Vivek Ramaswamy's October Surprise

 I CHECKED MY EMAIL AFTER PUBLISHING THIS POST AND FOUND A CONTRIBUTION ON THIS SUBJECT BY DAVE MILLER WHICH I INCLUDED BELOW.

By now you've probably heard about the disgusting political attack ad put out by Republican Vivek Ramaswamy and his campaign for governor of Ohio against the Democratic candidate, Amy Acton.

I've seen al lot of horrid, sleazy campaign attack ads in my lifetime, but this was so reprehensible that it shocked me to my core. And that's because as a child (6 years old) I, too, was a victim of sexual abuse. Through therapy and working hard, you get through the trauma and build a life and leave the memories in the past, where they belong.

What Ramaswamy did is beyond crossing a red line, it was inhumane and, IMO, criminal.

I found this on Facebook, and the man who wrote it explains it better than I could, since my emotions would get the better of me.

Suffice it to say that I'm not surprised Ramaswamy found a comfortable home in the current Trumpublican Party:

"An October surprise is traditionally a last minute revelation intended to expose an opponent’s weaknesses, damage their credibility, and potentially change the outcome of an election.

But in all my years, I have never witnessed an October surprise in which a candidate so effectively exposed his own moral bankruptcy, his own lack of judgment, and his own unfitness for public office.

What Vivek Ramaswamy and his campaign have done is far more revealing about his character than anything they could possibly have revealed about Amy Acton.

To take the horrific childhood trauma of a 12 year old girl, a child who endured sexual abuse and unimaginable betrayal, and exploit that suffering decades later for political advantage is, in my opinion, an extraordinary display of cruelty, opportunism, and moral failure.

And what makes it even more disturbing is that his campaign has acknowledged responsibility for the advertisement and continues to stand behind it.

Let me be perfectly clear: I cannot promise anyone that Amy Acton will be a great governor. No one can make such a promise about any candidate.

But I can say this with absolute conviction: A man who demonstrates such a profound lack of compassion, decency, and moral judgment in his pursuit of power has given me every reason to believe he is unfit to exercise that power.

Elections are not simply about economic policies, political parties, or campaign promises. They are also about the moral character of the people we entrust with the future of our communities, our children, and our state.

When someone is willing to exploit the sexual abuse of a child to advance his political ambitions, I have to ask: What moral boundary would he refuse to cross once he actually holds power?

That question should frighten every Ohioan, regardless of political affiliation.

The consequences of electing someone who places political ambition above basic human decency can extend far beyond a single election or a four years term. Such leadership can gradually erode the moral standards we expect from public officials and normalize behavior that should never be acceptable.

Perhaps the greatest irony of this entire episode is that the intended victim of this October surprise may ultimately emerge stronger, while the man responsible has revealed something deeply troubling about himself.

Vivek Ramaswamy intended to make Amy Acton the issue. Instead, he has made his own character the issue.

And for me, that may be the most revealing October surprise I have ever witnessed.

Ohio deserves better. Much, much better."

DAVE MILLER:

Maybe the readers of PE can explain exactly what Republicans are supposed to learn from this ad.

The facts surrounding this story are horrifying.

Ohio gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton was repeatedly sexually abused by her stepfather, Cledith Arthur, her mother's husband.

In 1978, Arthur was arrested, charged and indicted for raping her. He pleaded not guilty, posted bond and then fled Ohio with his wife, Amy's mother.

He became a fugitive from justice. Warrants were issued for his arrest, but he never returned to face trial. He died in Pennsylvania in 2004.

And now, nearly half a century later, Amy's mother is publicly attacking her own daughter, calling her a liar and urging voters not to support her.

This is why America can no longer have nice things.

Because one political party, the GOP, seems to have decided there is no depth to which it will not sink, no amount of slime it will not spread, and no personal tragedy it will not exploit if doing so might help win an election.

And its supporters, desperate for any good news in a difficult political year, simply nod in approval.

So I'll ask again. What, exactly, are Republicans supposed to learn from this?