An October 2023 throwback video is doing the rounds on social media and it contains a very funny and uncomfortable sequence featuring Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio) and Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) during a United Auto Workers (UAW) picket in Toledo, Ohio. The footage aired first on the local channel WTVG 13 and while the rest of the news chronology no longer remains relevant, there is also that cringeworthy moment that has always been present in the news, something that is humorous though due to the nature of politics.
It must be taken into account that Kaptur and Vance were captured within the territorial jurisdiction of the Toledo Assembly Complex supporting UAW workers on strike. Kaptur voices her concern saying, “First time here?” At this, Vance shakes his head and says, “First time here, yeah.” To which Kaptur says, “Well, thank you for coming.” This seems reasonable except, or else turns out the opposite quickly after.
The real highlight of the clip occurs when Kaptur extends a fist for what appears to be a fist bump. Puzzled with this, Vance, who is not paying attention, goes in for a handshake. After a brief moment of awkwardness, Vance switches to a fist bump only for Kaptur to snatch her hand back, haha what a way to end.
The video brings out an underlying animosity between the two polities, who have taken slightly different positions on the UAW strike and events surrounding the automotive industry as a whole. Vance is critical of the Biden administration’s policy of ‘nurturing’ the electric vehicle industry claiming it does more harm than good to Americans, while assisting foreign powers. He condemned the UAW’s head for failing to leverage their position in the battle against what he called the unnecessary transition to EVs.
As for Kaptur, she has always been very aggressive in rescinding UAW’s opposition to the automobile manufacturers. Her dig, albeit tongue-in-cheek, illustrated the rather, internal partisan cleavages between the two lawmakers from Ohio.
