Ukrainians on the home front

The Trumpist faction in the Republican party -- that is, most of them, especially the adherents of white nationalism -- are coming out loud and clear against President Biden's effort to deter further attacks on Ukraine by the Russians.

It seems odd, but it is a fact. Here's candidate JD Vance stumping for the GOP Senate nomination in Ohio:

As the prospect of a ground war hangs over Ukraine, Ohio Senate hopeful JD Vance said he doesn’t "really care what happens to Ukraine, one way or the other."

And here's the cult leader himself, speaking in his usual incoherent fashion on a podcast:

“Putin declares a big portion of the Ukraine — of Ukraine. Putin declares it as independent. Oh, that’s wonderful,” Trump said. “So Putin is now saying, ‘It’s independent,’ a large section of Ukraine. I said, ‘How smart is that?’” 

Trump said Putin will now “go in” to Ukraine “and be a peacekeeper.” 

“That’s strongest peace force … We could use that on our southern border,” he said. “That’s the strongest peace force I’ve ever seen. There were more army tanks than I’ve ever seen. They’re gonna keep peace all right. No, but think of it. Here’s a guy who’s very savvy … I know him very well. Very, very well.”

GOPers seem to have chosen a side and it's not self-determination for Ukraine.

• • •

Back in the day ...

I've written before that my first awareness of a place named Ukraine occurred growing up in proximity to a large population of eastern European immigrants in Buffalo, New York in the 1950s and '60s. Their urgent cry and determined picket lines were deployed again any politician who failed to speak out loudly against the oppression of their homelands. They were not quiet about their demands -- the defenders of "Captive Nations" could be counted on to be disruptive if they judged the speaker too inclined to appeasement. 

I wonder, do the descendants of these urgent protesters still feel that visceral fear of dictatorship coming from Russia? These communities seem socially conservative -- but not likely to put up with any appeasement.

And in some states and communities, the numbers of citizens of Ukrainian origin are not insignificant. 

As of the 2000 U.S. Census, there were 892,922 Americans of full or partial Ukrainian descent. Notably:

• In Pennsylvania: 122,291, including more than 5 percent of the population in 14 jurisdictions.

• In Vance's Ohio: 48,905, many clustered near the Pennsylvania border.

These are numbers large enough to be electorally significant in a close contest. 

And you wouldn't want these folks mad at you. Those old time Captive Nations agitators could come out in force these days -- condemning Republican appeasers. And also demanding Democrats do more to protect their relatives. These were never polite protesters.

Putin's war may have blowback yet on the home front.