The target said he respected and honored the military, but stands by the statement.
Five candidates were vying for the GOP nomination to succeed the retiring Republican senator. Rob Portman. Democrats see the open seat as one of their best opportunities to flip a national seat.
As soon as the debate began, former Treasurer Josh Mandel made a scathing attack on Mike Gibbons’ business dealings. The two men soon found themselves face-to-face on the debate stage shouting at one another as the moderator attempted to stop their argument from getting worse.
Mandel accused Gibbons that they made millions off stock in a Chinese company. Gibbons dismissed the accusation, saying Mandel, who was in the U.S. Marines at the time, didn’t understand how investments work.
Gibbons claimed that he had never worked in the private sector during his entire life. Gibbons said, “You don’t know what squat is.”
Mandel shouted, “Two tours to Iraq,” after getting up from his chair. “Don’t tell my I haven’t been working!”
Gibbons said to Gibbons, but he didn’t finish the sentence. “You’re dealing the wrong man.”
Mandel replied, “No, you’re dealing the wrong guy.” “You just have to watch what happens.”
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“Sit down. He said “Come on,” while he sat in a row alongside the other candidates. This is absurd.”
Vance, a veteran of the military, later called Mandel “disgraceful” because he used the Marine Corps as a political football, drawing cheers from the crowd. He said, “What a joke.”
On Monday, 15 veterans who backed Mandel wrote an open letter expressing their dismay at Gibbons’ comments.
They wrote that Gibbons owed Josh and all veterans and current service members an apology for suggesting that “WE”, who had served our country faithfully and honorably, never got our way in the private sector. “All of us volunteered to serve our country, away from our families and putting our lives at risk so that people like Mike Gibbons would make millions.
Gibbons claimed that Mandel initiated the physical aggression, and made “several false and petty comments to try to discredit the new front-runner.”
Samantha Cotten, spokesperson for Gibbons Campaign, stated that Josh Mandel is “unhinged,” unfit, and flailing because he’s losing. “He’s a professional at only one thing: running for office.”
Gibbons mentioned that his son-in-law and daughter-in law are both active-duty U.S. Navy Pilots on Monday’s “Always Right with Bob Frantz” radio program.
Frantz was told by Gibbons that whenever Mandel questions his credentials regarding the economy, “his reply is always, ‘I’m a Marine.’”
Josh risked everything for his country, and my son is risking his life daily for it. He said that he had nothing but respect for his efforts, but it wasn’t the solution to all issues. “We have an enormous economic problem, so you should be able to apply your expertise.”
Even before the Republicans’ event the Ohio Democratic Party predicted that it would be “the beginning of what will be an extremely brutal debate season.”
Monday night’s debate was much more civil than the previous meeting. Mandel even complimented Gibbons for his answer when both men refused to say whether they would support Mitch McConnell in the Republican Senate leadership race.
However, Friday’s fight was still front and center. Mandel, when asked to explain what happened, stated that “now is the time to fight” and promised to not back down in a fight.
Gibbons stated that the two men had just had a disagreement.
“I have nothing but respect and admiration for all those who serve in the military. Josh has never worked in the private sector, which was my point. He said that the military is not part of the private sector.
Meanwhile, the other candidates tried to make the spat work for them.
Vance had in a statement accused Mandel and Gibbons making “a mockery” of themselves by using their “phony tough guys antics”. Vance then criticised Mandel for invoking his military service repeatedly.
He said, “I hate it when people use Marine Corps as a football”
Jane Timken, a former chair of the Ohio Republican Party, described the performance as an “embarrassment.”
She said that Josh Mandel and Mike Gibbons behaved like children, and that if she had been their mother, I would have grounded them.
The Democratic debate will feature U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan and former consumer protection lawyer Morgan Harper as well as community activist Traci Johnson. It is scheduled for March 23.