One word comes to mind after watching JD Vance’s acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention: authentic. In his nearly 40-minute speech, the young Senator from Ohio came across as witty, humble, affable, and passionate in his desire to represent the people from which he comes — the overlooked Appalachian communities, and more broadly the struggling working class of America.
And there wasn’t a hint of artifice in it. Vance appeared genuinely humbled to be there, genuinely concerned about the plight of the working class, and more than genuinely ready to lead on solutions for crime, addiction, national security, and a revitalization of the manufacturing industries that once employed his communities.
In short, Vance came across as a breath of fresh air.
But perhaps a better term is this: natural. To riff off the Robert Redford film, Vance appeared so born for this moment…
