Are you familiar with the 37-year-old Cincinnati Indian American Republican businessman Vivek Ramaswamy running for the 2024 Republican nomination? If you are not, it is time to do some homework. He is the worst, the most dangerous of the unimpressive dozen Republicans running for president.
For months, it has been easy to ignore Ramaswamy. Before he announced his candidacy, most of us had never heard of him. He has not held public office. He looked like one more multi-millionaire ready to use his own money to fund the adventure of a lifetime. What is more exciting? Buying a trip to outer space or dreaming about becoming president?
Ramaswamy fashions himself as the embodiment of the American dream. He is a successful businessman with an estimated fortune of $640 million. He is positioning himself as a baggage-free successor to Donald Trump, who, Ramaswamy promises, he will pardon if elected.
The Ramaswamy campaign is about the evils of “wokeism,” which he proclaims is destroying America. He champions merit over entitlement and is ready to condemn anyone he views as disagreeing with him.
While the harm (or merit) of “wokeism” is subject to debate, Ramaswamy’s views on “wokeism” could prove to be harmless rhetoric. Far worse is his vision on how to run the United States. He is a textbook authoritarian and has a plan to disassemble the deep state through executive fiat. Without interference from Congress, he would abolish the Department of Education, the FBI, the IRS, and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Ramaswamy’s vision and his strategy of championing Trumpism and promising the ex-president a pardon while at the same time seeking to replace him as head of the GOP is resonating with some Republicans. Should Trump’s legal problems worsen, which is all but certain, Ramaswamy could suddenly find himself as the 2024 Republican nominee.
Are today’s Republicans ready to support an Indian American candidate? Maybe. Unlike Trump, who might be considered Ramaswamy’s inspiration to run for president, Ramaswamy has an impressive personal story. The offspring of Indian immigrants, he was valedictorian of his high school and attended Harvard before going to Yale Law School. He is an extraordinarily successful entrepreneur who amassed a net worth of more than $15 million before graduating from law school. And he is more articulate than any other candidate of either party currently running for president.
So why is Ramaswamy’s candidacy so worrisome? Because he could win. As a multi-millionaire, he is able to self-fund his campaign, if needed. He already has qualified for the first GOP presidential debate and is the only candidate likely to be a match for Chris Christie. While Christie talks about Trump, Ramaswamy talks about “equal opportunity, not equal results.” The message resonates with many Republicans.
Ramaswamy has conveniently adopted the standard set of MAGA policies, echoing Trump on foreign policy, “border security,” and abortion. There are minor differences between Ramaswamy and Trump, but not many. On abortion, for example, Ramaswamy supports Ohio’s six-week abortion ban with exceptions for rape, incest, and danger to the mother or child. He opposes a federal ban on abortion, likely because of his distaste for the deep state.
Is Ramaswamy the future of the Republican party? Maybe. He now is third among Republican candidates, behind only Trump and DeSantis. If he does well in the first Republican debate (and even if he does not), he could soon eclipse DeSantis and become the frontrunner to replace Trump should Trump’s legal problems overwhelm him. That is why it is important to take Ramaswamy seriously.
The combination of a young, smooth-talking candidate who is an indisputable outsider who embraces Trumpism could result in a groundswell of support for Ramaswamy much like the one that Barack Obama experienced in 2008.
Donald Trump is not the only threat to democracy running for president in 2024. With the emergence of Ramaswamy, Trump may not even be the worst.
J.E. Dean is a retired attorney and public affairs consultant writing on politics, government, and other subjects.
Catherine Tanzer says
This article is So biased. Not even professional. This candidate is highly intelligent and has valid points.
Deirdre LaMotte says
That he would pardon a 3 times indicted, twice impeached man, he is dishonorable and has more $$$
than ethics. Very creepy, no thank you.
John Dean says
Please let me disagree with your characterization of the piece, but thank you for reading it.
I have reviewed Ramaswamy’s positions closely. I have concluded he is not a supporter of democracy. And I am troubled by the obvious irresponsibility of promising to pardon Donald Trump even before his trials. Why would he do this? And I find his “point” that the January 6, 2021 insurrection was caused by “censorship” to be nonsense.
I am biased in favor of democracy and the rule of law. I also have a soft spot for the U.S. Constitution.
Joseph A. Fick, Jr. says
Agree!
Marjorie Fick says
Why is it necessary to describe Mr.Ramaswamy as an Indian American?? He’s an American. Period.
And certainly a qualified possible Republican candidate. I wish him well.
Steven Arnold says
A quick Google search about him brings many results that also identify him as an Indian American. Most of them do it immediately in their headline. Taking a moment to read some of those articles would also let you see that he freely self identifies his Indian roots, including his Hindu religious roots. While you are welcome to continue to be outraged on his behalf for these identity markers, I think he already disagrees with you on the subject as he openly discusses and embraces them himself.
Don E. Itall says
As I read the article, I kept waiting for the downside to having Ramaswamy as either a candidate or President. Eliminate the Department of Education? Great idea. The word education doesn’t even appear in the Constitution. Having a ‘soft spot’ for the Constitution, you should know this.