JD Vance grovels for Trump's support after calling him 'reprehensible' and an 'idiot'
How Winston Smith came to love Big Brother in Ohio
JD Vance was not impressed with Trump in 2016. But, now that he is running in the Republican primary for Ohio’s open Senate seat in 2022, he would rather you forget that. Which will not be an easy lift, as two conservative super PACS running are running ads hammering Vance for what were truthful statements.
One of the ads features Vance being interviewed by Charlie Rose, in which the ‘Hillbilly Elegy’ author says "I'm a Never Trump guy," before adding, "I never liked him." It was not an isolated thought. He also tweeted “My god what an idiot”. And called Trump “reprehensible.” And Vance has publicly said he did not cast a vote for Trump in the 2016 election. In his words, “I can’t vote for Trump, I can’t stomach the guy, I think he is noxious”
He also said “as someone who doesn’t like Trump I might have to hold my nose and vote for Hillary Clinton”. And that has to be the ultimate no-go for the denizens of Trump’s sewer. Even previous never-Trumpers, who have now oozed back into Trump’s good graces, — eg. Lindsey Graham and Ted Cruz — never once said anything remotely pro-Hillary. Vance also tweeted “I loved @MittRomney’s anti-Trump screed”. Thus completing the exacta.
Club for Growth Action and USA Freedom Fund, both of which back former OH state Treasurer, Josh Mandel, are each spending $470,000 to make Republican primary voters aware of Vance’s harsh rhetoric toward the former president.
And while neither mentions Hawley, as he is the polling leader among Republican candidates he is the obvious beneficiary of the anti-Vance ad blitz.
Vance is, of course, fighting back. Reasonably pointing out that in 2016 many people thought that Trump was a miserable, obnoxious shit. But reason is not a useful tool when appealing to the Trump base. And that is just about every Republican voter — especially in the primary.
After announcing his candidacy in July, Vance visited Trump in Florida in hopes of earning his endorsement. He told Fox News at the time he hoped people wouldn’t judge him for his past remarks, which he then walked back.
“Like a lot of people, I criticized Trump back in 2016. And I ask folks not to judge me based on what I said in 2016, because I’ve been very open that I did say those critical things and I regret them, and I regret being wrong about the guy. I think he was a good president, I think he made a lot of good decisions for people, and I think he took a lot of flak.”
He added,
“I think that’s the most important thing, is not what you said five years ago, but whether you’re willing to stand up and take the heat and take the hits for actually defending the interests of the American people.”
Good luck with that JD. The Trump voter doesn’t know much, but they are extremely sensitive to slurs against their Godhead. And it won’t help that the likely Democratic candidate for the seat, Rep Tim Ryan, tweeted “.@JDVance1and I have exactly one thing in common — neither of us voted for Donald Trump.”
Is Vance’s goose cooked? I imagine it is — I’m not a Trumper from Ohio, so I can’t speak with authority — unless Trump, himself, endorses Vance. Which seems unlikely, as Vance’s opponent, Mandel, is a man who’ll do whatever it takes to win including kissing orange ass.