Sherrod Brown's 1971 Letter Against POW Release Surfaces

A letter to the editor penned by Sherrod Brown in the summer of 1971, arguing against the release of American Prisoners of War (POWs) from Vietnam, has been highlighted by hosts of "The Ruthless Podcast." In the letter, published in the News-Journal, Brown questioned the implications of releasing POWs, asking, "what would stop the U.S. from bombing Hanoi and Haiphong?"

This resurfaced writing comes as Brown, a Democrat representing Ohio, is campaigning for re-election to the U.S. Senate. The podcast hosts suggested that Brown's past writings, including a 2015 BuzzFeed report on his teenage writings that described the Nixon administration as creating a "fascist police-state," indicate a consistent ideological leaning.

One podcast co-host, Comfortably Smug, noted the emotional impact of President Richard Nixon reuniting with POWs upon their return from the Vietnam War. He contrasted this with Brown's 1971 letter, questioning how a candidate who expressed such views could be on the ballot.

Another host, John Ashbrook, commented that while Brown is often labeled a "crazy lefty" in Ohio, this particular letter from the 1970s might offer insight into why some voters perceived him as sympathetic to communist ideologies.

Ohio is considered a key battleground for control of the Senate, with current rankings classifying the race between Brown and his Republican challenger as a "toss-up." The Brown campaign has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the surfaced letter.

"The Ruthless Podcast" has covered numerous midterm elections and interviewed candidates across 19 states as part of its "Ruthless Midterm Interview Series.