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Vivek Ramaswamy is radical, articulate, young – and rich. In the first televised debate of the Republican candidates for the presidential election, the 38-year-old attracted a lot of attention with his aggressive manner. But he remains an outsider.
Vivek Ramaswamy comes from a remarkable background: a son of Indian immigrants, a Hindu – educated in a Jesuit school, in the state of Ohio. There he was influenced by a piano teacher who was a fan of Ronald Reagan. His path led through the elite universities of Harvard and Yale – and into the biotech industry, where he became very rich early on. Ramaswamy sees himself as a prime example of the “American Dream”.
And this is exactly what is in danger, he explains in an election campaign video. The US was suffering from an identity crisis: faith, patriotism, hard work – all these values have disappeared, replaced by Wokeism and ideologies around transgenics, climate and Covid-19.
Kulturkampf and conspiracy theories
All of these are catchphrases of the Kulturkampf that is taking place in the USA. Ramaswamy, wrote books about it – and castigated wokeism, the supposedly harmful left-wing ideology.
In February of this year he announced his candidacy. He believes he can lead the country out of the supposed identity crisis. He offers people a vision. It contains a mix of libertarian ideas, radical, right-wing positions – and a dash of conspiracy theory.
All the federal agencies that shouldn’t exist: the FBI, the IRS, or the Department of Education. We will abolish them all.
Ramaswamy stands for capitalism, for fossil fuels, against climate protection. He explains that the bureaucracy in Washington has become too powerful – and wants to cut it down radically. He promised that, for example, during an election campaign in the state of Iowa. He wants to drain the “swamp in Washington”: “All the federal agencies that shouldn’t exist: the FBI, the IRS or the Ministry of Education. We will abolish them all.”
More than a young version of Donald Trump?
Ramaswamy reaches into Donald Trump’s bag of tricks: He, too, is an outsider who claims to be opposing the political elite. He is targeting an electorate that Trump has cultivated: dissatisfied, primarily white Americans who distrust the government in Washington. Ramaswamy promises he will pardon Trump if he is convicted. But in an interview with ABC, he said he was more than a young version of Donald Trump – he would go further: “The wall to Mexico is not enough – I want to defend the border with US forces.”
Legend:
Ramaswamy talks to Fox News host Sean Hannity after the debate with the Republican contenders.
Keystone/AP/Morry Gash
The foreign policy positions are also radical. Ramaswany wants to withdraw support from Ukraine and hand over the country they have conquered to the Russians. He can eloquently present such positions, and Ramaswamy is in top form on stage: for example in the first TV debate, when he competed against experienced politicians.
Do you want incremental reform – or do you want a revolution?
Ramaswamy was aggressive, self-confident, showed his big smile and presented himself as a young alternative to the encrusted party establishment. “The question is: do you want a puppet or a patriot who tells the truth. Do you want incremental reform – or do you want a revolution?”
Some see Ramaswamy as one of the winners of the debate. But he remains the outsider, his ideas seem unrealistic. And: Ramaswamy is a long way behind Donald Trump in the polls.