Mon 10/17 @ 11:30AM
It’s not hard to see why it’s essential to elect Congressman Tim Ryan, from the Mahoning Valley, as Ohio’s U.S. Senator to replace the retiring Rob Portman. Ryan’s campaign has been focused on “cutting workers in on the deal,” creating decent-paying jobs that allow ordinary people who don’t have ultra-wealthy friends to have a decent quality of life. He’s already done that as a congressman, co-chairing the Congressional Manufacturing Caucus. He recognizes that a constellation of other issues is based on the ability to make a decent living. As well (and very important in the current social/political climate), he’s evolved on the issue of abortion: 20 years ago he was a “pro-life Democrat”; now he’s one of the most passionate and outspoken advocates of the idea that reproductive decisions are personal and should only be made by the person involved, not the government.
On the other hand, the GOP primary winner, J.D. Vance, is an ultra-wealthy shapeshifter, lavishly supported by someone even wealthier, billionaire Peter Thiel. Like Ryan, Vance came from a modest background, but soon shook the dirt of hardscrabble southwest Ohio (not Appalachia as he’s suggested) off his shoes and headed for Yale and then San Francisco where he became a venture capitalist: the embodiment of an Ivy League coastal elite. He moved back to Ohio when he decided to run for office. Back in 2016, he was reasonable enough to be a “never Trumper,” but that changed when it became clear that GOP primary wins depend on blindly supporting Trump. He recently debased himself by standing onstage with Trump while the ex-president declared that he likes Vance as much as he likes North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un because “they both kiss my ass.” His positions on reproductive choice and women’s rights are offensive & extreme.
Vance is running to represent Thiel and his ilk and to increase his own power and position. Ryan is running to represent us as best as he can. Hear from Ryan himself when he appears at the City Club this week. The livestream starts at noon. You can tweet questions to @TheCityClub or text 330-541-5794.
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