Vance backlash reignites as another childless woman comment resurfaces
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US vice presidential nominee J.D. Vance speaks during a campaign rally at the North Carolina Aviation Museum & Hall of Fame in Asheboro, North Carolina, August 21, 2024. Photo: Peter Zay / AFP via Getty Images
Ohio Sen. JD Vance is once again facing scrutiny for unsurfaced comments about people who aren't parents: This time blasting a teachers union president for not having "some of her own" children.
Why it matters: In a race framed as the boys v. girls election, the GOP's VP nominee has found himself at the center of widespread criticism over several resurfaced comments about women and family, with arguably the most infamous being his 2021 dig at "childless cat ladies" on the left.
- He's faced repeated questioning over his comment about "childless" women and has repeatedly characterized it as a sarcastic joke underscoring his view of an "anti-family" country and Democratic party.
The latest: Speaking at a Center for Christian Virtue leadership forum in October 2021 alongside other Ohio Senate candidates, Vance took aim at the education system. "So many of the leaders of the left, and I hate to be so personal about this, but they're people without kids, trying to brainwash the minds of our children," Vance said.
- He singled out Randi Weingarten, the head of the American Federation of Teachers, saying she "doesn't have a single child."
- Weingarten described herself as a "mother by marriage" after Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) similarly suggested the union president was not a mother during a congressional hearing.
- "If she wants to brainwash and destroy the mind of children, she should have some of her own and leave ours the hell alone," Vance continued.
Zoom out: The American Federation of Teachers endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris' presidential bid last month.
Friction point: Weingarten reposted Kamala HQ's clip of the audio shared to X and condemned Vance's jab as "gross!"
- "JD Vance's comments are sad and insulting to millions of modern families, and school teachers including Catholic nuns, none of whom should be targeted for their family decisions," she wrote.
- Weingarten married her wife, Rabbi Sharon Anne Kleinbaum, who has two daughters, in 2018.
- Liz Shuler, the president of the AFL-CIO, also slammed Vance's comments, saying they "show his true colors: a sexist, anti-woman blowhard who doesn't have a clue what's best for America's students."
The other side: Taylor Van Kirk, a spokeswoman for Vance, said in a statement provided to Axios that there are "a lot of great teachers across the country," at whom the VP nominee's criticism was not directed.
- "There is no bigger threat to American children than the left wing indoctrination being forced on our schools by elites like Randi Weingarten, with the support of Kamala Harris and Tim Walz," the statement read.
Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) made a similar dig at Weingarten in 2021, arguing she "doesn't even have children—what does she know about raising and teaching kids?"
The big picture: These unearthed comments mark yet another moment in the GOP ticket's series of digs disparaging women caught — or publicly said — on tape.
- And as Vance tries to find his footing as Trump's policy attack dog, he might have to go back on clean-up duty to address personal jabs once again.
Go deeper: Some Republicans express buyer's remorse over Vance VP pick
