"At a time when elites struggled to comprehend Trump’s appeal, [J.D.] Vance’s diagnosis of rural white Americans’ disillusionment with a government and society that had left them behind seemed prescient. These days, Vance’s persona is more right-wing provocateur than establishment darling. But it’s his stance toward Trump that seems destined to dominate his campaign in a primary that could be a bellwether for the post-Trump GOP. As his rivals strain to outdo one another with displays of fealty to the former President, Vance’s past opposition has been cited as proof of an all-too-convenient conversion. Vance admits it took him time to come around, but points to his book and commentary as evidence he understood Trump’s appeal before most. 'I sort of got Trump’s issues from the beginning,' Vance says. 'I just thought that this guy was not serious and was not going to be able to really make progress on the issues I cared about.'"
From "Breakfast with J.D. Vance, Anti-Trump Author Turned Pro-Trump Candidate" by Molly Ball (Time).
I think his position on Trump is just fine. What's more interesting is the way liberals embraced "Hillbilly Elegy" before they decided it was a yucky conservative they had in their arms.
ADDED: Here's a New Republic article from November 17, 2016, "J.D. Vance, the False Prophet of Blue America/The bestselling author of 'Hillbilly Elegy' has emerged as the liberal media's favorite white trash–splainer. But he is offering all the wrong lessons."
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Temujin writes:
"I try to stay away from 'Trump-splainin' or 'Merica-splainin' by writers based in the Northeast anymore. I'll sound tiresome repeating my comments. But...we're not zoo animals. They cannot just do a drive-by and expect to understand that land outside of their Washington DC or New York offices- the land between the coasts and the people who inhabit that land. It's vast, the numbers are huge and, frankly, we don't just live inside the coasts, we also live on the coasts. (Just got emails from old business associates in San Diego and LA respectively- disgusted, dismayed, and not sure what to do about the state of things in Blue America.) The thickness of our media bubble, and their continued attempt to paint a narrative of America that is neither accurate nor based in reality is beyond tedious. It seems mentally disordered.
"Figuring out why Trump got elected is not hard and has been done by many- including the host of this blog- over the years. Trump is merely the symptom. And many, JD Vance among them, held Trump at arm's length at the beginning, only to later realize that he was taking actions- or trying to take actions- that matched his campaign claims. And then some. While those in the media like Molly Ball were telling us of fascism coming to America at any moment via Trump, the actual Fascists were being protected by those same writers. At this point, it would be insane for me to look to them for explanations on anything. And that's a shame, but it's where we're at. "
Dave Begley writes:
"The long knives are out for JD Vance, but Fox News gives him plenty of air time. He will win.
"I’m in the same boat with JD. At first, I didn’t think Trump’s personality and manner would work with voters. But once I saw him win, I was converted. He turned out to be 10x better than I expected."
Mike writes:
"Ann wrote, "I think his position on Trump is just fine. What's more interesting is the way liberals embraced "Hillbilly Elegy" before they decided it was a yucky conservative they had in their arms."
"The haters have no capability of holding a nuanced position. Some of us Trump supporters realize there's a lot to dislike about Trump, but then there's a lot to dislike about Biden too. Hate gets you no where fast.
"Thanks Ann!"
Assistant Village Idiot writes:
"I thought Vance was also explaining elites to Hillbillies, and doing a pretty good job of it. Revealing that both real ability and having your shoes match your belt (as a cultural reassurance) mattered to Yale or white-shoe law firms was also a poke at elites, without it being a rant. Also, while explaining the respectable middle class to hillbillies was not new, it was done with some sympathy in both directions. All those lessons wove in and out throughout the book.
"BTW, as a many-generations New Englander who went to school in the south and sent all five sons to one or another Scots-Irish territory for their educations - including two to Kentucky - what drew me to Vance was his honesty as well as his ability to cross boundaries."
Tim writes:
"I fully sympathize with Vance here. When Trump was running for the Republican nomination in 2016, I voted for Ted Cruz. My wife voted for Trump, and while we discussed it, I completely disagreed with her reasons. I considered Trump to be a New York Yankee and not a real Republican at all. I thought he was saying whatever it took to win the nomination and would revert to a Democrat Light as soon as he was elected. When he won the nomination, the only reason I voted for him was the short list he published for people he would consider for the USSC, and we had one opening already, so that made me a one issue voter at the time.
"Well, I was wrong and my wife was right. He is still an obnoxious New York Yankee, but he kept every promise he could after he was elected. He was an amazing President considering what he was up against. I would vote for him again in a heartbeat.
"So I for one fully believe that JD Vance was as surprised and happy with Trump as I was."
Lars Porsena writes:
""J.D. Vance, the False Prophet of Blue America/The bestselling author of 'Hillbilly Elegy' has emerged as the liberal media's favorite white trash–splainer. But he is offering all the wrong lessons."
"The progressive left saying "Those rubes, yokels, and peckerwoods are getting uppity""
Colorado Dude writes:
"Thank you for adding the 2016 coda to your post on the shifting views about this segment of America.
"What I found astonishing is how prophetic the New Republic article was about what Democrats in control would do. The article’s “right answers” (actually far left answers) are all on display in the 2021 Democrats’ Washington DC action agenda.
"My wife worked in state government for years. She and her colleagues in workforce centers knew that the longer an able-bodied adult was out of the workforce, the less likely it was that they’d succeed as employees. So the Democrats’ extended cash to non-workers actually will probably harm them for the rest of their lives. And condemn them to a cash-strapped retirement.
You continue to please me with your subtle insights. Thanks."
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