As I reflect on the debate last week, I am more convinced than ever that Chris Christie is wrong about Vivek.
Christie said that Ramaswamy had essentially copied Barack Obama by calling himself a “skinny guy with a funny nickname” – something Obama did himself at the Democratic National Convention many years ago.
But, I disagree with Christie’s assumption that we are “dealing with the same kind of amateur” in Ramaswamy. He isn’t like Barack Obama. Obama had a core set of beliefs. He pushed those beliefs. He worked to force those beliefs, that core ideology, on the rest of America. When Americans rejected his ideology, he bashed them. He was so devoted to his core ideology that he never gave up on it.
His ideas have changed at different times. They always evolved. Obama is wrong about almost everything. But I respect him for his ideology.
Ramaswamy is being attacked by conservatives and Republicans for his lack of core beliefs. He’s flipped-flopped over key issues in the past, and it’s clear that he is playing to voters by saying what they want.
In this sense, Ramaswamy resembles Kamala Harris.
The loud voices of social media dictated her entire presidential run (however short). Her campaign was almost exclusively driven by the demands of Twitter users. The campaign was driven by loud voices on Twitter. She paid the price for this by not getting any reactions, being smashed by Tulsi in a debate, and dropping out of the race before the first primary.
Even now, Harris’ words are meaningless when she has to speak on her own. She is constantly spouting gibberish to make herself sound intelligent.
Kamala Harris: “The significance of the passage of time, right? The significance of the passage of time. So when you think about it, there is great significance to the passage of time … and there’s such great significance to the passage of time…” pic.twitter.com/0yjBdfzFwm
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) March 21, 2022
Harris appeared to be devoid of true beliefs. She only said what she thought the public wanted to hear. It’s because of this that I believe she is dangerous to be so close to the president. It’s not the same to hold a set of core beliefs that is wrong, as it is to have none at all. She was and is a hollow vessel, filled only with words that people tell her to speak.
Ramaswamy’s approach is similar, but he has upgraded his software to make him sound more comprehensible in public. While “VivekGPT”, which is the newer version of the software, still has the same bugs as before. When you listen to his words, there is little substance. It’s also clear if you compare what he says now to what he said a few months ago, that he has no real belief. All it is is opportunism.
Ramaswamy has been known to flip-flop on a number of issues. This is one of many.
9) Vivek went from saying that he wasn’t denying that climate change was “real” and partially due to human activity to claiming the entire agenda was a “hoax” in the span of 6 months.https://t.co/vabFqSZuta
— AG (@AGHamilton29) August 30, 2023
Ramaswamy’s lack of a core set of beliefs is what makes me worry. Either he lacks core beliefs or is willing to abandon them for something he believes will be more popular. It’s great to win popularity contests, but it is a bad strategy to win the presidential primary.
A philosophy does not come with an on/off switch. Beliefs cannot be turned on or off. Any person who wants to be promoted must have strong beliefs. What good are they if you don’t possess them or are willing to throw them away because they’re not popular? Ramaswamy needs to be able to convince more people to take him seriously and listen to his ideas.
Ramaswamy’s critics have good reason to be critical. It doesn’t stop him from making some substantive, serious changes. He can show growth and evolution and explain why the old ideas that he once advocated are no longer relevant. Voters are looking for someone who is serious and not just another loudmouthed politician in a suit.
