Former President Donald Trump has chosen Senator J.D. Vance as his vice-presidential running mate for the upcoming election, leading to a deep dive into the Senator’s past that has exposed some unsavory truths about the potential Vice-President.
A Video Resurfaces
In a resurfaced 2021 interview, Vice Presidential JD Vance made controversial comments criticizing childless politicians like Vice President Kamala Harris and sparked widespread backlash.
Making the Country Miserable
JD Vance stated, “We are effectively run in this country via the Democrats, via our corporate oligarchs, by a bunch of childless cat ladies who are miserable at their own lives and the choices that they’ve made, and so they wanna make the rest of the country miserable too.”
Support From Women
Women from various political backgrounds, including celebrities like Jennifer Aniston, have since condemned these remarks as insensitive and damaging.
A Disconnected Ruling Class
Vance argued that a “healthy ruling class” should consist of people with children because childless politicians lack a “direct stake” in the country since they are disconnected from the realities faced by families.
Jennifer Aniston’s Response
Actress Jennifer Aniston, famous for her role as Rachel in ‘Friends’, expressed disbelief at Vance’s comments while emphasizing the harmful implications of his views.
Struggling With Infertility
Aniston said Vance’s comments were especially troubling for women struggling with infertility, sharing her personal experience with IVF while criticizing Vance for potentially limiting reproductive options.
Taking Away Options
“All I can say is… Mr. Vance, I pray that your daughter is fortunate enough to bear children of her own one day. I hope she will not need to turn to IVF as a second option. Because you are trying to take that away from her, too,” Aniston wrote on Instagram.
Kerstin Emhoff’s Defense
Even Kamala Harris’s stepchildren’s mother, Kerstin Emhoff, defended Harris, describing her as a dedicated stepparent to combat Vance’s portrayal of her as “childless.”
Baseless Attacks
“These are baseless attacks. For over 10 years, since Cole and Ella were teenagers, Kamala has been a co-parent with Doug and I. She is loving, nurturing, fiercely protective, and always present,” Emhoff told CNN.
Broader Impact and Reactions
Vance’s comments received criticism from across the political spectrum, including conservative voices like Meghan McCain and Tomi Lahren, who warned that such remarks could alienate women voters.
Warning Conservative Men
McCain wrote on X, “I have been trying to warn every conservative man I know – these JD comments are activating women across all sides, including my most conservative Trump supporting friends.”
Real Pain
Meghan McCain went on to say, “These comments have caused real pain and are just innately unchristian. This is not who we are.”
Criticism from Beverly Hallberg
Fox News contributor Beverly Hallberg, who experienced an ectopic pregnancy, also condemned Vance’s remarks for being insensitive to women who are childless due to circumstances beyond their control.
Not All Childless Women
Hallberg said, “I’m childless on earth, but I have a baby in heaven due to an ectopic pregnancy. Not all women who don’t have children are childless by choice. It adds insult to injury, to put it mildly, when these comments are said.”
Broader Social Commentary
Vance’s comments also ignited discussions about the role of women in society, particularly those without children, as many criticized the idea that a woman’s worth is tied to motherhood.
Lack of Respect
“I was ‘childless’ for most of my adult life. JD Vance’s utter lack of respect for women reflects his reprehensible character,” shared Katie Phang on X.
Unbelievably Cruel
Former Obama staffer Tommy Vietor shared his perspective on the issue, stating, “Millions of parents are desperate to have kids but simply can’t. Treating people without children like they are lesser human beings is unbelievably cruel.”
Criticism from Other Politicians
This is far from Vance’s only backlash, as figures like Rep. Ritchie Torres called Vance “despicably demagogic to their core” for blaming Democrats for an assassination attempt on Trump.
The Central Premise
On X, Vance posted, “The central premise of the Biden campaign is that President Donald Trump is an authoritarian fascist who must be stopped at all costs. That rhetoric led directly to President Trump’s attempted assassination.”
Partisanship Over Statesmanship
Rep. Ritchie Torres said, “Vance is despicably demagogic to their core and chose partisanship over statesmanship, even when the gravity of the moment calls for a moratorium on the usual partisan politics.”
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Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Consolidated News Photos.
