JD Vance’s Campaign Gets New Life After Trump Endorsement
'Clearly a case in which an endorsement has made a difference'
Ohio Senate candidate Mike Gibbons says middle-class Americans don't pay 'any kind of fair share' of income taxes
Mike Gibbons, who is currently the leading Republican Senate candidate from Ohio, finds himself in hot water for previously saying that the American middle-class doesn't pay "any kind of fair share" of the country's income taxes.
Gibbons, a millionaire investment banker turned politician, made the comments in a September episode of "The Landscape" podcast at a media event in 2021.
Gibbons said, "The top 20% of earners in the United States pay 82% of federal income tax — and, if you do the math, and 45% to 50% don't pay any income tax, you can see the middle class is not really paying any kind of a fair share, depending on how you want to define it."
The Associated Press reported that Gibbons's comments could "take on new resonance" after United States Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) — who leads the Senate Republicans' campaign apparatus — debuted a policy strategy that called to raise taxes on Americans who currently don't earn enough money to pay federal income taxes. The tax hike would increase taxes on millions of Americans.
In the video where Gibbons makes this comment, the candidate is sitting in front of a campaign backdrop and condemns Democrats for spreading an "absolutely false" narrative suggesting that "the middle class is getting screwed and the wealthy, the elite, are cheating everybody."
Ohio GOP Senate candidate Mike Gibbons on a Crain\u2019s Cleveland Business podcast: \n\n\u201cThe top 20% of earners in the U.S. pay 82% of federal income tax \u2014 and, you do the math, and 45% to 50% don\u2019t pay any income tax\u2026 The middle class is not really paying any kind of a fair share.\u201dpic.twitter.com/VUYzPTlqmX— Heartland Signal (@Heartland Signal) 1649459301
Gibbons suggested that the Democrats use this rhetoric because they "need the middle class to win an election."
He also went on to say that he doesn't mind the utilization of a "progressive tax system structure" but went on to say that wealthy Americans already pay a lot in taxes.
Gibbons's comments garnered considerable ire online.
Steve Cortes — a former campaign adviser to President Donald Trump and Newsmax host — lambasted Gibbons as a "gazillionaire who made a fortune doing business with the Chinese Communists."
Nan Whaley — the former Democratic Mayor of Dayton who is currently running in Ohio's Democratic gubernatorial primary — said, "This is exactly why we need to elect more leaders from the middle-class."
Riley Moore — the State Treasurer of West Virginia — said, "Ohio, please don't elect this man. He will continue failed policies that have been destroying the middle class of this great country."
A spokesperson for Gibbons's campaign told TheBlaze that "Mike Gibbons does not support tax increases on any Americans – and never has."
"Mike is a businessman, not a career politician and he understands economics and how to implement smart ideas and strategies that will benefit all Americans," the spokesperson continued. "As a conservative Mike has pledged that he will not raise taxes and will put forth pro-growth, America First policies."
JD Vance receives endorsement from Ohio Right to Life in Senate GOP primary
Ohio Right to Life, a pro-life grassroots organization in the state of Ohio, endorsed J.D. Vance in the state’s increasing contentious and rapidly approaching election to see who will replace retiring Senator Rob Portman.
According to its website, the organization works to “promote and defend the right of life of all innocent human beings, from the time of fertilization until natural death.”
Ohio Right to Life announced its endorsement of Vance this past Wednesday via press release which acknowledged the commitment of all of the Republican candidates' to the pro-life cause.
“The US Senate primary consists of four leading candidates all of which scored 100% on their Ohio Right to Life Survey,” the release said. “During this campaign, each of these four candidates have demonstrated tremendous pro-life leadership during their respective outreach at various townhalls, debates and church gatherings.”
“The state of Ohio is fortunate to have four strong pro-life candidates to choose from to serve as our next United States Senator,” the organization added.
Despite the crowded field of candidates being passionately pro-life, the organization opted to endorse Vance for Portman’s soon to be vacant seat citing his “exemplary pro-life service and statesmanship.”
“Ohio Right to Life believes JD Vance is the best candidate to continue the exemplary pro-life service and statesmanship currently demonstrated by Senator Rob Portman,” the press release stated. “JD Vance is 100% pro-life and we are confident that he will not only advance the cause of life but defend the unborn from Planned Parenthood and their allies in our nation’s capital. JD Vance will be a great US Senator.”
