In a text message to his former law school roommate, Ohio Senator J.D. Vance once wrote: "I go back and forth between thinking Trump is a cynical a**hole like Nixon who wouldn't be that bad (and might even prove useful) or that he's America's Hitler. How's that for discouraging?" Yes, Mr. Vance, that is discouraging. More than 8 years after that leaked message, Vance has found himself as the biggest collaborator of them all—Trump’s Vice President pick.
With the degree of his support for the former president being more than dubious, many Trump supporters have viewed him negatively. On the other side of the aisle, some liberals view him as a potential balancing agent for Trump’s irrationality. Unfortunately for them, Vance’s controversial public statements make that very unlikely. So, with Trump loyalists questioning his motives and everyday Americans feeling alienated by his poor public image management, it begs the question: does anybody even really like Vance?
James David Vance didn’t inherit his political career due to nepotism or connections. Rather, being born in small-town America, it was an arduous journey. Fueled by his genuine motivation to make something of himself and escape his environment, Vance became a success story. From being accepted into Yale University to publishing a bestselling novel to punching his ticket into Congress, Vance’s journey has been nothing but self-made. However, he lost himself somewhere along the way.
The book that propelled him into the national spotlight, Hillbilly Elegy, perfectly connected with so many Americans that felt unrepresented in the political realm. Catapulting himself into the upper echelons of the conservative movement, Vance expertly examined societal decay and the impacts of economic inequality on Middle America. With his subsequent election to Congress, Vance was supposed to be the champion of these working-class Americans. However, it soon became clear that his time in the Senate would merely be a stepping stone to what he truly wanted: the Vice Presidency.
A breath of fresh air in a chamber full of career politicians trying their best to speed walk away from the Grim Reaper, Vance attempted to portray himself as an advocate for everyday Americans, Vance’s voting record in Congress has reflected the opposite. Namely, Vance’s opposition to labor regulations and unionization efforts directly contradicts his brand. With many in Middle America suffering from stagnant wages, prohibiting them from being able to vouch for themselves through unions will only reinforce the generational cycles of poverty that Vance swore to destroy. Alongside policy issues, Vance also suffers from a public image problem.
According to an SSRS poll, JD Vance had a favorability rating of approximately 40%, with an unfavorable rating of 44%. Though it is not uncommon for politicians to have a higher unfavorability rating, it is still a matter of grave concern for Trump’s campaign since Harris has been making significant strides in battleground states. Undoubtedly, Trump’s campaign was aware of the damaging comments Vance has made about Trump in the past. Yet, he was still selected as the running mate for the sole purpose of his perceived ability to carry these battleground states. If his public image does not improve, then his selection will have been a major miscalculation that can cost Trump reelection.
Like the Vance of 2016, I am a “never Trump guy.” Vance had all the potential to loosen the iron-tight grip Trump has over the modern Republican Party, but he chose the path of power and greed to rise through the ranks. No matter how hard Vance tries, he will be unable to escape the consequences of his past statements and his pursuit of the Vice Presidency will suffer accordingly. The American people can see through the facade, and it will take a lot of public image rehabilitation efforts to inspire any confidence in his character.
The man who once compared Trump to Hitler is now his running mate. By reinforcing a disease that has taken over the Republican Party, Vance will only harm the overall conservative movement. Distancing himself from the comments he once made and the man he once was, Vance has now become another link in America’s worst chain—Trumpism.
Photo Credit: Hannah Beier | Getty Images
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