J.D. Vance Asks Ohio Voters ‘Do You Hate Mexicans?’ in New Senate Ad
Andrew Stanton, Newsweek, April 5, 2022
Ohio Senate Candidate J.D. Vance asked Ohio voters if they “hate Mexicans” in a new political advertisement released Tuesday.
During the 30-second advertisement, Vance—the author of the book Hillbilly Elegy who is running as a Republican to replace outgoing Senator Rob Portman—slammed the media for calling people who want to build a wall at the southern border “racist.” But some opponents accused the advertisement itself of provoking racism toward Mexicans.
The advertisement, which has amassed more than 300,000 views on Twitter Tuesday afternoon, opens with Vance asking voters: “Are you a racist? Do you hate Mexicans?” before launching into his criticism of President Joe Biden‘s immigration policy.
“Joe Biden’s open border is killing Ohioans, with more illegal drugs and more Democrat voters pouring into this country,” he said.
He added that the issue is “personal,” referring to his mother’s struggles with addiction. The topic of illegal drugs is a key issue in Ohio, one of the states hit hardest by the opioid epidemic.
Are you a racist? pic.twitter.com/Fdknxld39i
— J.D. Vance (@JDVance1) April 5, 2022
Some, however, took to social media to criticize the advertisement as “racist.”
“Looks like JD Vance is first out of the gate with one of the more racist and xenophobic campaign ads you will ever see,” wrote author Peter Tinti.
{snip}
