JD Vance is a bright guy, but he appears to be missing a key distinction.
People who met with JD Vance during his visit with his wife to Israel a few months ago were impressed with the man and his brains. The former Marine and Yale Law School graduate wowed the locals with his knowledge and views on the complicated issues of the modern Middle East. And one has to give the current vice president credit for going from a difficult situation in his youth to his enormous success of today.
Vance, like many heavy hitters in the conservative movement, spoke at the recent AmericaFest organized by TPUSA. Vance argued that one should not throw out conservatives because of differences of opinion. He clearly had Tucker Carlson in mind. Many claim that it was Carlson who convinced Donald Trump to select the former Marine to be his running mate. And as is well known, Carlson's son works in Vance's office. While loyalty is a great quality in a person, there needs to be a separation of two issues when it comes to friends.
A question that comes up in any religious system is how to deal with a sinner. Every religion has rules that include things that are forbidden. How do we treat those who willfully violate God-given commandments? There is a Chassidic approach that can be described as bringing close with the right hand while pushing away with the left. There should always be a baseline love of our fellow man, created in the image of God. On the other hand, one should not ignore the violation of God's will. So, one should express love but also try to get the party in question to get back into line. JD Vance might want to learn something from this line of thinking.
There are differences between people that are small and make for the variety of life:
I like the Cubs; I like the Red Sox.
I like blue; I like green.
I like a good steak; I like salad.
There are differences that are much more problematic:
I want to kill you; I want to live.
I want to burn your house down; I want to go to sleep in my bed tonight.
I want you to convert to my religion, or I will subjugate you; I wish to be free and follow my own religion without coercion.
JD Vance needs to separate between his loyalty to his friends and his outspoken denunciation of their foul opinions and views. Let's take Tucker "Abu Buckley" Carlson, for example. He and Vance seem to be good friends. Maybe they go fishing together or sit out by the fire pit and enjoy a beer. That's wonderful. But let's look a little bit at what Carlson has been peddling for the past 18 months—either directly or by bringing on unchallenged guests whose views are often ridiculous:
- Hitler is "cool."
- The Jews died in the Holocaust because the Germans could not feed them.
- Churchill was the bad guy of World War II.
- England was wrong to honor its treaty commitment to Poland.
- The Tate brothers are being persecuted solely because they support men being manly.
- Israel committed a genocide in Gaza.
- Israel intentionally attacked Christian sites in Gaza.
- Qatar—supporters of Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood—is a natural ally of the U.S.
- Israel is a worthless U.S. ally and will only get the U.S. into trouble.
- People like Ben Shapiro and Mark Levin have dual loyalties, with Israel being more important.
- Attacking Iran would lead to World War III and many American casualties.
- Bibi Netanyahu is the biggest threat to the West.
- Islam is the religion of peace, and Muslims in the U.S. pose no threat to the rest of us.
- And more…
JD Vance can say that the conservative/MAGA movement has room for lots of people and opinions, but as Ben Shapiro correctly noted, a movement with no borders is no movement. I hate when people make predictions, but I would venture that if JD Vance is the Republican nominee in 2028 and he still hangs with Carlson, and the latter is still peddling Qatar/Islam, then Vance will lose. Americans and more broadly Westerners are realizing that there are Muslims whose views are antithetical to Western values and want to destroy that which we think is good. Tulsi Gabbard, who serves as President Trump's Director of National Intelligence, was blunt in describing an "Islamism" that is opposed to Western values and will not rest until Sharia is the law of the land in every country in the world. Islamists would like the locals to convert, but if they don't, then they will be subjugated and made to follow Sharia, whether they want to or not.
JD Vance should have used his talk at AmFest to say something along the lines of the following:
"The MAGA movement is big enough to include differing groups and opinions. I will not reject any person for his or her views. My friends are dear to me, and I will always be their loyal friend. With that in mind, there are clearly ideas and opinions that are both antithetical to MAGA and to the future well-being of the United States. There are types and versions of Islam that are incompatible with the West and must be removed from free societies. I don't know what a 'jeet' is, but each person should be able to love and marry any person he or she so chooses. Hitler is as evil today as he was when he led to the death of tens of millions of people. Do not mistake friendship for an acceptance of repulsive ideas. I will respect all people; I will reject any idea or opinion that is offensive to the best interests of the Republic."
Vance wants to sit on a fence and sway in the wind. He sees no point in pushing away Carlson and the dwindling audience that still watches his freakfests. He also wants Israel supporters, but allows himself to run with Carlson and Owens. Where are orthodox Jewish voters going to go? To the AOC/Mamdani "Globalize the Intifada" Democratic Party? The problem for Vance is that ideas and associations do count. Even Barack Obama tried to make Revered Wright disappear when it came out that he openly hated America. Vance can be friends with Tucker until their dying days. If he does not repudiate the ugly side of Tucker's modern ideas and beliefs, then people will assume that he has similar views and simply stay home rather than vote for Tucker II.
There will be no replacement for Donald Trump. And while there is actually a Don Jr. in the world, there is nobody who has the background, ideas, connections, wealth, and personality of the current president. That's okay. But JD Vance should learn from the president that there are times when one has to be clear about his views. If Vance associates with Carlson and the latter is still pushing the Islam-is-Wonderful shtick, normal Americans will see the Twin Towers and other attacks since then and say goodbye to the Wunderkid from Appalachia.
There is a time for "tough love." Imagine a family with six kids. The oldest gets into drugs, and as things get worse, tries to get his siblings into them. You realize that you love your child, but his behavior could destroy the family. The options are to get him into treatment or move him somewhere else. The love is no different than it was the day he was born, but action is required to save others. JD is a former Marine and can be loyal to whomever he chooses. If he does not repudiate bad ideas and opinions espoused by "conservatives," he will be out of a job come January 2029.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member