Ohio Senator JD Vance, a rising Republican star, has taken aim at Vice President Kamala Harris, launching a sharp critique of her public speaking style and the Democratic Party’s approach to free speech during a recent interview with popular podcast host Joe Rogan. Vance, who served as former President Donald Trump’s running mate in the 2020 election, didn’t hold back his criticism, comparing Harris’s communication style to ‘talking in circles’ and accusing Democratic leaders of favoring censorship to silence opposing viewpoints.
During the interview, released on Thursday, Vance expressed frustration with Harris’s speeches, describing them as verbose yet lacking substance. He likened her to a master of obfuscation, stating, “I give a lot of speeches, so there’s actually a skill to this. I think she is the Michael Jordan of using as many words as possible to say as little as possible. There’s actually a certain gift that she has.” Vance claimed that Harris’s speeches often leave listeners puzzled, questioning the meaning behind her words. He illustrated his point by stating, “You listen to her talk, and you know you’re a hundred, 200 words into it, you’re 500 words into it and you’re like, ‘What the hell did she just say?’ She didn’t say anything.”
Vance’s criticism extended beyond Harris’s speaking style to her approach to politics. He took issue with her stance on justice and opposition, particularly her comments about Donald Trump potentially targeting political rivals if re-elected. Vance argued that Harris’s statements are inconsistent with her own record, pointing to her past actions as California Attorney General. He claimed that Harris has “actively bragged” about prosecuting political adversaries, suggesting that her accusations against Trump are a projection of her own methods. Vance asserted, “She will go out and say that if Donald Trump is the president he’s going to arrest his political opponents, even though he already was president and he didn’t do that.”
The conversation shifted to the topic of free speech, a sensitive issue in today’s political landscape. Vance criticized the Democratic Party’s purported comfort with censoring dissenting voices. “We’re not trying to censor our fellow Americans,” Vance stated, “We’ll attack Kamala on her policies or her ideas, but we’re not trying to say, ‘You should be silenced because you disagree with us.'” Vance described this inclination to censor as “anathema” to his beliefs, attributing it to Democratic leadership. He argued that the party is increasingly accepting of silencing opinions, a trend he considers troubling for American democracy.
Vance went on to discuss the complexities of defining hate speech, citing a specific example: “If you say that an 11-year-old should not get gender-transition drugs, that is hate speech, according to a significant subset of the left.” He compared this view to the Democratic Party’s broader approach to silencing dissenting voices, arguing that it represents a dangerous trend towards censorship.
In a humorous comparison, Vance recounted a personal anecdote involving his young son. He described baking an Oreo cake with his four-year-old, only to find half the Oreos missing. When questioned, his son evaded responsibility, claiming, “I didn’t eat the Oreos, you did.” Vance linked this evasion tactic to what he sees as Harris’s approach to addressing critical issues. “That’s the way that Kamala Harris lies,” he alleged.
Vance’s comments on Harris’s speaking style, the Democratic Party’s stance on free speech, and his personal anecdotes have sparked a lively debate. His sharp criticism of Harris and his accusations of censorship within the Democratic Party have generated significant attention and controversy. As the 2024 election approaches, the issue of free speech and the role of political discourse in American democracy remains a central point of contention, making Vance’s comments a significant part of the ongoing political conversation.
