Yesterday’s comments by JD Vance show without any question that he and Trump don’t care what the truth is, what the facts are, they will say what they think “the people need to know,” or perhaps what they think will keep their base enraged and so totally committed to them.
First, they continued to say that the Haitians in Springfield, OH eat their neighbors pets. This despite the Republican mayor of Springfield and the Republican governor of Ohio saying their statement was basekess.
Second, he continued to say that the Haitians were illegals despite being told that they were here legally. His response was that the fact that the Biden administration (his words were “Kamala Harris”) had granted them permission to come here to work does not make them legal.
Third, they continued to generally disparage the Haitians. This despite both the Republican mayor and governor again saying very explicitly that the Haitians were critical to the revival of Springfield’s manufacturing economy the past few years. That they were hard working, etc.
Finally, they continue their anti-Haitian rants despite the fact that their words have created a security problem in Springfield, with bomb scares closing schools and hospitals, and the community being very scared.
Vance said quite bluntly that if he has to make up stories to tell people what they need to know, he will do that. That’s pretty irresponsible even for a politician. But the truth is probably worse. He doesn’t really think people need to know this garbage, but he does think that if people hear this and believe it, it will inflame people’s anti-immigrant feelings, which will increase their commitment to Trump.
Unfortunately, even if Trump supporters knew the truth, it probably wouldn’t sway their vote. Witness Governor Dewine writing an impassioned opinion piece in the New York Times stating the truth about Haitians and Springfield and saying how sad it is that Trump and Vance keep making these statements despite being told that it’s not the truth. But he indicated very clearly that he will nonetheless vote for Trump in November.
Governor Dewine apparently does not take this instance as a warning that Trump does this routinely on every subject. He likes Trump’s positions on policy matters, and what he says to get there Governor Dewine doesn’t seem to care. He will vote for Trump. This is an abdication of his ethical responsibility as an elected official.
