Democrats have accused Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance of “purging the crazies” and said voters would “literally have to be on crack” to believe him during the vice presidential debate.
Liberal political commentator Van Jones led the criticism on CNN on Tuesday night, repeatedly accusing the Ohio senator of lying about his and former President Donald Trump’s policies.
“I think what you saw tonight was the kitchen table versus the Ivy League,” he said, noting, “I went to the same law school as J.D. Vance, and that’s how they teach us to do it. Smooth, smooth, smooth.
“The problem is that JD Vance changes his personality like most people change suits, and his job was to come out tonight and try to cleanse the crazies in a sane way. Sane was all the crazy things he said to women, to Haitians. He was healthy and washed Donald Trump.
“And he would have gotten away with it if it weren’t for the nasty facts,” Jones claimed. ‘He lied all night.
Liberal political commentator Van Jones led criticism of Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance on Tuesday, arguing that he repeatedly lied about his and former President Donald Trump’s policies.
“He lied about American energy production, which has increased, he said it has decreased. He lied about healthcare, he said Donald Trump saved Obamacare.
“You literally have to be on crack” to believe what Vance said, Jones argued, before addressing what he said were more untruths the vice presidential candidate advanced during the only debate between him and Democrat Gov. Tim Walz .
“He lied about the uprising, he said we had a peaceful transfer of power. He lied. He said he has never supported a national abortion ban.
“Donald Trump is the gaslighter and this is his loyal lieutenant who came here to try to clean up the crazies,” Jones argued. “And I think Americans need to be very, very careful.
“This is a very, very deceptive guy. We are trained to do what he did. And don’t fall for it,” Jones warned.
Vance, 40, had tried to soften his and Trump’s image during Tuesday night’s CBS debate, toning down his typically forceful and aggressive speech and acknowledging that people watching might not agree with him or Trump.
Vance, 40, had tried to soften his and Trump’s image during Tuesday night’s CBS debate, while acknowledging that people watching might not agree with him or Trump.
He downplayed Trump’s plans for mass deportations and said the Republican Party must regain Americans’ trust in abortion, while reminding viewers of his modest upbringing — noting he was raised by “two lifelong blue-collar Democrats.”
The Republican senator argued that the 15,000 Haitians in the city of Springfield, Ohio were creating housing, economic and other problems that the Biden-Harris administration ignored.
When the debate moderators pointed out that the Haitians living there had legal status, Vance protested that CBS News had said the moderators would not check the facts and leave the responsibility to the candidates.
As Vance continued and the moderators attempted to continue, his microphone was turned off and neither man could be heard.
When the issue of abortion came up, Vance spoke of a close friend who “told me something a few years ago where she felt like if she hadn’t had that abortion, it would have ruined her life because she was in prison . an abusive relationship.”
Vance subsequently called on the party to be more “pro-family” in every sense of the word, but denied ever supporting a national abortion ban.
Trump also posted on his Truth Social site during the debate that he would veto any national abortion ban.
Tuesday marked the first and only vice presidential debate between Vance and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz
Vance also downplayed Trump’s role in the Jan. 6 riot, saying the former president told people to march “peacefully” to the U.S. Capitol.
The real threat to democracy, Vance claimed, was censorship of the opposition.
“We need to debate our differences. We should discuss it. Kamala Harris engages in censorship on an industrial scale,” Vance said.
But Walz said Vance helped deny “the first time in American history that a president or anyone else tried to overturn a fair election and the peaceful transition of power.”
He also asked Vance if Trump won the 2020 election.
“I’m focused on the future,” Vance replied, dodging the question
“That’s a damn non-answer,” Walz shot back, trying Painting Trump as wrong on the issues and as a chaotic leader.
But Walz occasionally stumbled over his words, at one point even saying, “I’ve become friends with school shooters” when talking about meeting survivors.
Walz occasionally stumbled over his words and at one point even said, “I’ve become friends with school shooters” when talking about meeting survivors
Ultimately, many political experts DailyMail.com spoke to agreed that Vance proved stronger in the debate.
Jonathan Bronitsky, former chief speechwriter for Trump’s attorney general Bill Barr and ATHOS co-founder and CEO, for example, said the Republican senator “showed the country” why Trump picked him as his running mate.
“If you’re a progressive, you’re probably sweating, faced with the undeniable reality that Vance is a formidable force,” Bronitsky argued.
In particular, he said Vance — whom he called a “breath of fresh air” — thrived while correcting CBS moderators’ “misinformation,” particularly on the immigration issue.
“He also expertly answered their gotcha question, acknowledging that his previous criticism of Trump stemmed from falling for mainstream media distortions and fabrications.”
James Gilmore, the former governor of Virginia, also told DailyMail.com that Vance seemed “very reasonable.”
“When they got into the debate, they attacked Vance a lot. I think that stuff is gone now. I thought Vance looked very capable and very good.”
He went on to say that the CBS moderators were “biased” and “pretty terrible.” Especially when they turned off Vance’s mic in response to the migrant question.
But Walz appeared as if he was “running for re-election as governor of Minnesota,” Gilmore argued.
Meanwhile, former President Obama’s senior speechwriter David Litt said Walz’s performance was “less polished,” allowing Vance to get away with some of his more bizarre claims.
“Donald Trump did his running mate a huge favor – by losing so badly in his debate with Kamala Harris, he made it easy for JD Vance to exceed expectations,” Litt argued.
He said the “low standard” has helped the Republican succeed and fulfill the role of a “slick, polished politician” as opposed to a “creepy podcast bro.”
“But when push came to shove, Walz sounded like a regular person and came out on top. Debates are about big moments, and by far the biggest was Vance smugly refusing to acknowledge that Donald Trump had lost the 2020 election. I would love it if every undecided voter could watch this debate just to see that exchange.”
Litt went on to say that Trump is the “big loser” of the evening as he continues to dodge more debates with Harris.