U.S. Senator J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), the Republican vice presidential nominee, made a campaign stop in Pennsylvania on Saturday. He began his day by attending an evangelical Christian conference in suburban Pittsburgh, and later in the evening, he held a rally in suburban Philadelphia.
Vance made an appearance at the Monroeville Convention Center for an event called a “town hall” as part of Lance Wallnau’s “Courage Tour.” Wallnau, a self-proclaimed prophet, is a prominent figure in the religious movement that aims to establish Christian dominion in American society.
The Courage Tour will make stops in seven swing states, and Wallnau is a dedicated supporter of former President Donald Trump, the Republican nominee for president.
After hosting a significant portion of the day’s events on Saturday and introducing various speakers, Wallnau did not join Vance on stage or introduce him. Instead, this responsibility was given to local pastor Jason Howard.
During the approximately 40-minute conversation, Vance consistently focused on blaming Vice President Kamala Harris and the Democratic presidential nominee for policies that he believed were causing negative consequences. He repeatedly mentioned the southern border and immigration as specific issues that he attributed to the actions of Harris and President Joe Biden.
During the discussion, an audience member raised a question regarding the substance use epidemic and inquired about Vance’s and former President Donald Trump’s plans to address it. Vance, who has openly shared his mother’s struggle with addiction, had his mother present at the event. He attributed a significant portion of the current crisis to fentanyl.
According to Vance, the fentanyl crisis has tragically robbed many individuals of the opportunity to start anew. He shares the story of a woman he knew who was on the path to recovery but unfortunately relapsed and unknowingly consumed fentanyl, resulting in her untimely demise. Vance emphasizes the urgent need to eradicate fentanyl from our nation in order to create safer streets and provide individuals with a chance to overcome addiction. The goal is to ensure that if someone does experience a setback, it doesn’t cost them their life.
According to Vance, the federal Department of Education is responsible for enabling the funding and influence of “radical groups” in shaping the curriculum of public schools.
According to him, the American education system was once highly regarded globally. However, he points out that there is an alarming trend where American children struggle with basic math but are well-versed in the concept of 87 different genders. He believes that this correlation is due to the education system focusing on teaching radical ideas rather than prioritizing fundamental subjects such as reading, writing, and arithmetic.
According to Vance, the key to eliminating the influence of “creepy socialism” in schools is to stop funding radical organizations that are indoctrinating our children.
Ross criticized JD Vance for aligning himself with Lance Wallnau, a conspiracy theorist known for his extreme views on abortion and involvement in the January 6 Capitol incident. Ross accused Vance of shamelessly pandering to the far-right by associating with someone who has a history of spreading hateful rhetoric and promoting election conspiracies.
Vance encouraged the audience members on Saturday to not only cast their vote but also to encourage five of their friends to do the same in the upcoming November elections.
“We need to ensure that Christians are actively participating in the electoral process, as their absence from the polls would mean a diminished voice for the Christian community in our country,” emphasized Vance. “I believe this would be an extremely unfavorable outcome.”
Rallying supporters in Bucks County
Republicans are celebrating the recent surge in registered Republican voters in Bucks County, which has now given the party an advantage in the area. According to Lawrence Tabas, the Chairman of the Pennsylvania Republican Party, 55 out of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties now have more registered Republicans than Democrats. This indicates a clear shift in voter preferences away from the Democrats.
Pennsylvania, despite some gains made by Republicans in Bucks and a few other counties, still boasts a higher number of registered Democrats than Republicans.
On Saturday, Democrats showed their support for presidential candidate Kamala Harris and vice presidential candidate Tim Walz in various suburban areas. In Montgomery County, Gov. Josh Shapiro and television producer and screenwriter Shonda Rhimes addressed supporters, while in Doylestown, Bucks County, State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta (D-Philadelphia) and other local leaders delivered speeches to rally their followers.
Vance believes that by “kicking out” undocumented immigrants, America will see an improvement in its economy. According to him, this would lead to more job opportunities for American citizens and compel employers to offer higher wages in order to remain competitive. Additionally, Vance is confident that fracking will greatly benefit Pennsylvania’s economy.
During his speech, Vance criticized Harris in various ways. He claimed that she lacked substance and a plan, and then accused her of having bad policies. He even went as far as stating that Harris has been copying Trump’s opinions and jokingly suggested that she might show up to the next rally wearing a red MAGA hat.
The crowd, with many of them sporting their own red MAGA hats, erupted in cheers and chants as they eagerly embraced Vance’s words.
According to 77-year-old Rita Raudenbush from Bristol Township, she is a firm believer in everything that Trump and Vance are advocating for.
“I was in a much better position four years ago when [Trump] was in power,” she expressed. “The cost of everything is simply soaring. And particularly as a senior citizen, considering my age and being dependent on Social Security, as well as being a widow, every penny matters.”
The Harris campaign responded to Vance’s remarks with a strong rebuttal.
“Donald Trump’s health care record is defined by dangerous plans that will drive up the cost of insurance and prescription drugs for tens of millions of Americans, so Trump and Vance are resorting to blatant lies as their defense,” said campaign spokesperson Joseph Costello. “In the White House, Donald Trump was a dutiful servant to Big Pharma, giving them billions in tax handouts, while sacrificing the health and financial security of working families and seniors. To quote JD: ‘That’s exactly what he’s going to do again.’”
