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MAGA world figures describing the ad as a ‘self-inflicted wound’ in private, report claims

Vivek Ramaswamy was reportedly warned by Ohio Republicans and campaign staffers not to run the controversial attack ad on Democratic opponent Amy Acton that featured her estranged mother - but went ahead anyway.

Some campaign staffers are so incensed by the decision to run the ad - which featured Acton’s 82-year-old mother, Donna Arthur smearing her daughter as a “liar” over child sex abuse she suffered - that they have considered resigning, according to Zeteo. Arthur lost custody of her children after her late husband, Cledith Arthur, was indicted for raping Acton when she was a child. She stood by her husband, who died in 2004.

Several Ohio Republican and Trump-world figures privately described the ad as a “self-inflicted wound” to Zeteo as the polls with Acton have narrowed.

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[-] NocturnalMorning@lemmy.world 38 points 1 day ago

Anybody willing to tell their child that they are lying about their sexual abuse can get fucked. I'm so thankful people believed me about mine. I'd be so much more fucked up if they didn't.

And whoever thought this was okay to shoot and release as an ad are shit human beings. Nobody deserves to have their trauma aired on tv bcz they tried to run for public office, especially something so personal and humiliating.

[-] korazail@eviltoast.org 3 points 1 day ago

I saw the ad, but I forgot most of it immediately... and I don't want to revisit it. so forgive me if that last line isn't quite correct.

Political ads:

✅️> Here's what I want to do

✅️> Here's what I believe

➖️> My opponent said or did something I think you'll disagree with

❌️> My opponent alleges they were assaulted, but I don't think they were so they are a liar

[-] Washedupcynic@lemmy.ca 21 points 1 day ago

Don't think about resigning, fucking resign.

[-] ReluctantMuskrat@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago

It's not like he wasn't a horrible person before so his staff we garbage people already.

[-] Janx@piefed.social 16 points 1 day ago

When they don't actually resign, remember how much integrity is worth to Republicans...

[-] teslekova@lemmy.ml 22 points 1 day ago

Considered? A week out?

Cowards.

[-] Freeposity@lemmy.world 165 points 2 days ago

It's a smart move to quit now, in protest, when you know he's going to lose. So you lose a week's pay, big deal.

If they had quit immediately, THAT would have been the move that showed moral courage rather than this cynical and strategic quitting.

[-] Triumph@fedia.io 132 points 2 days ago

We're talking about people who chose to be Ramaswamy staffers, they have neither morals nor courage.

[-] betterdeadthanreddit@lemmy.world 74 points 2 days ago

Rats don't flee the ship until it's noticeably sinking.

[-] nilloc@discuss.tchncs.de 4 points 1 day ago

And only if they can’t make it to the highest point.

[-] Imgonnatrythis@sh.itjust.works 22 points 2 days ago

Sir, these are Republicans.

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[-] LillyPip@lemmy.ca 26 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

Even imagining republicans might have courage in any scenario is kind of hilarious, ngl.

[-] nastronot@lemmy.zip 16 points 2 days ago

That moral courage would have kept them from accepting the job in the first place.

[-] Sanguine@lemmy.dbzer0.com 14 points 2 days ago

They are always, without exception, unable to act before if affects them personally.

If that ad went over well they would abandon whatever "concern" they had. They have no fortitude.

[-] UpAndAtThem@lemmy.world 9 points 2 days ago

I mean they did work for him in the first place after all.

Just like all the scumbags who only denounced the orange kid-diddler after Jan 6, tried some book deals, then went and fell back in line 2 years later.

Fuck. Every. Single. One of them

[-] farmgineer@nord.pub 34 points 2 days ago

they have considered resigning

And I've considered being a millionaire. Shit or get off the pot, spineless pricks.

[-] Tylerdurdon@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago

So... Are you a millionaire yet?

[-] farmgineer@nord.pub 6 points 1 day ago

Nah, not done considerin' yet.

[-] ayyy@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

The secret to financial success is dietary fiber.

[-] Tylerdurdon@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago
[-] EvilHankVenture@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago

Ok I shit in the pot, do I get the money now?

[-] capt_wolf@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago

Not with that uncertainty, but you do have a following of fetishists now.

You have to be forceful, commanding. I shit in the pot. Give me my money or I'll take it back out.

[-] rishado@lemmy.world 7 points 1 day ago

"according to Zeteo"

"according to Zeteo"

"according to Zeteo"

"according to Zeteo"

[-] Clent@lemmy.dbzer0.com 61 points 2 days ago

I have “sides with child rapist” on my 2026 right politics bingo card.

