process based on facts of what Trump did in office (whether you agree with him or not). Kamala’s thought did not evolve, she said something, then buried it when it suited her political agenda.
Eternal.Cowboy
SamB –
I get the difference, you are willing to give Vance a pass that you didn’t afford Harris. Clearly you have rationalized your hypocrisy, that doesn’t mean we don’t see it. Happy trails, and good luck carrying all that water for Vance.
SamB
Cowboy: Let me use the wise words of Ms. Harris at a recent even in Louisiana:
“The Governor and I and we were all doing a tour of the library here and talking about the significance of the passage of time. Right? The significance of the passage of time. So you think about it, there is great significance to the passage of time in terms of what we need to do to lay these wires, what we need to do to create these jobs, And there is such great significance to the passage of time when we think about a day in the life of our children and what that means to the future of our nation, depending on whether or not they have the resources they need to achieve their God-given talent.”
Powerful.
JackM
Sorry, Troll, not interested. BTW, the concept of “two-spirit” people comes from Native American beliefs, not from liberals. But I’m not surprised that this guy doesn’t know anything about non-White culture.
Heywood Jablowme
I read his book, Hillbilly Elegy, and he had some “two-spirit” relatives in Kentucky as long as one of the spirits was bourbon!
ZzBomb
The GQP’s continued dumpster fire of inept candidates continues! If “re-engaging” with your “faith” leads you to the further harassment and denigration of others, you never really “re-engaged,” you just found a way to veil your hatred.
The Accidental Polemicist
@ZzBomb
“The GQP’s continued dumpster fire of inept candidates continues!”
Let’s see how well those “inept candidates” do this fall as that red wave is soon approaching tsunami proportions!!!
Heywood Jablowme
In his book, he made a fuss a few times about how his grandmother was NOT homophobic. (She was the stable influence in his life.) But I bet he’s since changed his views on LGB and especially T issues in order to conform to the Trumpian personality transplant.
Eternal.Cowboy
The most surprising part of this is him saying “he’s been the greatest president of my lifetime”. Ronald Reagan was president so putting Trump above Reagan is a significant shift when it comes to the Republican Party.
Bosch
“I’m sorry but what the hell is two-spirit? Would love if progressives just stopped inventing words.”
It’s such a common strategy for these guys to take something that is centuries old, and pretend it’s some kind of new, “woke” propaganda.
Time travelling native Americans, I suppose.
Kangol2
He’s such a phony! Good to see that not just Democrats but Repugs see right through his fake @ss!