No 'roasted Fluffy.' Haitians aren't eating cats in Springfield. Vance is a liar.
The flesh of cats is not on the menu in Springfield, Ohio.
That's a weird and utterly outrageous sentences no one should have to type. But here we are again in the year 2024 talking about cats and Republican vice presidential nominee Ohio Sen. JD Vance.
At least he's switched things up.
This time Vance is not downgrading childless cat-loving ladies, he is spreading nasty, hateful and undeniably racist rumors about the 15,000 to 20,000 Haitian immigrants who have moved to Springfield, a scrappy city between Columbus and Dayton, in the last few years.
"I looked on the menu of three of four restaurants here today, man. I didn't see roasted Fluffy nowhere on it," a man who called the rumor "bull cocky" said at tonight's Springfield City Commission meeting. "The good thing is that we have the nation's attention. What are we going to do with it? Are we going to concentrate on the real issues we have here?"
At his presidential debate against Vice President Kamala Harris, former President Donald Trump claimed that dogs AND cats are being eaten in Springfield. He said he saw something about it on TV.
The fact the U.S. senator originally from Middletown spread the heartless claim that the Haitian immigrants are stealing and eating cats indicates he is either stupid, a liar or too unscrupulous to hold public office.
I'll let you decide but here's what the graduate of Yale and Ohio State universities wrote on the site formerly known as Twitter:
"Months ago, I raised the issue of Haitian illegal immigrants draining social services and generally causing chaos all over Springfield, Ohio. Reports now show that people have had their pets abducted and eaten by people who shouldn't be in this country. Where is our border czar?"
All Ohio Black people do not look alike, JD
The so-called reports Vance mentioned have been traced to a social media post linked to an incident in Canton — an Ohio city 2 hours and 46 minutes from Springfield.
A 27-year-old woman who appears to be Black was recently charged there with cruelty to a companion animal after allegedly stomping a cat before eating it.
That's a truly awful thing to happen but it has nothing to do with Haitians in Springfield.
Could it be that Vance doesn't know the difference between Canton and Springfield and one woman and 20,000 women, men and children? Or maybe — just maybe — he is doing all the hatemongering he can before the November election? Keeping voters afraid of "other people" can come with its rewards.
Three things an Ohio senator should know:
Ohio is a vast state with very different cities (i.e. Canton and Springfield aren't the same thing).
Not all Black people are or look alike.
Voters aren't stupid.
The senator's comments are in direct conflict to a statement from Springfield City Manager Bryan Heck.
"In response to recent rumors alleging criminal activity by the immigrant population in our city, we wish to clarify that there have been no credible reports or specific claims of pets being harmed, injured or abused by individuals within the immigrant community," the statement said.
Jim Jordan should know better
Vance is not the only attention-seeking, right-wing flamethrower to fuel the fires of xenophobia and fear against Springfield's Haitian community.
"When President Trump was in office: 1. The border was secure. 2. Illegal aliens weren’t eating your pets," U.S. Rep Jim Jordan of Urbana tweeted.
Where was the concern for South Dakota when its governor, Kristi Noem, admitted killing her dog? No beast of sea, land or air seems safe around Donald Trump's new buddy Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Jordan represents the congressional district just north of Springfield but, based on their reactions, neither he nor Vance have actually been to the so-called Champion City.
That's the only way one can explain why he would besmirch and potentially jeopardize the safety of people legally living and working in Springfield.
I have been to Springfield numerous times over the years to dine and visit friends and attractions.
Ironically, I was just there Sunday.
I accidentally left my keys in an Uber driver's car during a weekend visit in Dayton.
The driver lives in Springfield, and I drove there to retrieve the keys on the way back to Columbus. Ironically my cat was in her carrier in the back seat.
Neither she nor I were attacked by cat-flesh hungry Haitians because despite what Vance, Jim Jordan and others would have you believe, they do not exist.
Springfield residents need help not misinformation
Based on interviews obtained by PBS Newshour, many people in Springfield see the value of the city's new residents.
"I wish I had 30 more. Our Haitian associates come to work every day. They don't have a drug problem. They will stay at their machine. They will achieve their numbers. They are here to work. And so, in general, that's a stark difference from what we're used to in our community," said Jamie McGregor, CEO of McGregor Metal.
About 10% of his work force is Haitian.
That said, the influx of new residents is creating challenges for Springfield.
The city manager said as much in a July letter to U.S. Sens. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, and Tim Scott, R-S.C. Heck asked for federal support to ease a “significant housing crisis” in the city due in part to the influx of Haitian immigrants.
Fact check: Ohio woman accused of eating cat is from Canton, not from Springfield
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, who until recently supported a school in Haiti named in his late daughter's honor, discussed a plan Tuesday for additional resources to Springfield for health care and traffic safety as the city deals with the influx of immigrants.
The governor pointed out that violence is driving Haitians from their homeland for a better life for their families.
Vance, Jordan and the other bashers know this but instead of empathy, they sow confusion about a complex issue.
But saying Springfield is struggling due to a housing shortage would clearly not be as sexy or divisive as implying the city is being overrun by cat murdering Haitians.
Telling the truth would only draw attention to the fact that neither JD Vance nor Jim Jordan are doing anything to alleviate real problems facing communities like Springfield. That would be too much like work.
Instead, they use their big, smart brains to create racist and nationalist tweets to appeal to the worst of human nature.
Their rhetoric does not change the truth.
The Haitians aren't eating cats in Springfield. They add to the community.
JD should — but won't — keep their names and the names of all cats out of his mouth.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Vance promotes new racist lie about Black people. Voters aren't stupid
