JD Vance takes Europe to the woodshed

[gcode]

The Daily Mail

Vance reserved particular scorn for America's closest ally, and the case of a British man arrested after praying near an abortion clinic.

'Europe faces many challenges, but the crisis this continent faces right now, the crisis I believe we all face together, is one of our own making,' he said.

'If you're running in fear of your own voters, there is nothing America can do for you, nor, for that matter, is there anything that you can do for the American people who elected me and elected President Trump.'

If his audience of European VIPs had expected Vance to discuss the future of the war in Ukraine, outlining Donald Trump's peace plan, they were in for a shock.

[Incogneeto]

The Daily Mail

Big Brass Balls!! I Like Him.

[beej]

He stands in stark contrast to one of John Kerry's words while in Europe. Where he said that the 1st Ammendment was a major block to controlling the narrative and making it hard to govern.

[mkd]

VDH calls it a slow motion suicide

[Newbeeee™]

VDH calls it a slow motion suicide

Controlled demolition.
By design

[CNCAppsJames]

We may disagree with your views but we will fight to defend your right to offer it in the public square.

[CNCAppsJames]

... His defense secretary Pete Hegseth said Ukraine would not be able to keep its pre-2014 borders and would not be admitted to NATO, comments which he quickly had to walk back.

That's bullshit and hypocritical. We didn't let do what they wanted on Cuba... we were prepared to start WWIII.

[Smit]

It seems the leaders of Europe weren't impressed by Vance running his mouth like an ignorant, racist buffoon.

It's embarrassing having that guy run around the world representing the U.S.

Germany's Scholz rebukes Vance, defends Europe's stance on hate speech and far right

MUNICH, Feb 15 (Reuters) - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz delivered a strong rebuke on Saturday to U.S. Vice President JD Vance's attack on Europe's stance toward hate speech and the far right, saying it was not right for others to tell Germany and Europe what to do.

Vance lambasted European leaders on Friday, the first day of the Munich Security Conference, accusing them of censoring free speech and criticising German mainstream parties' "firewall" against the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).

"That is not appropriate, especially not among friends and allies. We firmly reject that," Scholz told the conference on Saturday, adding there were "good reasons" not to work with the AfD.

The anti-immigration party, currently polling at around 20% ahead of Germany's February 23 national election, has pariah status among other major German parties in a country with a taboo about ultranationalist politics because of its Nazi past.

"Never again fascism, never again racism, never again aggressive war. That is why an overwhelming majority in our country opposes anyone who glorifies or justifies criminal National Socialism," Scholz said, referring to the ideology of Adolf Hitler's 1933-45 Nazi regime.

Vance met on Friday with the leader of AfD, after endorsing the party as a political partner — a stance Berlin dismissed as unwelcome election interference.

Referring more broadly to Vance's criticism of Europe's curtailing of hate speech, which he has likened to censorship, Scholz said: "Today's democracies in Germany and Europe are founded on the historic awareness and realisation that democracies can be destroyed by radical anti-democrats.

"And this is why we've created institutions that ensure that our democracies can defend themselves against their enemies, and rules that do not restrict or limit our freedom but protect it."

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot added his voice to the defence of Europe's stance on hate speech.
"No one is required to adopt our model but no one can impose theirs on us," Barrot said on X from Munich. "Freedom of speech is guaranteed in Europe."

UKRAINE
The prospect of talks to end the Ukraine-Russia war had been expected to dominate the annual Munich conference after a phone call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin this week, but Vance barely mentioned Russia or Ukraine in his speech to the gathering on Friday.

Instead, he said the threat to Europe that worried him most was not Russia or China but what he called a
retreat from fundamental values of protecting free speech - as well as immigration, which he said was "out of control" in Europe.

Many conference delegates watched Vance's speech in stunned silence. There was little applause as he delivered his remarks.

Asked by the panel moderator if he thought there was anything in Vance's speech worth reflecting on, Scholz drew laughter and applause in the crowd when he responded, in a deadpan manner: "You mean all these very relevant discussions about Ukraine and security in Europe?"

[gcode]

It seems the leaders of Europe weren't impressed by Vance running his mouth like an ignorant, racist buffoon.

I don't think "racist" means what you think it does.

[gcode]

Here is the entire speech.
I really like this guy.

JD Vance in Europe

[Del.]

Oh no. Smit criticized a Republican. Never saw that coming.

[neurosis]

Jd Vance is a pretty smart guy.

That speech comes across as incredibly hypocritical considering what's going on in his own Country right now.

[RobertELee]

I don't think "racist" means what you think it does.

Everything is racist to these buffoons, it has lost all meaning.

[gcode]

Watch the entire speech. There is not a racist word in it.
Smit calling this speech racist shows two things
1. he hasn't watched it
2. he is completely uninformed about what is going on in Europe.

[Del.]

Jd Vance is a pretty smart guy.

That speech comes across as incredibly hypocritical considering what's going on in his own Country right now.

Another shocker you criticize a Republican. I AM depressed.