MSNBC, Rachel Maddow has spotlighted the influential billionaire behind JD Vance’s rapid rise within the Republican Party: Peter Thiel. During Vance’s acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention, Maddow revealed how Thiel’s financial support and strategic backing have been crucial to Vance’s political advancement.
JD Vance, whose public fame stems mainly from his memoir Hillbilly Elegy, has generally remained a low-profile figure. Maddow emphasized that Vance’s lack of broader public recognition is more due to his limited political achievements rather than his tenure at Yale Law School.
According to a recent ADVOCATE publication dated July 18, Peter Thiel, co-founder of PayPal and Palantir Technologies, has emerged as a significant benefactor of right-wing causes. Maddow highlighted how Thiel’s support has been pivotal in shaping Vance’s career trajectory. She disclosed that Thiel secured Vance a role at a San Francisco biotech firm, facilitated by the company’s CEO as a personal favor.
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Maddow also pointed out that Thiel’s influence extended into Vance’s subsequent roles within venture capital firms, despite mixed success. A notable example includes a failed investment in a Kentucky-based company that eventually went bankrupt, raising questions about Vance’s business judgment.
Thiel’s backing was not limited to professional opportunities. Maddow revealed that Thiel donated $15 million to a super PAC that played a critical role in Vance’s Senate campaign. This financial boost significantly impacted Vance’s campaign operations and illustrates Thiel’s deep involvement in Vance’s political journey.
Moreover, Maddow discussed how Thiel’s support was instrumental in securing Donald Trump’s endorsement for Vance. This endorsement proved crucial for Vance’s victory in the Republican primary in Ohio, underscoring that Vance’s political success is closely tied to Thiel’s support rather than his own merits.
Maddow didn’t hesitate to scrutinize Vance’s stance on contentious issues. She referred to a 2022 podcast where Vance expressed a desire to outlaw abortion nationwide, contrasting with Trump’s more cautious position on the subject.
In addition, Maddow examined Vance’s alignment with far-right ideologies, including advocacy for a “late Republican period” and a post-democratic era. She suggested that these extreme views make Vance a controversial choice for a vice-presidential nominee.
Concluding her analysis, Maddow proposed that Trump’s selection of Vance as his running mate signals a bold confidence in winning the election, regardless of the controversies surrounding Vance. “You can only pick a candidate as out there as JD Vance if you’re really thoroughly quite sure that you’re going to win, no matter what kind of craziness you put on the ticket,” Maddow asserted.
