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On Thursday, Vivek Ramaswamy, a Republican candidate for president, paid a visit to Texas. He delivered a brief speech and engaged in a Q&A session with students at the University of Texas at Austin.
The candidate’s visit served as a prelude to the upcoming Free Speech Week on campus, commencing Monday with a range of debates and panels addressing crucial topics like First Amendment rights and vaccine mandates.
According to Ramaswamy, the percentage of individuals who feel comfortable expressing their true thoughts in public is the most accurate indicator of the strength of American democracy. Currently, this measure reflects a lack of success.
Ramaswamy, a successful entrepreneur hailing from Ohio, established a renowned biotech and pharmaceutical company prior to venturing into the realms of authorship and media. Recently, he captivated a fully-engaged audience at UT’s Hogg Auditorium with his insightful speech.
According to Ramaswamy, he expressed his assessment that America is currently experiencing a situation comparable to a war, which is severely impairing the nation. He pointed out that a culture characterized by fear has taken the place of our previously cherished culture of free speech and open debate.
Ramaswamy stands out in a crowded Republican primary race due to his grandiose rhetoric and outsider status, which align him more closely with former President Donald Trump than the other GOP candidates. Being the youngest contender for the party’s presidential nomination, Ramaswamy heavily relies on his appeal to young voters. This was evident as over 50 students eagerly formed a line behind two microphones to ask questions after his brief speech.
According to emails received from the McCombs School of Business, the university swiftly relocated the event from a smaller venue to the 1,000-seat auditorium within less than a day of announcing it on Wednesday.
Ramaswamy, despite being popular among young Republicans on campus, is facing a challenging journey to secure the Republican nomination. According to the polling aggregate site FiveThirtyEight, he consistently receives around 4-9% of the vote in national polls, placing him third behind Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. In Texas, recent statewide polling of Republican candidates ranks him fifth, with only 3% of those polled supporting him.
Ramaswamy exuded confidence as he stood before the crowd, knowing that the Iowa voting was only three months away on Jan. 15, followed by the Texas primary on March 5, a month and a half later. With unwavering determination, he declared, “I am not someone who settles for a backup plan,” eliciting thunderous applause.
When asked about his debate performances, Ramaswamy expressed that the other Republican nominees are individuals of good character who have been influenced by a flawed system. He referred to them as being controlled by the established donor class that holds significant influence in both political parties.
In regards to foreign policy matters, Ramaswamy remained steadfast in his belief that the U.S. should refrain from assisting Ukraine in its defense against Russia. This standpoint sets him apart from numerous Republicans. However, his most scathing rebuke was directed towards China.
Ramaswamy stated that our way of life relies on our adversary and proceeded to cast blame on China for unleashing havoc on the world amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ramaswamy expressed his belief that instead of reducing carbon emissions, the U.S. should focus on increasing fossil fuel extraction to address climate change concerns. During a conversation about mental health, he highlighted prisons as the primary providers of mental health care and proposed investing in additional psychiatric facilities as a potential solution in the United States.
Ramaswamy was warmly welcomed by a predominantly young conservative crowd. While some students expressed disagreement with certain positions held by Ramaswamy, they found his age and attitude to be the main factors contributing to his appeal as a presidential candidate.
Ramaswamy, a 38-year-old individual, happens to be the offspring of Indian immigrants. He gained recognition for his book titled ‘Woke, Inc.’, which offers a critical perspective on diversity equity and inclusion initiatives.
Bilvanilay Valsulabharanam, a freshman studying business, observed that Ramaswamy does not attempt to censor his thoughts. According to Valsulabharanam, Ramaswamy openly expresses ideas that Valsulabharanam has been contemplating for quite some time.
Ramaswamy’s appeal to a collective spirit and the desire for a more cohesive national identity also resonated with students who aren’t typically interested in politics, like Jeevana Gottipati, a first-year public health student.
Gottipati explained that due to his younger age, he can connect with us better, and his focus on voicing unpopular opinions is valuable advice that we can relate to beyond political matters.
Disclosure: University of Texas at Austin and University of Texas at Austin – McCombs School of Business have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune’s journalism. Find a complete list of them here.
