On Saturday, Vice President Mike Pence delivered the keynote commencement address at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia.
The Vice President’s address at Williams Stadium began with a congratulations from President Trump to at least 20,000 students in attendance and also included a staunch defense of Christianity and Christian values.
“America needs men and women of faith and integrity now more than ever,” the Vice President stated before noting rampant Christian persecution around the world. “We live in a time when it’s become acceptable and even fashionable to ridicule and discriminate against people of faith.”
“It wasn’t all that long ago that the last administration brought the full weight of the federal government against the Little Sisters of the Poor merely because that group of nuns refused to provide a health plan that violated their deeply held religious beliefs, and when the State of Georgia recently was debating legal protections for the unborn a bevy of Hollywood liberals said they would boycott the entire state, and when my wife, Karen, returned to teach art at an elementary Christian school earlier this year, we faced harsh attacks by the media and the secular left.” Pence said.
s he praised the “freedom of religion” that is “enshrined in our First Amendment and in the hearts of every American,” the vice president called the attacks on Christian education “un-American,” then touted the Trump administration’s “decisive action to protect religious liberty.”
“I promise you, we will always stand up for the right of Americans to live, to learn, and to worship God according to the dictates of their conscience,” said Pence. “No one is ever going to stop you from practicing your faith or from preaching what is in your heart, that’s a promise.”
“You know, throughout most of American history, it’s been pretty easy to call yourself Christian,” Pence said.
“It didn’t even occur to people that you might be shunned or ridiculed for defending the teachings of the Bible. But things are different now. Some of the loudest voices for tolerance today have little tolerance for traditional Christian beliefs. So as you go about your daily life, just be ready, because you are going to be asked not just to tolerate things that violate your faith, you’re going to be asked to censor them, to bow down to the idols of popular culture.” he concluded.
Vice President Mike Pence just made a move and demanded Rep. Ilhan Omar to be removed from House Foreign Affairs Committee.
On Friday, the Vice President renewed his demand for Democrats to remove freshman lawmaker Rep. Ilhan Omar, of her seat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
“Ilhan Omar has made statements … anti-semetic comments … Statements against our most cherished ally: Israel … that ought to be rejected by every American,” VP Pence said during an interview with “Fox and Friends.” “And frankly the fact that very recently she has been trying to blame the United States of America for the deprivation and poverty brought on by the dictatorship in Venezuela.”
Rep. Omar first drew the ire of Republicans on Capitol Hill and political allies of Trump’s administration when she tweeted her disrespect for a pro-Israel influence in Congress.
Recently, Rep. Omar blamed U.S. policy toward Venezuela for the ongoing humanitarian crisis, telling left-leaning news organization “Democracy Now,” “A lot of the policies that we have put in place has kind of helped lead the devastation in Venezuela. And we’ve sort of set the stage for where we’re arriving today.”
Rep. Omar got her seat in Congress as part of the so-called blue wave last November that placed a historic amount of women and women of color in the House of Representatives, giving Democrats the majority back in that chamber.
Along with freshmen allies like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Rep. Rashida Tlaib, Rep. Omar’s progressive stances on the economy, social issues, and foreign policy have given Trump even more supporters for the 2020 election cycle.
President Trump himself has shown no restraint in slamming Rep. Omar and her fiery rhetoric, saying on few occasions she “has a way about her” that is “very unpatriotic.”
This week, while speaking at an event in Minnesota, Mike Pence alluded to Rep. Omar’s remarks costing her the seat she holds in Congress.
“The people of Minnesota will decide whether or not she remains in Congress,” VP Mike Pence said. “Congresswoman Omar has no place on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the Democratic leadership out to remove her.”
On Friday, Vice President Mike Pence responded to Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders’ recent remarks that prisoners should be able to vote during his address to the National Rifle Association’s (NRA) annual convention.
The vice president delivered the comments before President Donald Trump’s keynote address for the NRA Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA) Leadership Forum. This is the third year both he and the President have spoken at the group’s annual meeting.
Mike Pence brought up Bernie Sanders’ remarks during last Thursday’s CNN Town Hall that he would allow incarcerated felons like the Boston Marathon Bomber to vote. “The same people who want to restrict the right to keep and bear arms of law-abiding citizens believe the Boston Marathon Bomber should be given the right to vote on Death Row,” Pence said, while the crowd cheered.
“I got news for you Bernie. Not on our watch.” said the Vice President.
He went on and said that “Violent convicted felons, murderers and terrorists should never given the right to vote in prison. Not now, not ever.”
Later in his speech, Vice President Pence addressed democrats touting the positive qualities of socialism: “It was freedom, not socialism, that gave us the most prosperous economy in the history of the world. It was freedom not socialism, that ended slavery, won two world wars and stands today as a beacon of hope for all the world.”
Vice President Mike Pence, along with his wife Second Lady Karen Pence, arrived first in Air Force Two around 10 a.m. for the speech.