It’s already marked.

[-] Ghyste@sh.itjust.works 33 points 2 days ago
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[-] kryptonianCodeMonkey@lemmy.world 10 points 2 days ago* (last edited 17 hours ago)

I just keep stamping it. I think I've punched a hole through.

[-] treesquid@lemmy.world 37 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

They "want to quit" but have not. They aren't quitting, they're taking the money and riding it out until the election is over, just like they would have if he hadn't run that gross ad.

[-] madcaesar@lemmy.world 6 points 1 day ago

If they had morals and principles they wouldn't be Republicans

[-] SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca 72 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

Years ago, I was at a scientific conference and this clown was at my lunch table. He made a lot of money buying abandoned drugs for cheap, then making a new company and attracting investors on new drug pumping, then quietly dumping all stock holdings before the drug failed. He only had a bachelor's degree in arts, not even science.

30 minutes into lunch he left the table and conversation was: who was that asshole. He's quite insane. He offended some indian-American scientists suggesting they should never have been made US citizens. "He knows he's brown, right?"

He then went on to write Woke, Inc. How insane do you have to be to get dumped by Trump.

[-] Xanthobilly@lemmy.world 38 points 2 days ago

A lot of American VC types are high on their own supply and interpret past luck as success and intelligence.

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[-] TheJesusaurus@piefed.ca 52 points 2 days ago

Why didn't they want to resign before that? They don't have any problem with vile pieces of shit, they only have a problem with losing.

[-] Malica@lemmy.zip 12 points 2 days ago
[-] cantstopthesignal@sh.itjust.works 26 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

Apparently this woman was not only a giant pos, when the campaign found her she was living in her car with a bunch of cats. She would have said anything for very little money.

[-] jumjummy@lemmy.world 18 points 2 days ago

Don’t forget that she was also in trouble for killing kittens!

[-] FrostyTheDoo@lemmy.world 10 points 2 days ago

Quick, someone appoint her to head the DHS!

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[-] melsaskca@lemmy.ca 5 points 1 day ago

Hopefully we'll never hear about this guy again after the elections. Although on a positive note, he has an excellent tooth-whitener regimen.

[-] madcaesar@lemmy.world 7 points 1 day ago

Trump bleaches his asshole and this guy licks it 24/7 that's why his teeth are so white.

[-] themaninblack@lemmy.world 12 points 2 days ago
[-] Gpennyhigh@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Nothing but losers, who double down on being losers rather than choose to be best.

[-] Jhex@lemmy.world 27 points 2 days ago

when you are too low even for the minions that work for you…

[-] pelespirit@sh.itjust.works 17 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

Hasn't it been playing for awhile now? Why are they quitting the week before the elections? I get it, looking for a job when you put up a child rape denier as gospel looks bad, but you reap what you sow.

[-] aramis87@fedia.io 15 points 2 days ago

Same reason a bunch of Trump officials will start leaving next year (for personal reasons, to spend more time with their family, to pursue a wonderful opportunity, etc): if they leave now, it's easier for them to line up jobs elsewhere in the right-wing universe. If they wait until after Election Day, there'll be a bunch more people competing for the same positions. This way, they can get in early.

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[-] Trainguyrom@reddthat.com 9 points 2 days ago

It's so funny seeing Ramaswami step back into the public eye after giving Squeex basically half a decade to write a public image for him amongst his audience with his parody character Ramasquamy

Like, I seriously can't think of Ramaswamy as an actual politician that people take seriously after several years of watching Ramasquamy prance around announcing "Day One!" whilst holding up double peace signs, stage a "peaceful protest" at the city hall on Jan 6th after he lost the mayoral reelection, or setting up a fake assassination plot to have his ear get shot during the mayoral debates last month, pretending to be the incumbent mayor because of being referenced as mayor in the trailer despite there being nobody actually filling the mayoral role, etc.

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[-] Lasherz12@lemmy.world 10 points 2 days ago

I remember back during the discourse before Trump joined the race Vivek had a tendency to act like he was Trump and could therefore get away with stuff like this. It was made clear to everyone then that he did not have that sort of power but yet he continues to pretend he does. I think there must be something that short circuits in your brain when you become a billionaire. Probably mislead that while he could get into inner circles because his money, the Republicans will never accept a brown person. Candace being as close as you can get. For her I think it's because she has resolve none of the other tokens have.

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[-] givesomefucks@lemmy.world 9 points 2 days ago
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this post was submitted on 28 Oct 2026
448 points (99.3% liked)

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