Vivek Ramaswamy crosses Iowa making promises and calling for new generation of leaders

One of the quirks of Iowa’s traditional first-in-the-nation presidential caucuses is the phenomenon of unknown millionaire business candidates.

There was Herman Cain in 2012, Carly Fiorina in 2016 and Andrew Yang in 2020.

For 2024, we have Vivek Ramaswamy, the wealthy 38-year-old who has been campaigning nonstop in the months before the Jan. 15 Republican caucuses.

A look at the candidate through the lens of one recent day in Iowa provides some insight into his ideas and campaign style.

Stop No. 1: Estherville, Iowa. 8:45 a.m.

Population: 5,861.

Ramaswamy kicks off his first event of the day like he begins every event, with a 10-minute stump speech and then an hour-long question-and-answer session.

He argues that he is the true outsider in the race and that “the Republican establishment does not approve of the message we’re about to talk about.”

The centerpiece of his stump speech, and of his entire campaign, is the word "truth." He always pauses dramatically and lists his version of the 10 commandments, the 10 items listed in all his brochures and campaign material, the foundation of the Ramaswamy campaign.

“God is real. There are two genders. Fossil fuels are a requirement for human prosperity. Reverse racism is racism. An open border is not a border," he said. "Parents determine the education of their children. The nuclear family is the greatest form of governance known to mankind. Capitalism is still the best system known to man to lift us up from poverty. There are three branches of government in the United States, not four.

"And the U. S. Constitution is the strongest and greatest guarantor of freedom in human history.”

Stop No. 2: Emmetsburg, Iowa. 10:15 a.m.

Population: 3,631.

In the first of three Pizza Ranch stops, Ramaswamy is asked about his Hinduism. The candidate welcomes the question, saying “Sometimes I feel like people are a little uncomfortable to ask about it.”

He said, “We believe there’s one true God, that God put us here for a purpose, and that we’re all equal because we’re made in the image of God.”

Then he says that the values of his faith are very much the values of most Christians.

“We share these values in common," Ramaswamy said. "So I’m not qualified to spread Christianity across this country as the president. But will I stand for those shared values that our country was founded on? Darn right I will.”

Stop No. 3: Pocahontas, Iowa. 11:45 a.m.

Population: 1,870.

In the self-dubbed “Princess City,” Ramaswamy talks about his approach to Donald Trump. He says Trump was the “best one of the 21st century so far,” and that he “likes the guy.”

But he thinks Trump’s time has passed.

“You know what he didn’t do?" Ramaswamy asked. "He didn’t drain the swamp. He tried, but he didn’t.”

He said America needs a cultural revival — “That’s half the job of the president. Half is policy, but the other half is reviving our national character,” — and no politician in their 80s will have the energy to lead it.

“It takes someone with fresh legs from the next generation to see this through,” Ramaswamy said.

He also makes this interesting statement: “It’s been a long time since we’ve had a president who we can look our kids in the eye and tell them in good conscience that I want you to grow up and be like him.”

Stop No. 4: Storm Lake, Iowa. 1:15 p.m.

Population: 11,256.

Ramaswamy has an “only in Iowa” moment when the first question from the audience is about the prices paid for aluminum can recycling.

“I gotta be honest with you,” he tells the man. “I haven’t taken a deep dive on that issue.” But he does note, “This is why I love coming to Iowa.”

He pivots to the environment and says while he is for clean air and clean water, “The climate change agenda is a hoax” and a “religion.” If he becomes president? “We’ll rescind any executive orders or regulations that require even the reporting of carbon emissions.”

It’s also here that Ramaswamy repeats his controversial pledge to cut the federal workforce by 75%, including a 50% reduction on Day 1 of his presidency.

How?

“One way to do this is if your Social Security Number ends in an odd number, you're out," he said. "If it ends in an even number, you're in. Now that sounds extreme to some people, but I would tell you, on Day 2, not a thing will break, and the federal government will be half its size.

"So Day 1, we got 50% of it done.”

Stop No. 5: Rockwell City, Iowa. 2:45 p.m.

Population: 2,258.

Foreign policy dominates this stop. Ramaswamy says as president he would “avoid WWIII” by ending the Ukraine war on terms that “allow Ukraine to come out with it’s sovereignty intact but in return requires Russia to exit its military partnership with China.”

On Taiwan, he pledges to go to war with China if it invades Taiwan, not on any ideological ground, but because Taiwan supplies the US with all it’s semiconductor chips, saying, “Our modern way of life” depends on Taiwan.

Stop No. 6: Odebolt, Iowa. 4:15 p.m.

Population: 988.

In answer to a question on how to quell violent crime in the cities, he said: “More cops on the street who are able to do their jobs without being sued. Second thing, gotta bring back those psychiatric institutions.”

And at this, his smallest event, Ramaswamy makes one of his favorite arguments, that America is “hungry for purpose; we’re starved for meaning and identity,” and that the “things that used to fill that void — belief in God, belief in country, belief in self” — have disappeared, which leaves “a black hole in the heart” that then fills with poison.

“Part of the job of a president is we can fill part of that void with a national identity,” he said.

Stop No. 7: Fort Dodge, Iowa. 6:30 p.m.

Population: 24,912.

The candidate changes his shirt for his final event but doesn’t change his pledges. If elected, he promises to eliminate the Department of Education, yes, but also the FBI, CDC and ATF. He will pardon all non-violent Jan. 6 capital invaders and pardon Donald Trump.

He will build a wall on the southern border, yes, but also on the northern border with Canada. He will end birthright citizenship. He will push for only voting on Election Day and passing a citizenship test before being allowed to vote.

With his largest crowd of the day, Ramaswamy tells them that they hold the key to his success. “If we win Iowa, I’m going to be your next president” and that it’s time for new blood.

“Thomas Jefferson was 33 when he signed the Declaration of Independence," Ramaswamy said. "There’s a reason why revolutions and revivals are led by the next generation.”

Ramaswamy is done for the day but stays to talk to everyone. He’s rented a home in Iowa until the caucuses, so for now, he’s already home.

Bob Beatty has a doctorate in political science from Arizona State University and specializes in Kansas and national elections, with a special expertise on the Iowa Caucus and campaigning for president. He has attended and covered the national political party conventions in 2008 and 2016 and 15 presidential debates from 1996-2020.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Vivek Ramaswamy in Iowa makes promises and calls for new leaders