Vance said that he was “just thrilled” to receive Ohio Right to Life’s endorsement.
Just thrilled to have this endorsement. Ohio Right to Life is a great organization. (Also we have a very cute two year old. Love that kid.)https://twitter.com/jdvancepress/status/1512091005725646848\u00a0\u2026— J.D. Vance (@J.D. Vance) 1649351582
“I’m so honored to have Ohio Right to Life’s endorsement and support in this race,” Vance told TheBlaze. “For many years, Ohio Right to Life has been an incredible advocate for the unborn, for the elderly and for those who love the most vulnerable members of our community here in Ohio.”
Vance continued, “I’ll be an advocate for all of those people in the US Senate and an ally of Ohio Right to Life as we fight for a day when our law and culture protects innocents as much as we know they should.”
The Republican primary to determine who will run in the November general election will be held on May 3. A recently conducted statewide survey conducted by the pro-Vance super PAC Protect Ohio Values shows businessman Mike Gibbons, Josh Mandel Ohio’s former state treasurer, and Vance in a three-way tie polling at 18%.
J.D. Vance and Mike Gibbons exchange blows over abortion as the Ohio Senate primary intensifies
The Ohio GOP Senate primary continues to intensify as J.D. Vance’s campaign attacked Mike Gibbons as “squishy,” Fox News reported.
An article published by the Associated Press in 2017, when Mr. Gibbons last ran for the United States Senate, indicated that Gibbons might not be as staunchly pro-life as his campaign at the time indicated. The Associated Press reported that Gibbons said he “personally opposes abortion, but politically, he’s ‘not a woman’ so wouldn’t choose for them. He said he wasn’t ‘pro-choice,’ though, but ‘pro-people.’”
On Thursday, Vance raked Gibbons over the coals for his ostensible lack of commitment to the pro-life movement during a town hall event.
Vance said, “If you’re not willing to stand up for unborn babies in this country, then what else are you going to cut tail and run on when the going gets tough. If you’re not willing to stand on that issue, I think it indicates your character is weak, and you don’t have the fortitude to actually serve the interests of our voters.”
Noting that he was proud to be outspoken in support of the pro-life movement, Vance continued, “I’ve had the left attack me for a long time for having the courage of my convictions. And, you know what, when Mike Gibbons, they asked him whether he was pro-life, he said, no I wouldn’t call myself pro-life I think ultimately it should go to the woman’s choice.”
Condemning Gibbons’ apparent noncommitment to the pro-life cause, Vance added that his unclear stance “is the language of pro-abortion.”
OH SENATE: @JDVance1 rips fellow candidate @MikeGibbonsOH at a Townhall yesterday for comments Gibbons made in 2018 where he rejected the pro-life label, in favor of calling himself "pro-people" & said that since he's "not a woman," he can\u2019t make the choice on abortion for them.pic.twitter.com/mg6XWwl2xz— Henry Rodgers (@Henry Rodgers) 1645199685
Responding on Twitter, Mike Gibbon’s spokeswoman Samantha Cotten said that Vance “is lying, and he knows it.”
She added that it was “sad that he has resorted to pushing fake news.”
.@JDVance1 is lying and he knows it. Sad that he has resorted to pushing fake news. Mike Gibbons is and has always been 100% pro-life. He's been active with crisis pregnancy centers and pro-life causes for decades.https://twitter.com/JDVance1/status/1494704525059502086\u00a0\u2026— Samantha Cotten (@Samantha Cotten) 1645200707
Ms. Cotten told TheBlaze that “Mike Gibbons is 100% pro-life. This spin was debunked in the 2018 election cycle. This attack is a desperate attempt by JD Vance to deflect the narrative away from his sinking campaign and his past comments attacking President Trump.”
The Vance Campaign’s press secretary, Taylor Van Kirk, told TheBlaze that “Using pro-abortion language and being squishy on the issue tells conservatives who you really are. Trying to walk it back after you realize its political weakness makes you a coward. JD is proud to be 100% pro-life and will fight to end abortion in America.”
Recent polling indicates that Vance and Gibbons are within striking distance of each other.
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