JD Vance is a role model for political dialogue

It’s an unfortunate fact that many of us have lost faith in politicians. Even the word “politician” now pejoratively carries connotations of duplicity, shallowness, wealth and manipulation. I am not here to convince you to view politicians in a favorable light; that is a task which I find myself inadequate, as well as unwilling, to undertake. I do wish, however, to point out a recent moment that reminded me of the potential value of a true American politician.

Last Wednesday night, Vice President JD Vance joined Erica Kirk at a Turning Point USA conference at Ole Miss, where they spoke to a crowd of around 10,000 college students. Many students came sporting their TPUSA gear and were enthusiastic about Kirk and Vance’s speeches, while other less admiring fans eagerly awaited their chance to step up in line and ask a “gotcha” question that would trip up the conservative leaders.

Watching the event online, I wondered, now that Charlie Kirk is no longer leading TPUSA, would there still be an opportunity for students to ask questions? Kirk’s signature move was to give people an open microphone and invite them to prove him wrong, but in his absence and with someone as important as the vice president speaking, it seemed likely that this portion of the talk would be omitted. It was to my great surprise, then, when after Vance’s speech, he encouraged students to step up to the microphone and ask him anything they wanted.

For nearly an hour, students came forward to ask Vance anything from his stance on immigration, to his Christian faith, to the government shutdown. Some came from a place of agreement, while others pressured his views. In the spirit of Charlie Kirk, Vance specifically encouraged students who disagreed with him to ask questions and stressed the importance of a unifying love for America over our political differences.

Can you honestly think of the last time a politician did something like this? Can you name another politician who would willingly invite college kids to ask them anything at all, live and unscripted? Most sane politicians would never put themselves in a situation so unprepared and unprotected in which they risk slipping up, looking ignorant or getting clipped saying or doing something that could wind up ruining their political career. With no control over the situation, any sort of questions could be posed with very little allowance for reaction time. And sadly, a number of politicians frankly lack the competence to face even a small amount of scrutiny or questioning without the assistance of a script or teleprompter. By contrast, not only was Vance willing to accept questions from the students, he was able to answer them articulately and honestly. This transparency and candor impressed me, and it made me consider how much those simple qualities can make someone stand out in today’s political climate.

There is no question about it: We live in an age of hypocrisy. People online will virtue signal left and right to gain approval and acclaim, but don’t believe a word of what they’re saying. Influencers carefully curate their social media profiles to project an image of perfection when in reality their lives are incredibly messy once the camera turns off. Politicians campaign on promises never to be fulfilled. In the wake of Charlie Kirk’s death, people — and politicians in particular — across the country have been calling for the protection of free speech and political dialogue, but other than sanctimonious posts on X saying, “We should … ” and “Society must … ”, nothing concrete has been done. The fact that the vice president, one of the highest offices in U.S. government, was willing to actively stand for freedom of speech and invite open dialogue was incredibly refreshing and reassured me that hypocrisy is not pervasive of all aspects of government.

To me, perhaps the most wholesome part was that by talking openly, face-to-face and honestly with college kids, Vance embodies the true American spirit of democracy “of the people, by the people, for the people,” as described by President Abraham Lincoln in the Gettysburg Address. There should not be a hierarchical barrier between the American public and “loftier” government officials. After all, they are elected from us and their authority comes from us. The temporary nature of elected leaders’ power, freely bestowed, is one of the most amazing qualities of our democracy. I found that the free conversation between Vance and the Ole Miss students emphasizes the concept of the American people as one united group, rather than one that divides us by class or separates us ordinary citizens from our elected leaders. 

In my opinion, we shouldn’t be asking why Vance did this, but why other politicians don’t do it, too. Whether or not you agree with our vice president’s personal priorities, transparency, political discussion and unity among Americans are certainly valuable attributes for which to strive (especially in today’s polarized political atmosphere). I hold out hope that perhaps one day, with intentional adoption of such values, politicians can repair their broken reputations and regain the trust of all of the American people, even those with whom they disagree.