New GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy says he will rescind positive measure ‘without apology’

Businessman and author Vivek Ramaswamy, the latest addition to the GOP’s 2024 presidential field, is irritating liberals after telling Fox News’ Tucker Carlson that if elected, he would overturn affirmative action on day one.

“As President of the United States, I will end federally imposed affirmative action – a complete stop,” Ramaswamy later tweeted with a clip of his appearance.

“I will rescind Lyndon Johnson’s Executive Order 11246 that mandates a race-based quota,” he continued. Every Republican since Johnson has had the opportunity to do so. I will do it on the first day without apology.”

By referring to “every” Republican in his comment, the 37-year-old said it was evidently intended to imply that former President Donald Trump lacked the decisiveness or courage to do so during his administration, part of Ramaswamy’s narrative as an even more daring cultural warrior. And straight from the POTUS for one term.

As President of the United States, I will end federally mandated affirmative action — stop entirely. I will rescind Lyndon Johnson’s Executive Order 11246 which provides for race quotas. Every Republican since Johnson has had the opportunity to do so. I will do it the first day without apology. https://t.co/zwMyInEcDh

– Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) February 22, 2023

After his interview with Tucker Carlson where he announced his candidacy and set his agenda, the Democratic National Committee issued a statement calling the son of Indian immigrants an “extremist.”

“As Vivek Ramaswamy uses Tucker Carlson’s bid to publicize his campaign for the presidency, one thing is clear,” the statement read. Over the next few months, Republicans will ensure they take very extreme positions on everything from banning abortion to cutting Social Security and Medicare, and we look forward to continuing to ensure that every American knows just how extreme the MAGA agenda can be.”

I went on Tucker’s show last night to announce my candidacy. Committed to ending affirmative action and abandoning climate debt. It appears the DNC released a statement and is very unhappy with my entry into the race. pic.twitter.com/3azaHJHQCm

– Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) February 22, 2023

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What does Ramaswamy wish to achieve?

In Ramaswamy’s theoretical administration, he stated that he would go further than other candidates on key issues by:

• Deconstructing current climate change policies
• Federal bureaucrats were limited to a maximum of eight years of service
• Eliminate “worthless” federal agencies
• economic independence from China
• “annihilation” of drug cartels

Leading up to his announcement, he has always expressed the need to focus on fixing what he considers to be a “national identity crisis” that has alienated our society from core American ideals.

“We are in the midst of this national identity crisis,” he said during his announcement. “We have celebrated our differences for so long that we have forgotten all the ways we are like Americans bound by a common set of ideals that got this nation moving 250 years ago.”

We have so celebrated our “diversity” that we have forgotten all the ways we are like Americans, bound by the ideals that united a divided and hardened group of people 250 years ago. I believe deep in my bones that those ideals still exist. I’m running for president to revive them. pic.twitter.com/bz5Qtt4tmm

– Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) February 22, 2023

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GOP vs. Woke

Ramaswamy’s “culture war” campaign is targeting many similar areas expressed by other popular candidates (and potential candidates) such as former President Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Is this the tail wagging the dog, or vice versa?

According to a recent poll, GOP voters are highly invested in issues that directly affect our societal discourse such as free speech, school choice, and hot topics like sex-reassignment surgeries for minors.

The Daily Signal indicated that “93% of the respondents want candidates to confront parental rights issues, including increasing transparency in school curricula and school activities. Also, 76% of the candidates want gender-transfer procedures for minors, such as surgeries to remove healthy organs, drugs that prevent puberty, and sex hormones to be banned.”

In addition, other areas of concern included immigration and US support for the conflict in Ukraine, with participants being more mixed in their reactions.

Commenting on these findings, John Schoep, director of policy and government affairs for the American Principles Project told Tony Perkins on his show that “combating wake issues…that’s where the intensity really was.”

“At the end of the day, voters are looking for someone who’s going to stand up for the family, who’s going to fight the awakened left, who’s going to fight to stop the horrific sex-change procedures being done on children,” Schwepp said. “I think the Republican candidate coming out of these presidential primaries should be strong on all of these issues.”