Vivek Ramaswamy, an Indian-American tech entrepreneur, has thrown his hat into the ring for the 2024 U.S. presidential race on the Republican ticket. Ramaswamy’s campaign platform focuses on ending the country’s dependence on China and restoring merit-based policies, appealing to the right-wing base that values economic nationalism and traditional American values. However, the question remains: can Ramaswamy’s anti-China, merit-based platform win him the presidency?
Ramaswamy’s anti-China stance also resonates with those concerned about the country’s growing economic and geopolitical threat. He believes that the United States must end its dependence on China and promote self-sufficiency, particularly in the technology sector. Ramaswamy is critical of China’s practices that he believes put American national security at risk, such as intellectual property theft and cyberattacks.
Despite his anti-China, merit-based platform, Vivek Ramaswamy’s candidacy faces several challenges. One major hurdle is the already crowded field of Republican candidates vying for the party’s nomination, which includes big names like former President Donald Trump and former Vice President Mike Pence. Ramaswamy’s relative lack of political experience may also be seen as a disadvantage in a presidential race.
Moreover, his platform may not be as popular with moderate and left-leaning voters who value diversity and inclusion. Ramaswamy’s rejection of progressive policies like climate change action, socially responsible investing, and transgender rights may also hurt his appeal with a broader electorate.
Vivek Ramaswamy, the 37-year-old is the latest community member to enter the Republican Party’s presidential primary after Nikki Haley.
What makes Vivek Ramaswamy a potential US Presidential Candidate?
Vivek Ramaswamy, whose parents migrated to the US from Kerala and worked at a General Electric plant in Ohio, announced his presidential bid during a live interview on Fox News’s prime time show, a conservative political commentator. He is a rising right-wing star who has pounced on the message of “anti-wokeism” and environmental, social, and governance investing.
In an interview with The New York Times, he said that if elected as the president, his first action would be to “repeal Executive Order 11246, which has banned discrimination and required affirmative action for federal contractors since 1965.”
He said the US faces external threats like the rise of China. It “has got to be our top foreign policy threat that we’ve gotta respond to, not pointless wars somewhere else.” “That’s gonna require some sacrifice. It’s gonna require a declaration of independence from China and complete decoupling.”
Ramaswamy’s rallying cry has been to denounce everything from climate change policies and socially responsible investing to transgender rights, critical race theory, and the Black Lives Matter movement. He calls “wokeism” a national threat. “Wokeism” is the promotion of liberal progressive ideology and policy as an expression of sensitivity to systemic injustices and prejudices. “I think we need to put ‘merit’ back into ‘America’ in every spirit of our lives,” he said, adding that he will end affirmative action in “every sphere of American life.”
“We must reclaim global energy leadership by rejecting the demands of a new climate religion that shackles the U.S. and leaves China untouched,” Ramaswamy said.
The next US presidential election is scheduled to be held on November 5, 2024. Ramaswamy is the fourth Indian-American to run for the White House.
However, Vivek Ramaswamy‘s entry into the race has received mixed reactions. Democratic National Committee chair Jaime Harrison said, “one thing is clear: The race for the Make America Great Again base is getting messier and more crowded by the day.”
While Ramaswamy’s views may appeal to the right-wing base of the Republican Party, they may not necessarily resonate with the broader electorate. He is likely to face fierce opposition from the Democratic Party, which has traditionally championed affirmative action and social justice policies.
Moreover, his stance on China may prove to be problematic. While it is true that China poses a significant challenge to the US, complete decoupling from China may not be feasible, given the economic interdependence between the two countries.
In conclusion, Ramaswamy’s presidential bid has generated significant interest among the right-wing base of the Republican Party. However, it remains to be seen if his views will resonate with the broader electorate. While his anti-China stance may find some support, his call to end affirmative action and reject climate change policies may prove to be contentious issues.
In the end, the question of whether Ramaswamy can win the presidency with his anti-China, merit-based platform remains to be seen. His candidacy may energize the Republican base, but it remains to be seen if it will appeal to a broad enough swath of the American electorate to secure him the presidency.
