Walz v Vance: Showdown Over the American Dream
Image courtesy: NPR
On the first of this month, JD Vance and Tim Walz took the stage at this election season’s Vice Presidential Debate. Despite the usual political dogfight among opponents, viewers are calling this one of the more civil debates as both opponents managed to reach common ground on usually highly debated topics. Maybe it has something to do with their shared Midwestern manners, seen in the soft smiles they shared throughout the debates— even if mics had to be muted during the discussion of immigration.
A tense election year has left most voters and politicians feeling harrowed, some going as far as to say, “Tonight is exclusively for those of us who hate ourselves.”
Image Courtesy: X
As far as memes go, such as the one above, this year’s election season has generated a lot of of content, especially covering the debate. During the debate, people ran to X, posting things like “I can’t focus on Vance; I keep wondering how many Sephora Points he has,” a witty commentary on JD Vance’s apparent new makeup look.
As much as poking fun at 'high and mighty' politicians and joking about America's tense political atmosphere is entertaining, the VP debate actually has true importance." Mark P. Jones, a political science professor at Rice University, stated that this debate could matter in the margins of swing states due to the closeness of this race.
For those of you who did not tune in, whether you’re too busy or because you simply “do not hate yourselves,” here are a few important highlights of the vice presidential debate:
Abortion legislation has been a hot-button issue for the past few years, especially since the overturn of Roe v Wade, as well as recent developments such as the death of Amber Thurman, who was unable to receive timely natal care. Walz mentioned stories in his discussion, stating, “That's not how this works. This is basic human rights.” Vance has reconciled his stance on abortion since his last appearance, claiming his opinion on abortion legislation has changed due to the views of voters in his home state of Ohio. He states that he promises to earn back America's trust in the Republican party regarding this matter.
As usual, the conversation on immigration went awry, as Vance’s mic was muted when a host tried to correct him regarding a question about his past opinion that immigrants were eating pets in Springfield, Ohio. Vance also discussed how immigrants were taking jobs away from American workers when, in reality, the economy would be shrinking without their involvement as Native American workers retire. In comparison, Walz admonished Vance for his demonization of immigrants with his previous false claims while highlighting how Harris, as the attorney general of California, has fought against illegal immigration and prosecuted transnational gangs.
As the debate came to a close, both vice presidential nominees were questioned regarding their stances on gun control, specifically on assault weapons such as AR-15 rifles used in school shootings. Vance chose to discuss how it is vital to protect our children first by increasing security, and although it is not a great position to be in, it must be done. Walz, on the other hand, dislikes the idea of fortress-like schools, saying that guns are the problem, not the amount of security.
All in all, this was a surprisingly exciting debate. After researching it, I don’t know if I would say only people who hate themselves would watch it like Huseman. It provided a lot of insight into the minds and opinions of the vice presidential nominees. Although they may not be number one, number two is still substantial to our country. Seeing the announcement of a change in opinion on abortion from Vance was shocking, and the wide range of information from both parties stances gave voters a lot to digest as November 5th comes ever closer.
Strike Out,
Katherine Fivgas
Editor: Madeline Jankowski
Athens