Sen. J.D. Vance's campaign rally on Wednesday faced swirling questions over his choice of location: an Arizona mega-church with an "extremist" pastor.
MSNBC writer Ja'han Jones on Thursday called the Ohio Republican's choice of venue "disturbing."
Ryan Visconti "literally told his followers 'Christians can’t vote Democrat,'" recalled Jones in a piece on Thursday. Charlie Kirk, the founder of the far-right Turning Point USA, co-hosted the event.
Jones cited Visconti's biggest hits, like his anti-LGBTQ "venom" that appears on social media. His 2022 post on social media claimed that a strong woman with a weak husband "will become a toxic woman." Another comment he made is that domestic abuse isn't a sufficient reason for divorce under the Bible.
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The pastor also alleged that “demonic gods who hate us” are the ones behind things like “DEI, sexual depravity [and] radical gender ideology.”
Vance made similar comments in September 2021 as Visconti, While speaking to Pacifica Christian High School in Southern California, Vance claimed people trade out spouses like underwear, and it's leaving children with long-term damage.
Vance spoke about his grandparents’ relationship and wondered what made them stick it out when couples today do not. He claimed that children suffer in divorce, even if there is violence in the home.
When NBC News questioned the pastor's comments, campaign spokesperson Luke Schroeder said, “Senator Vance supports every American’s right to freely practice their religion."
He also said, “It’s a shame the media is attacking a pastor over his religious beliefs simply because he is hosting an event at his church.”
Jones said that one thing Vance and his event illustrate is that "misogyny and chauvinism are fundamental to the current Republican Party. So it really comes as no surprise that the rally featured rhetoric full of hypermasculinity and xenophobia."
