“The reality is that kids do stupid things, especially young boys,” Vance said.
Mother Jones reports that public records indicate that eight of the 11 Republican operatives who took part in the offensive chat appear to range in age from 24 to 35.
Vance, however, scolded Democrats and the media for paying too much attention to “what a bunch of young people, a bunch of kids, say in a group chat, however offensive”.
Vance expressed irritation at people he said had allowed themselves to be distracted from the Democrat’s “incredible endorsement of political violence … by focusing on what kids are saying in a group chat”.
Republican legislative leaders in Vermont, along with governor Phil Scott – also a Republican – called for the resignation of Sam Douglass, a state senator, revealed to be a participant in the chat.
JD Vance attempted to minimize the disclosure that the leaders of a group known as the Young Republicans exchanged hundreds of racist and sexist texts, including one in which someone wrote “I love Hitler” and another in which rape was referred to as “epic,” as youthful transgressions.
In a recent episode of the Charlie Kirk Show, a podcast hosted by the late conservative activist’s colleagues, Vance implied that the individuals involved in the leaked conversations were significantly younger than they actually are. The vice president, who is 41, is barely younger than some of the participants.
“The truth is that children, particularly young boys, make foolish decisions,” Vance stated. They make edgy, crude jokes. Children do that. Furthermore, I do not want us to grow up in a nation where a child’s life can be destroyed for making a stupid joke, especially one that is extremely offensive. “”.
Politico gathered months’ worth of conversations between Young Republican National Federation leaders and members and some of its affiliates in Kansas, New York, Arizona, and Vermont via Telegram.
According to Mother Jones, public documents show that eight of the 11 Republican operatives involved in the offensive chat seem to be between the ages of 24 and 35.
Bipartisan demands for the removal or resignation of those involved in the scandals have been made.
The Republican Party’s political organization for Republicans aged 18 to 40, the Young Republican National Federation, demanded that those involved resign from their positions. The group called the interactions “unbecoming of any Republican.”.
However, Vance criticized the media and Democrats for focusing too much on “what a bunch of young people, a bunch of kids, say in a group chat, however offensive.”.
Jay Jones, a Democratic candidate for Virginia’s attorney general, joked that he would rather kill a Republican colleague than Hitler or Pol Pot, and he suggested that the racist texts from Republicans were a diversion from his offensive messages.
Since then, Jones has announced that he has accepted “full responsibility” for his remarks and publicly apologized to Todd Gilbert, the speaker of Virginia’s house of delegates at the time.
The Democrat’s “incredible endorsement of political violence … by focusing on what kids are saying in a group chat” is something that Vance said annoyed people for allowing themselves to be distracted.
The vice president told those who were more worried about racism in his party than the other party’s jokes about violence to “grow up.”. I apologize; please concentrate on the important matters rather than the opinions of children in group chats. “”.
Vance claimed to have grown up in a time when “the majority of what I, the foolish things that I did as a teenager and as a young adult, are not on the internet.”.
According to the father of three, he would advise his own kids, “especially my boys, don’t put things on the internet, like, be careful with what you post.”. Be prepared for someone to try to harm you or your family by leaking anything you post in a group chat. “.”.
According to Vance, “I really don’t want us to grow up in a country where a kid telling a stupid joke, telling a very offensive, stupid joke is cause to ruin their lives.”.
Other Republicans called for more prompt action. The resignation of Sam Douglass, a state senator who was identified as a chat participant, was demanded by Republican legislative leaders in Vermont and Republican governor Phil Scott.
New York Congresswoman Elise Stefanik called for the resignation of those involved, saying she was “absolutely appalled to learn about the alleged comments made by leaders of the New York State Young Republicans.”. The statements “do not reflect the beliefs of Republicans and certainly not of Kansas Republicans at large,” according to Danedri Herbert, chair of the Kansas GOP.
Democratic condemnation has been more consistent. California Governor Gavin Newsom wrote to House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer on Wednesday, requesting an investigation into the “vile and offensive text messages,” which he described as “the definition of conduct that can create a hostile and discriminatory environment that violates civil rights laws.”.
Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York, who spoke on the Senate floor Tuesday, called the conversation “revolting” and urged Republicans like Trump and Vance to “condemn these remarks swiftly and unequivocally.”.
Governor Kathy Hochul of New York, when questioned about the reporting, referred to the exchanges as “vile” and demanded that those responsible face consequences.
“Get them to leave the celebration. Remove their official positions. Hochul declared, “Cease using them as campaign advisers.”. Consequences must be imposed. Bullshit like this must end. “.”.
