‘Rookie’ Vivek Ramaswamy steals the present at first US presidential debate

The first Republican main debate was two hours of fireworks. And the one who shone by means of – each being on the offensive and on the receiving finish – was Indian-American presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. He oozed confidence and outshone everybody else.

Vivek Ramaswamy exchanged blows with all the opposite seven candidates, together with seasoned Indian-origin politician Nikki Haley. In truth, there have been 30 seconds of finger-pointing, nothing-heard heated trade between Haley and Ramaswamy.

This is the primary time in American historical past that two Indian-origin candidates shared the stage and sparred throughout a main debate. Haley and Ramaswamy are among the many three Indian-American politicians who’ve joined the crowded area of Republican candidates vying to turn into the US President in 2024.

All this in entrance of a rowdy Donald Trump-supporting crowd of 4,000 in Milwaukee that was liberal with its jeers and boos, principally when it got here to the previous president. Trump was the enormous who was current in his absence on the Milwaukee debate.

Asked why voters ought to select him over others, Vivek Ramaswamy mentioned: “I’m the outsider on this stage. I’m not a politician. My parents came to this country 40 years ago with no money, and I’ve gone on to found multibillion-dollar companies. I did it while getting married to my wife Apoorva and raising our two sons. That’s the American Dream.”

From the second the first debate-starting pistol was fired, it was 38-year-old Vivek Ramaswamy who was on the centre stage. Despite Florida Governor Ron DeSantis having the No. 1 spot on the controversy stage, it was Ramaswamy who made an indelible impression.

Among different Republican main rivals, Ramaswamy took on former US Vice-President Mike Pence over “experience”, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie over Trump indictment and pardon, and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley over international coverage.

And why Vivek Ramaswamy took it on the chin and jabbed at his main rivals is evident. He is the rising star of the Republican Party, an “outsider” who guarantees to revolutionise, not reform, the administration.

Ramaswamy attracted the primary assault from former Vice-President Mike Pence when the Indian-American Republican mentioned, “We are in the middle of a national identity crisis.”

“We don’t have an identity crisis, Vivek. We are not looking for a new national identity,” Pence responded.

The barrage continued. “Vivek, you recently said a president can’t do everything. Well, I’ve got news for you, Vivek. I’ve been in the hallway. I’ve been in the West Wing. The president of the United States has to confront every crisis facing America,” Pence mentioned.

Vivek Ramaswamy recognized for his anti-wokism and anti-establishment views, lived each bit to his popularity. He mentioned the others had “pre-prepared slogans” to assault him.

“I’m the only person on the stage who isn’t bought and paid for,” he mentioned. This invited boos from the viewers too.

Former Vice-President Pence retorted, “Now is not the time for on-the-job training. We don’t need to bring in a rookie.”

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie too landed a troublesome one on Ramaswamy: “I’ve had enough of a guy who stands up here who sounds like ChatGPT.”

He additionally branded Ramaswamy an “amateur” former US President Barack Obama, not a praise on a Republican stage.

Ramaswamy countered Christie by looking for a “hug”, a reference to Barack Obama’s go to to New Jersey after Hurricane Sandy battered it.

The debate started with the financial system and moved to local weather change, which Ramaswamy acknowledged was a “hoax”.

One hour into the controversy, it was “the elephant not in the room”, Donald Trump, that got here up for debate.

Ramaswamy positioned himself as Trump’s defender and vowed to pardon the previous president if given the prospect.

“Let’s just speak the truth. President Trump, I believe, was the best president of the 21st century. It’s a fact,” Ramaswamy mentioned. It’s at all times been his stand.

He challenged Pence into committing to pardon Trump. Pence, Trump’s former operating mate, refused to commit however didn’t shut the doorways on such a chance.

Ramaswamy additionally focused Governor Christie over Trump, saying his marketing campaign was “based on vengeance and grievance” in opposition to Trump. Christie spent extra time feuding with Ramaswamy, as a substitute of Pence or Governor Ron DeSantis.

NIKKI HALEY CLASHES WITH VIVEK RAMASWAMY

Vivek Ramaswamy and Nikki Haley created historical past as they grew to become the primary Indian-origin candidates to share a US main debate stage.

Individuals with Indian-American heritage have run for president in every of the final two elections. Bobby Jindal got here first in 2016 and was adopted by Kamala Harris, the vice-president, in 2022. But that is the primary time two Indian-Americans have appeared on the identical main debate platform in American presidential historical past.

Nikki Haley, the previous US ambassador to the United Nations and two-term governor of South Carolina, stood out among the many eight candidates on the stage at Milwaukee. As the one girl there and never sporting the standard darkish go well with and Republican-red tie, she instantly caught consideration.

Haley engaged in a heated trade with Vivek Ramaswamy, 30 seconds of which was finger-waving, high-pitched yelling. The moderators didn’t intervene.

Haley, emphasising the significance of teaching ladies, quoted Margaret Thatcher’s well-known phrases about how girls get issues completed whereas males discuss. She additionally highlighted her stance on holding transgender ladies out of feminine sports activities, contemplating it a lady’s situation. Haley firmly acknowledged, “I am going to fight for girls all day long because strong girls become strong women and strong women become strong leaders.”

Despite being seen as a longshot in main polls, Haley explicitly referred to the overall election. One of her memorable moments got here when she clashed with Ramaswamy over whether or not the US ought to present weapons and funding to Ukraine.

Drawing on her expertise on the United Nations, Haley distanced herself from each Trump and DeSantis, firmly expressing her help for Ukraine as the primary line of defence.

Ramaswamy accused Haley of supporting Ukraine as a consequence of stress from main defence contractors. “I wish you success in your future endeavours serving on the boards of Lockheed (Martin) and Raytheon,” he commented.

Directly addressing Ramaswamy, Haley criticised his lack of foreign policy experience and argued that his approach would make America less safe. She stated, “Under your watch, you would make America less safe. You have no foreign policy experience and it shows.”

“I reject the consensus that ‘winning’ in Ukraine is a vital US interestâ€æ The US military has one purpose above all, it’s to defend America’s home turf. Yet, the defence establishment recoils at this idea,” Ramaswamy added.

That Vivek Ramaswamy was the star of the primary debate was past any doubt, as The Wall Street Journal reported that he was not an unknown determine.

“It remains to be seen if his combative, unconventional style was effective, but he certainly took advantage of the spotlight. He was the most-searched candidate at the end of the debate,” it mentioned.

National politics correspondent of the Politico, Adam Wren, went forward and declared “Ramaswamy the winner”.

The subsequent debate is scheduled for September 22. And we all know who to maintain a watch out for.

Published On:

Aug 24, 2023