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A debate between Josh Mandel and Mike Gibbons, two Ohio Republicans vying for the same United States Senate seat, became tense after one of the men allegedly called the other a "pussy" while discussing Gibbons’ business interests in China.
Both campaigns deny it was their candidate who said the slur, particularly after a slowed-down video released by Mandel’s campaign cast doubt on who actually said it.
The moment, however, proved especially controversial for Mandel, whose incendiary campaign has continued to generate unsavory headlines.
You can watch what happened in the video below.
Mike Gibbons and Josh Mandel get in each other\u2019s faces at tonight\u2019s GOP #OHSen forum hosted by FreedomWorks.\n\n\u201cYou watch what happens,\u201d Mandel says.pic.twitter.com/fQuqfHxXHT— Heartland Signal (@Heartland Signal) 1647644328
The two men clashed during the Ohio Senate forum hosted by FreedomWorks, a conservative and libertarian advocacy group. Gibbons accused Mandel of not understanding business tenets because “you’ve never been in the private sector in your life," a claim that prompted Mandel to declare that Gibbons doesn't know "squat."
Things grew more heated when Mandel got in Gibbons' face and boasted about his military experience, warning Gibbons not to suggest that he hasn't ever worked.
At some point, one of the men mumbled the words, "You watch what happens, p*ssy," and the moderator was forced to intervene. Hillbilly Elegy author J.D. Vance, also campaigning for the Ohio Senate, urged the men to calm down; earlier, he and former Ohio Republican chair Jane Timken attempted to suppress their laughter as the clash between Mandel and Gibbons escalated.
The video of the incident soon went viral and the general consensus is that Mandel allegedly said offensive word. However, both men have received criticism for their behavior during the event.
Two candidates who shouldn\u2019t come anywhere near the United States Senate. I\u2019m proud to throw my support behind the seasoned State Senator Matt Dolan (@dolan4ohio), a candidate who wants what\u2019s best for Ohio through and through. Enough with the showmanship, I want leadership. -TPFhttps://twitter.com/heartlandsignal/status/1504955509094371339\u00a0\u2026— Tyler P. Franklin (@Tyler P. Franklin) 1647867598
Meanwhile it is so ridiculous, all @JDVance1 can do is laugh - I love that guy!https://twitter.com/HeartlandSignal/status/1504955509094371339\u00a0\u2026— Unedited (@Unedited) 1647708144
Both of these dudes are super embarrassing and we should elect neither to the senate. But to be clear, only one of them was getting in the other one\u2019s face. Also, notice how Joshy kept the mic to his mouth so everyone could hear his trash talk. #toughguyhttps://twitter.com/heartlandsignal/status/1504955509094371339\u00a0\u2026— Jason Stanford (@Jason Stanford) 1647691827
#Ohio you deserve better than these clowns. @TimRyan is the qualified, decent choice to be your US Senatorhttps://twitter.com/HeartlandSignal/status/1504955509094371339\u00a0\u2026— Mary F-S (@Mary F-S) 1647692879
It\u2019s time to accept that this is the @GOP. These ppl are degenerates, for the most part. It gets manifested in different ways, but by and large they\u2019re thugs. This isn\u2019t your daddy\u2019s Republican Party. The country has changed. (And no, this isn\u2019t to say Democrats are perfect.)https://twitter.com/HeartlandSignal/status/1504955509094371339\u00a0\u2026— (((Maggie))) (@(((Maggie)))) 1647697274
They should have just let them kiss each other. That\u2019s clearly what this was building toward. #OHSenhttps://twitter.com/heartlandsignal/status/1504955509094371339\u00a0\u2026— B. Reade (@B. Reade) 1647697909
Klassy.\n\nBtw, I\u2019m supporting @TimRyan \u2014 the guy who will actually fight for Ohio workers, not self-serving machismo about corporate profits and resumes.https://twitter.com/HeartlandSignal/status/1504955509094371339\u00a0\u2026— Allison Russo\ud83c\udf3b (@Allison Russo\ud83c\udf3b) 1647698203
More proof that @JoshMandelOhio and @MikeGibbonsOH would be terrible senators for #Ohio. #OHSenhttps://twitter.com/heartlandsignal/status/1504955509094371339\u00a0\u2026— Charles Skaggs (@Charles Skaggs) 1647698257
Mandel, a former Ohio treasurer, has proven a controversial figure since he launched his campaign, at points using his Twitter account to promote conspiracy theories about COVID-19 and to discourage vaccinations.
Mandel has also downplayed the severity of the ongoing pandemic, referring to vaccines as "immoral" and "unethical." He was accused of trivializing the Holocaust after he compared Covid-19 vaccine mandates to Nazi Germany and urged his followers to "NOT comply with the tyranny."