Ken Harbaugh and Tom Scherer: Veterans warn that JD Vance is worse than a political chameleon
By Ken Harbaugh and Tom Scherer
With the 2024 election season drawing to a close, Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, Donald Trump’s vice-presidential nominee, has come to embody the political and cultural struggle within today’s Republican Party—between nativist, anti-democratic populism and the GOP’s more traditional values.
As veterans and attorneys, we share a common background with Vance—a dedication to service, justice, and integrity. His early career held promise, as he rose from a working-class Ohio family to the U.S. Marine Corps and later attended Yale Law School on the G.I. Bill (one of us also studied law at Yale). His memoir, Hillbilly Elegy, thoughtfully captured the struggles of working-class America, and back in 2016, Vance even openly questioned whether Trump might be “America’s Hitler.”
But Vance’s evolution into this campaign’s chief enabler of MAGA conspiracies has raised disturbing questions. At the vice-presidential debate, he refused to acknowledge Trump’s 2020 loss, downplayed the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol aimed at blocking the certification of Joe Biden’s election and evaded questions about respecting the results of the 2024 contest. These were not mere slips—they were calculated moves signaling allegiance to a version of Trumpism that rejects democratic norms in favor of ideological purity.
He also employed hateful, racist tropes, publicly claiming that Haitian immigrants would “eat your pets”—a bizarre and baseless statement amplified by Trump. Such comments are not mere political missteps; they reveal a commitment to a nativist, anti-immigrant ideology that diverges from the values of inclusion and liberty on which America stands and which the GOP once embraced.
Vance is no novice. Yale Law honed his polish, strategic thinking, and poise. But did he absorb any lessons about justice, honesty, and leadership? Or has he simply repurposed his training to advance a deeply concerning agenda?
He offered a glimpse into his psyche during this summer’s Republican National Convention. There, Vance waxed nostalgic about his family’s five generations of roots in America, implying that true patriotism is reserved for those with long ancestral ties. This notion of American identity, defined by heritage rather than ideals, is as dangerous as it is wrong.
The United States was built by individuals who were far from native-born. Our founding fathers, including figures like Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Paine, were not born here, yet they fought for the revolutionary idea of America.
Moreover, Vance’s statements overlook the historical contributions of countless immigrants who have served this nation to defend American ideals. His rhetoric effectively erases the sacrifices made by foreign-born Congressional Medal of Honor recipients, the Tuskegee Airmen, and the 175 Black Civil War units who fought for a vision of America that was not yet theirs but one they believed in nonetheless.
Our nation’s founders understood that American values transcend bloodlines and that immigrants enrich our strength. By emphasizing a narrow vision of who qualifies as a “true American,” Vance panders to extremist factions within the GOP and legitimizes the divisive, exclusionary ideals that threaten our social fabric.
Vance’s transformation also represents a broader shift in the GOP, which has injected and mainstreamed conspiratorial thinking. Trump’s legacy—birtherism, voter fraud claims, wild QAnon fantasies—has transformed the GOP from a bastion of conservative principles into a political entity where belief can be molded to suit any narrative.
That Vance, a Marine veteran, espouses these divisive, exclusionary ideals is profoundly troubling. How did he get here? Did the discipline and service of the Marines fade? Did Yale somehow unteach him the responsibility to serve all Americans? Through his Yale studies and service in the U.S. Senate, Vance knows MAGA twists the Constitution in directions it was never intended to go.
If we apply the Marine Corps’ core principles (JJDIDTIEBUCKLE: Justice, Judgment, Dependability, Integrity, Decisiveness, Tact, Initiative, Endurance, Bearing, Unselfishness, Courage, Knowledge, Loyalty, and Enthusiasm)—perhaps he might score high on enthusiasm. But when it comes to everything else, Vance fails the American people.
Unlike Trump, whose populism often stems from personal grievances, Vance seems committed to a long-term project to reshape the party and the country in his image—one where anti-immigrant sentiment and an erosion of democratic values become the norm.
Additionally troubling is that Vance’s rise has been fueled by Silicon Valley billionaire Peter Thiel, who invested millions in his political ascent. This partnership signifies a shift in the GOP—a merging of tech libertarianism with far-right populism. Together, they represent an ideological alliance that threatens to upend the core principles of democracy.
As the final ballots are cast in the 2024 election, the stakes are clear. The Republican Party is hurtling down the path of nativist, anti-democratic populism, thanks to Vance’s turn away from the values that have made America a beacon of hope.
If the Trump-Vance ticket wins, this negative energy will be inside the White House. If Vance loses, he might change his stripes yet again.
Ken Harbaugh is a former U.S. Navy pilot and Yale Law Veterans Association (YLVA) former president. He also hosts the Burn The Boats podcast and co-produced the documentary film “Against All Enemies.” Ken serves on the board of several veteran non-profits, including Veterans for Responsible Leadership (VFRL).
Tom Scherer is a lawyer living in New Jersey. He served in the US Army and Reserves from 1984 to 1999 and is a member of VFRL.
