By Dave Andrusko,
Like 95% of all Americans, I first became acquainted with (now Senator) JD Vance when I read “Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis,” his best-selling autobiography of growing up in utter chaos. Booklist captured its essence beautifully:
“Vance compellingly describes the terrible toll that alcoholism, drug abuse, and an unrelenting code of honor took on his family, neither excusing the behavior nor condemning it…The portrait that emerges is a complex one…Unerringly forthright, remarkably insightful, and refreshingly focused, Hillbilly Elegy is the cry of a community in crisis.”
Vance is the junior senator from Ohio and is pro-life former President Donald Trump’s vice presidential running mate. Naturally, there’s been much speculation how Vance became Mr. Trump’s choice over Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, and Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin.
In the end, the simplest explanation may be the best: he hit it off extremely well with Donald Trump, Jr. and—judging by the ease with which the two men interacted last night –had made a powerful impression on Donald Trump.
“JD Vance understands and cares about the issue of life at a deep level,” Peter Range, CEO of Ohio Right to Life said. “He understands what ills America’s core at this moment, and we believe he is a great choice by former President Donald Trump to be our next Vice President.
“May the Lord bless and protect JD and his family in this next chapter on their journey.”
Ohio Right to Life added background.
“The newly nominated candidate for Vice President was born and raised in Middletown, Ohio. He served our country in the Marines from 2003 to 2007 including serving our nation in Iraq.
“He is a 2009 graduate of The Ohio State University and in 2013 graduated from Yale Law School. On June 28, 2016, Senator Vance published his memoir, Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis.
“Ohio Right to Life was pleased to endorse Senator Vance during his run for the United States Senate in 2022 and is looking forward to working with one of our own to advance the right to life.”
Vance’s appeal is undeniable. Even CNN’s Stephen Collinson acknowledged that:
Donald Trump’s brand new sidekick takes the stage at the Republican National Convention on Wednesday night and is expected to lay out a hardcore populist agenda on trade, economics, and foreign policy.
Vance will deliver the second most important speech of the week after Trump’s own due on Thursday and is sure to root his appeal to voters in his hard knocks childhood, service as a US Marine, top-of-the-class performance at Yale Law School and time as venture capitalist. At 39, Vance is one of the youngest people ever to serve on a presidential ticket and he’s only been in the Senate for less than two years. He’s already seen as Trump’s heir apparent in the MAGA movement.
In his profile, Ben Johnson quoted Jeremy Carl, author of the best-selling “The Unprotected Class,” who observed that “Vance comes from the forgotten white working class, and he has made concern for the people he came from the centerpiece of his career from the beginning. That’s incredibly important.”
Be sure to watch tonight.