It was a moment that shook even the battle-hardened political public of the United States. JD Vance, Vice President of the United States, stepped in front of the cameras – and chose not empathy or dignity, but a statement that many perceived simply as a cold-hearted dismantling of a sick man.
Just moments earlier, former President Joe Biden had publicly announced that he had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that had already metastasized to the bone. A deeply personal and life-altering moment that even political opponents could have acknowledged with decency – if they had wanted to.
But Vance had something else in mind. While he did say he wished Biden "the best" and hoped for "the right recovery," those words were barely out before he launched into a calculated takedown. "We really do need to be honest about whether the former president was capable of doing the job." And further: "That's not a political statement. I just don't think he was in good enough health."
What Vance said – and more importantly what he did not say – left many speechless. In a country that has often seen political cruelty, this sounded like a new low. No respect for the person. No recognition of a life of public service. No pause for reflection. Just the instrumentalization of a disease that affects millions of families.
The backlash was swift.
Former Republican Representative Barbara Comstock called him a "soulless ghoul." A visit with the Pope, she remarked sarcastically, seemed to have had no effect on Vance whatsoever. Democratic Representative Jimmy Gomez responded with a meme – Vance’s face photoshopped onto the body of a confused child. Even from the conservative camp came support: Mollie Hemingway, editor-in-chief of The Federalist, wrote, "One billion percent agree."
But it was Democratic strategist Chris Jackson who captured the moment best: "Jesus Christ. These people are just ghouls. Plain and simple."
Ein Statement, das Geschichte schreiben wird
With his words, JD Vance revealed more than he probably realized. Not just about Joe Biden – but about himself. About his attitude toward power, humanity, and political decency. Because even if one believes it is legitimate to question a president’s fitness for office – the moment Vance chose to do so was a deliberate crossing of the line.
What remains is a bitter aftertaste. And the question: If even gravely ill people can no longer hope for compassion in today’s political climate – what has become of the moral foundation of American democracy?
Vance gave the answer himself. And it sounded like a cold slap in the face: politely packaged, but ruthlessly calculated.
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