Jaime West, a Democrat running for Fayette County Council in Indiana, has drawn online criticism after a clip from a local candidates’ forum showed her speaking with slurred words and ending by saying, “We have guns too.”
Fox News reported that West lashed out at Republicans during the forum and delivered a pointed final message as a moderator moved to wrap up, saying the exchange was ridiculed online.
The clip was uploaded to YouTube by LocalTV3, and the Sydney Morning Herald says “clips of the segment have been viewed millions of times on social media.”
At the forum West was asked what decision she might make in office that would be unpopular; according to the SMH she answered “Firing all Republicans” and later accused “MAGA” supporters of threats while speaking in a rambling, sometimes slurred manner.
Yahoo’s write-up of the segment also noted West appeared to be slurring her words and that she told viewers she had received threats and warned “We have guns too” in her final comment.
LocalTV3’s full video of the Fayette County candidate forum is hosted on YouTube; SMH identified the forum as a broadcast sponsored by TV3 and the Connersville News Examiner and quoted the interviewer as the Examiner’s managing editor.
The clip has prompted social media mockery and commentary across conservative and national outlets reporting on the viral video; Fox characterized the footage as drawing ridicule and Yahoo and other sites summarized the same exchange.
Inside the wider campaign context, voters in Fayette County will choose local offices on November 3; West is running against Republican Gary Keener Jr., according to SMH.
Previous local and national races have seen candidates face backlash for resurfaced content and unusual appearances; for further reading on similar campaign controversies see reporting on Shelly Headen faces backlash and an example of a candidate resignation after an AI-generated video at John Waldron resigned after admitting.
Sources
- Fox News — reported West lashed out at Republicans, delivered the final “We have guns too” line, and that the clip drew ridicule.
- Sydney Morning Herald — described the forum, said the footage was uploaded to YouTube by LocalTV3 and that clips have been viewed millions of times.
- Yahoo (TMZ) — summarized the forum exchange, reported observers saying West appeared to slur words and quoted her final remark.
