Opinion: The humiliation of Mike Pence
One-term President Donald Trump, who misplaced the 2020 election to Joe Biden by over seven million votes, is reportedly pressuring Pence to take steps to overturn the need of the individuals. He appears to assume the vp may carry out this obligation when Congress meets to certify the outcomes on January 6.
Fortunately, the US Constitution offers Pence no way to cease the method as he presides over the joint session of the House and Senate subsequent week, a course of that Biden presided over 4 years in the past when Trump’s victory was licensed).
Nevertheless, Pence may help Republicans as they ship speeches that may delay the result and add to the sense, amongst Trump loyalists, that he was cheated out of re-election. In doing so, Pence could stake his claim to the Trump legacy — a populist base composed of tens of millions — and get a lift for his personal political future. Thus, his seemingly masochistic dedication to the President may lastly be rewarded.
To be honest, Pence’s tenure as vp has seemed like a steady present of servility. When he wasn’t providing over-the-top praise to Trump and his coverage decisions, he stood at his side beaming, with the type of adoring expression that recalled Nancy Reagan’s appreciative look towards her husband, former President Ronald Reagan.
It’s price remembering that Pence was supplied the vp’s job, partially, as a result of of his enchantment to huge numbers of evangelical voters who would be reassured by his presence alongside the profane, thrice-married Trump. The sycophant’s position, nevertheless, would have been half of the deal for anybody who agreed to hitch the ticket.
Always the middle of consideration, Trump would by no means make room within the highlight for anybody else. Pence accepted and kept his commitment even after the discharge of the “Access Hollywood” video, wherein Trump brags of grabbing girls by their genitals. His loyalty examined, and unbroken, Pence’s destiny was sealed.
Trump’s defeat ought to have signaled that Pence’s reward, his personal rise because the GOP’s main 2024 presidential candidate, was at hand. Instead he is needed to undergo a bit longer because the press stories that the President is offended with him for failing to work tougher at overturning the election. According to the political information web site Axios, Trump was angered when the Lincoln Project posted a video saying Pence was abandoning him.
Viewed by 1.3 million, it begins with the words, “The end is coming, Donald. Even Mike Pence knows it.” The video ends with the message, “On January 6, Mike Pence will put the nail in your political coffin when he presides over the Senate vote to prove Joe Biden won. It’s over, and Mike Pence knows it.”
Having served 12 years in Congress and 4 as governor of Indiana, Pence absolutely is aware of how the electoral course of works — and that he and Trump misplaced to Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. Furthermore, 4 years as vp has absolutely taught him that, within the President’s actuality, what issues now’s who will be part of him within the weird effort to overturn the end result.
And, regardless of the Lincoln Project advert, Pence has nonetheless taken steps to indicate his dedication to Trump. Last week, Pence jetted to West Palm Beach, the place he promised a crowd of conservative youth that, “We’re going to keep fighting until every legal vote is counted. We’re going to keep fighting until every illegal is thrown out.” He also urged the younger voters to “stay in the fight” towards election fraud.
As he pledged himself to the President’s baseless trigger and declared there was a battle to be received over election integrity, Pence confirmed himself to be roughly Trump’s equal in relation to darkish fantasies in regards to the nation’s voting system.
Despite claims, many from Republicans, of election fraud, it’s exceedingly rare and efforts to show it exists in any pervasive sense have failed.
Although Trump’s fee on the topic failed to find evidence of significant fraud and disbanded a 12 months after being forming, this actuality examine had not eliminated the problem from the GOP agenda. Republicans, particularly Trump, stored promoting the fraud declare, and a few individuals have purchased into it. Before the election, the Pew Research Center found that 43% of Republicans and 25% of all these surveyed believed voter fraud to be an actual drawback when individuals voted by mail. Post-election, in response to a NPR/PBS New Hours/Marist poll, just one quarter of Republicans say they belief the election outcomes.
With polls displaying the cries of fraud have labored, Pence continued peddling the false narrative, which solely proved that he is as keen as Trump to perpetuate a fiction — not less than the place it may also serve his political finish. It additionally exhibits how a lot he values Trump’s loyal base which, if measured by the votes solid in November, numbers more than 74 million.
Although Trump has stated he’s contemplating a run in 2024, he has additionally stated he might back away from this concept, in response to Politico. This would make Pence a frontrunner for the subsequent Republican ticket. Under these circumstances, now is just not the time for him to interrupt the bond.
A person who regularly declares his faith, Pence is hardly the sort to change into a political apostate — not with the paradise of the presidency in sight.
Pence’s dogged dedication to his wingman position could please sure Trump voters, nevertheless it does not imply the nomination or the White House shall be his for the taking. Just take into account the marketing campaign banner displayed two months ago at an occasion in Nevada. What did it say? “Don Jr. 2024.”
