‘He’s A Poor Dude’: ‘The View’ Hosts Bash Vance, Claim He Learned Nothing From His Own Book

The hosts of ABC’s “The View” took several potshots at vice presidential nominee JD Vance (R-OH) during Tuesday’s broadcast, claiming that despite the success of his book and the subsequent movie, he was still “a poor dude.”

Host Whoopi Goldberg said that she chose to “pity” Vance — in the same way that Mr. T used to say “I pity the fool” — and argued that although she appreciated his book, she believed he’d learned none of the lessons he had written about.

The conversation began with an audio clip of Vance from a recent fundraiser where he pointed out that the Democrats’ new de facto nominee — Vice President Kamala Harris — did not have the same Achilles’ heels as her predecessor, President Joe Biden.

“Because whatever we might say, Kamala Harris is a lot younger, and Kamala Harris is obviously not struggling in the same ways that Joe Biden did,” Vance said.

“This poor guy. I feel so bad for him,” Goldberg said, over the objection of co-host Joy Behar. “No, no, I’m going to. I’m going to pity this man. Remember how Mr. T used to pity the fool? Well, I pity this man. I pity him, because he’s had a very bumpy roll-out so far.”

Hostin turned the direct attack on Vance, referencing his book — “Hillbilly Elegy” — and claiming that he lacked “empathy” for poor people and “blamed” them for their circumstances.

“What’s so difficult to me is he writes this thing, ‘Hillbilly Elegy,’ about sort of growing up poor… but he blames the people for their circumstances,” she claimed. “Look, I grew up in poverty, I remember what it feels like to be hungry, I remember what it feels like to not have enough, I remember what it feels like when my mother made my clothes, but I do not blame the people who are still in that circumstance for being in that circumstance.”

“This is the thing. He wrote a really interesting and smart book and didn’t recognize that he isn’t out of poverty. He’s bereft —” Goldberg began.

“He’s bereft of morality,” Hostin cut her off.

“He’s bereft of morality, he’s bereft of empathy,” Goldberg agreed. “He’s got a spine, it’s just not a good one … He’s a poor dude.”

WATCH:

The View says JD Vance “isn’t out of poverty” and “bereft of morality” and has no “empathy.”
“He’s a poor dude.” pic.twitter.com/Z4OWRiYWsy

— Nicholas Fondacaro (@NickFondacaro) July 30, 2024