Presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy is a Donald Trump echo who appeals to the dark parts of the American psyche and hes no Harold Hill from The Music Man either.
Rove, a Fox News contributor and former deputy chief of staff for President George W. Bush, slammed Ramaswamy as a glib, shallow, overbearing, smooth-talking biotech entrepreneur in building up to an analogy of the classic Broadway and movie musical.
Citing false or questionable comments Ramaswamy made about his fellow candidates during the debate, about the conspirators in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, and about the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection, Rove declared the candidate to be far more sinister than a certain famous swindler of stage and screen.
Can't afford to contribute? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. We hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Its easy to dismiss Mr. Ramaswamy as a present-day Professor Harold Hill, the con man in The Music Man with a ready smile and rapid patter skinning the citizens of River City, Rove wrote. But Hill wanted only to sell band uniforms and musical instruments. Mr. Ramaswamy wants to control Americas nuclear codes or perhaps to occupy a comfortable seat in Mr. Trumps cabinet.
Advertisement
He is a performance artist who says outrageous things, smears his opponents and appeals to the dark parts of the American psyche, Rove continued. Theres already a GOP candidate who does all those things, and worse. Republicans deserve a choice, not an echo.
The front-running Trump appears receptive to Ramaswamy as a potential running mate or some other role. For his part, Ramaswamy, running a distant third behind Trump on the GOP side, said hed like to make Trump, who faces 91 criminal charges over four indictments, an adviser or mentor if hes elected president .
Can't afford to contribute? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. We hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.