Who is JD Vance? Ohioans have not-so-pretty things to say about Trump's VP pick.
Trump announced Sen. J.D. Vance as his running mate today.
The nation will soon know the Middletown native far better than it does now. He is already very well known to Ohioans and is a frequent subject of guest columns and letters to the editor submitted to this publication.
Most submissions have been critical. Vance has also penned several guest columns.
Scroll below for selection of letters and columns about J.D. Vance.
MORE: From 'America's Hitler' to a 'great president': JD Vance VP nomination in 5 cartoons
"Vance will hurt Trump's reelection chances. Ohio junior senator isn't ready to be VP."
Written by University of Dayton Professor Christopher Devine, Co-Author of "Do Running Mates Matter? The Influence of Vice Presidential Candidates in Presidential Elections."
First, Vance will have limited appeal to voters outside the Republican Party base. This is partly because Vance often conducts himself as a hysterical partisan – for example, by claiming that the Biden campaign was “directly” to blame for Saturday’s assassination attempt against Trump before any facts about the shooter were known..."
"Second, Vance probably will not help Trump win—and might cost him votes."
Link: Vance will hurt Trump's reelection chances. Ohio junior senator isn't ready to be VP.
"Ex-Portman director: Elect Tim Ryan. Deceitful Vance follows Trump's hate-mongering steps"
Written by Jonathan Petuchowski, principal of First Majestic Asset Management and former legislative director to U.S. Senator Rob Portman.
"J.D. Vance, on the other hand, has made clear that he is all about division, and following in the hate-mongering steps of Donald Trump."
"These flip-flops and contortions aren’t just embarrassing. They show exactly the kind of person J.D. Vance is—a craven shapeshifter who will say whatever he needs to say to get elected."
Link: Ex-Portman director: Elect Tim Ryan. Deceitful Vance follows Trump's hate-mongering steps
"J.D. Vance wrote about being poor in Ohio now he's pulling ladder from poor Ohioans"
Written by Jeanna Kenney, advocacy chair member for Building Freedom Ohio.
"Many Americans are too familiar with the struggle to feed their family —including our U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance — but instead of supporting benefits that families like his relied on, he supports enormous budget cuts to them.
While I’m struggling to pay rent on time and afford groceries, Congress is running out of time to make sure SNAP benefits are covered."
Link: J.D. Vance wrote about being poor in Ohio now he's pulling ladder from poor Ohioans
Letters to the editor about J.D. Vance:
J.D. Vance's views on divorce, same-sex marriage send 'dangerous' message
Written by Margo Bartlett of Delaware
"In the Sept. 5 article, "Vance pushes back on divorce, porn," Republican Senate candidate J.D. Vance tells his campaign audiences he's anti-divorce, even in the case of unhappy or violent marriages, "because if you actually raise kids in stable families, they're much more likely to be prosperous, and I think that's what we all want, is kids to grow up in healthy, happy situations.
First, we all know that kids need and deserve to grow up in happy, stable homes. It's Vance’s definition of “stable families” that's ominous.
Vance appears to believe unhappy, violent marriages are preferable to divorce. I have my doubts. Many divorced couples successfully collaborate to give their children love, support and security. Children in unhappy, violent homes surely don’t feel loved, supported and secure in those homes. "
LINK: J.D. Vance's views on divorce, same-sex marriage send 'dangerous' message
"Trump should do Ohio a favor and take 'bootlicking' J.D. Vance off our hands"
Written by Joe R. Tilley of Columbus.
"I am hoping that Trump picks Sen. J.D. Vance for his running mate. Then Ohio could get rid of the lying, bootlicking, butt kissing, weak-willed, integrity lacking, sickening obsequious sycophant."
Letter: Trump should do Ohio a favor and take 'bootlicking' J.D. Vance off our hands
"Surely J.D. Vance took good notes"
Written by William Cotton of Blacklick
"Mr. Vance pulled a 180 from being a 'never Trump guy' who said Trump was 'noxious' . . . 'reprehensible' . . . and 'an idiot.' He now sucks up to Trump trying to be the No. 1 saprophyte vying for the vice presidential ticket spot."
Link: J.D. Vance, fellow Republicans mastering art of intimidation at Trump’s hush money trial
J.D. Vance's behavior disgraceful
Written by Toba Feldman of Columbus
"After the unanimous jury verdict, he called the verdict a disgrace and an absolute miscarriage of justice. If the verdict had been not guilty, he probably would have said the proceedings were fair and a shining example of American justice, even though the several weeks of trial would not differ except in the result.
What I find disgraceful is Vance’s, a former lawyer, behavior."
Link: J.D. Vance's behavior disgraceful
Who is J.D. Vance?
Vance was raised in a poverty and abuse-stricken household, chronicled in his bestselling "Hillbilly Elegy," which delved into his criticism of politics and the effectiveness of their policies on the working class. His resulting fame from the novel catapulted him into celebrity status.
Back in 2016, Vance was cynical of Trump.
"I go back and forth between thinking Trump is a cynical asshole like Nixon who wouldn't be that bad (and might even prove useful) or that he's America's Hitler," Vance wrote. "How's that for discouraging?"
When he decided to run for Senate in 2022, Vance started to support the presumptive GOP nominee for president. Vance enlisted his own connections to Silicon Valley to garner campaign backing, connections he now extends to Trump.
Vance has even built a strong relationship with Trump's son, Donald Trump Jr., who supports Vance as his pick for vice president.
Vance will hurt Trump's chances. Ohio junior senator isn't ready to be VP.
Trump gave Vance his endorsement in the 2022 Senate race, which helped Vance ultimately win the seat.
Two years later, Vance stands strong as a Trump supporter, supporting him through his recent trial in Manhattan, his immunity case with the Supreme Court and even helping the former president to fundraise in the state.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Trump picks Vance for VP. Here's what Ohio thinks of him
