J.D. Vance is an Apprentice Demagogue Promoting Hatred Against Haitians

When I watched J.D. Vance's VP acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention last July, I observed him to be a phony. But I also noted his embrace of demagoguery:

However, there were moments when Vance tapped into Trump style demagoguery as when he stated, "Democrats flooded the country with illegal aliens." From there he blamed illegal aliens for housing shortages and "Biden's inflation crisis."

Now it is clear that Vance is an apprentice demagogue as evidenced by his amplification of the false story that Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio are eating cats and dogs as well as other wildlife. Indeed, it his amplification that compelled Donald Trump to now infamously claim in his disastrous debate against Kamala Harris when he bellowed, "In Springfield, Ohio, they're eating the dogs, they're eating the cats, they're eating the pets of the people who live there." 

Prior to the debate, Vance tried to distance himself from the claim but did so only to show an even uglier side of himself:

In the last several weeks, my office has received many inquiries from actual residents of Springfield who've said their neighbors' pets or local wildlife were abducted by Haitian migrants. It's possible, of course, that all of these rumors will turn out to be false. 

Do you know what's confirmed? That a child was murdered by a Haitian migrant who had no right to be here. That local health services have been overwhelmed. That communicable diseases - like TB and HIV - have been on the rise. That local schools have struggled to keep up with newcomers who don't know English. The rents have risen so fast that many Springfield families can't afford to put a roof over their head.

Vance is merely the latest in the long line of demagogues who blame immigrants for causing and spreading disease along with all of other of society's ills. He makes no mention of the fact Haitian immigrants in Springfield have jobs, are paying taxes and are productive members of the community. But let's remember that facts do not matter to the demagogue, especially an aspiring one.

Indeed, Vance outright lies when he says a child was murdered by a Haitian migrant who shouldn't be here. Yes, an 11-year-child Aiden Clark was killed last year, but as his father Nathan stated his son, “was not murdered. He was accidentally killed by an immigrant from Haiti.” Moreover, the man responsible for Aiden Clark's death was in this country legally with an I-94. And yes, this same man has faced American justice and is serving between 9 and 13½ years for his crime. 

While Nathan Clark feels sadness and sorrow for his death, that sadness and sorrow has been exacerbated by Vance, Trump and other MAGA Republicans. Clark has described Vance, Trump and other MAGATs as "morally bankrupt" adding:

They have spoken my son’s name and used his death for political gain. They can vomit all the hate they want about illegal immigrants, the border crisis and even untrue claims about fluffy pets being ravaged and eaten by community members. However, they are not allowed, nor have they ever been allowed, to mention Aiden Clark from Springfield, Ohio.

Sadly, Clark's appeals have fallen on deaf ears. Trump, Vance and MAGA Republicans aren't going to let facts and truth get in the way of the chance to spread a lie. As for Vance, the apprentice is seeking to please his master.