In a thought-provoking revelation, it has come to light that before his association with Donald Trump and his controversial views on childless women, JD Vance, the vice-presidential running mate, and staunch Trump supporter, had endorsed a report by a rightwing thinktank proposing extensive restrictions on abortions and fertility treatments. The report, titled the Index of Culture and Opportunity, was published in 2017 and featured essays by conservative authors, advocating for measures to encourage women to have children earlier and promote traditional family structures.

Notably, the essays within the report celebrated the implementation of state laws that limited abortion rights, going as far as suggesting that the practice should be unthinkable in the United States. These hardline sentiments, now attributed to Trump and Vance's agenda, have faced criticism from Democrats who fear a potential national ban on abortions following the 2022 Supreme Court ruling, which could overturn the landmark decision of Roe V Wade and revoke the federal right to terminate pregnancies.

The report also addressed the growing prevalence of in vitro fertilization (IVF) and other fertility treatments, with one essay bemoaning their impact on women's decision to delay starting families and prioritize higher education. The author attributed these treatments as a reason behind the decline in early family planning. This issue has gained significance in the current presidential race, after Trump expressed support for government funding or private health insurance coverage of IVF – a stance that seems contradictory to the views held by many Republicans, including Vance himself, who voted against expanding access to the treatment in June.

The contents of this report provide valuable insights into the underlying philosophy behind Vance's controversial statements in recent times. He has made derogatory remarks about "childless cat ladies" and expressed unease about teachers without children. Vance has even suggested a link between being childless and having a propensity for sociopathic behavior, garnering widespread criticism.

Interestingly, the 2017 report was released a year after the publication of Vance's bestselling memoir, "Hillbilly Elegy," a time when he openly decried Trump as "cultural heroin" and speculated about him becoming "America's Hitler." However, the foreword Vance wrote for the report hints at an evolving perspective on the then-president. He expressed that, despite criticism, Trump's pessimistic view of the country resonated with many Americans and questioned why this negativity had such electoral appeal.

Vance's political journey came full circle when Trump endorsed his successful election campaign for the US Senate in Ohio in 2022. The foreword he penned for the report also marked one of his earliest connections to the Heritage Foundation, a thinktank responsible for producing Project 2025, a controversial blueprint to remodel US government and society into a conservative image. Although Trump has distanced himself from the comprehensive 922-page document, the campaign of Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, has labeled it as an assault on fundamental liberties and a preview of a potential second Trump presidency.

Vance's endorsement of the thinktank report raises concerns and sheds light on his ideological alignment and policy stance. As the elections near, his association with such proposals continues to draw attention and scrutiny, posing questions about the direction he intends to take if elected to public office.