He was greeted on the tarmac by Indiana’s Republican leadership delegation including his brother Rep. Greg Pence, Gov. Eric Holcomb, Sens. Todd Young and Mike Braun, and Reps. Jackie Walorski, Jim Banks, and Jim Baird.
The speeches were held in Lucas Oil Stadium, which holds 10,000. The convention is being held at the Indiana Convention Center on April 26-28.
Vice President Mike Pence responded to 2020 White House hopeful Pete Buttigieg in an interview that aired on Friday, after he previously criticized him.
The Vice President accused the South Bend, Ind., mayor of ginning up a conflict for votes and attacking his religious faith.
Mike Pence appeared on an interview on CNN and said that Buttigieg knew that Pence did’t have a problem with him over his sexuality. The mayor is the first openly gay man to gain traction in a major party’s primary race.
“You know, I’ve known Mayor Pete for many years. We worked closely together when I was governor,” Pence told CNN’s Dana Bash in the interview.
“I considered him a friend,” Pence added. “He knows I don’t have a problem with him.”
“I don’t believe in discrimination against anybody. I treat everybody how I want to be treated,” Pence continued. “The truth of it is, all of us have our own religious convictions. Pete has his convictions, I have mine.”
The Vice President added that the mayor’s quarrel was “with the First Amendment,” adding: “All of us in this country have a right to our religious beliefs.”
https://youtu.be/Af0YN_dmtzc?t=2027
Pence and Buttigieg have recently traded blows in the press after the South Bend mayor accused the Vice President of holding his sexuality against him due to his conservative Christian beliefs about homosexuality.
This Wednesday, while speaking at a Special Session of the United Nations Security Council about the Crisis in Venezuela, Vice President Mike Pence issued a scathing condemnation of the Maduro regime in Venezuela and stated one of the most stunningly blunt statements in the history of the U.N., looking directly at him and telling him, “With all due respect, Mr. Ambassador, you shouldn’t be here. You should return to Venezuela and tell Nicolás Maduro that his time is up.”
The Vice President began his speech by noting that Article 24 of the U.N. Charter confers on the Security Council the “responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security.” He quoted President Donald Truman telling Congress in 1947 of the U.N., “The United Nations is designed to make possible lasting freedom and independence for all its members.” Pence said, “It is why this institution exists.”
Then vice president Pence described in detail the regime led by Maduro and its devastating effect on his country.
“For six long years, the people of Venezuela have suffered under the heavy hand of oppression. The Maduro regime’s socialist policies have shrunk their economy by nearly half. In what was once one of the wealthiest countries in our hemisphere, 9 out of 10 people now live in poverty. The average Venezuelan has lost more than 20 pounds through deprivation and malnutrition. Thousands of Venezuelan children are starving. And at this very hour, infants in hospitals across Venezuela are dying for lack of basic medical care.” said Mike Pence.
“And the Maduro regime, in the midst of this deprivation and suffering, has used violence and intimidation against anyone who opposes their actions. In the last three months, the regime has thrown at least 1,255 people into jail, without any due process of law, and killed at least 40 protestors. That’s the nature of the regime that we’re dealing with.” he added.
After describing how the situation has triggered a mass exodus of the Venezuelian people, the Vice President continued: “And the truth is, those who stay behind are subject to crime, violence, and lawlessness. Thieves in Venezuela don’t rob banks; they rob restaurants for food. Vicious gangs and so-called colectivos have turned the streets into warzones. And Venezuela now has the highest murder rate in the world, as more than 70 people are murdered every single day.”
He also pointed out that criminals and terrorists such as members of Hezbollah have seized the opportunity to “gain a foothold in the region and export crime and violence.” Pence then spoke of the legitimacy of the National Assembly recognizing a new leader: Interim President Juan Guaidó, a move supported by the United States and 54 other nations.
The Vice President shed some light on how Cuba and Iran prop up the Maduro regime, then stated, “Up to this point, while other international bodies have acted, the United Nations and this Security Council have refused to act. But now that nations across this hemisphere have spoken, the time has come for the United Nations to recognize Interim President Juan Guaidó as the legitimate President of Venezuela and seat his representative in this body. This body should revoke the credentials of Venezuela’s representative to the United Nations, recognize Interim President Juan Guaidó, and seat the representative of the free Venezuelan government in this body without delay.”
Then, the stunning moment: Mike Pence paused for a moment, looked directly at the ambassador and said, “With all due respect, Mr. Ambassador, you shouldn’t be here. You should return to Venezuela and tell Nicholas Maduro that his time is up.”
The ambassador smirked and shook his head.
Pence continued, “It’s time for him to go.”
The vice president then turned to the entire Security Council, “Members of this Security Council: The men, women, and children in Venezuela are suffering. Their economy has been destroyed. Their democracy has been destroyed. The people of Venezuela are paying the price. And soon, the region and the world will pay the price if we fail to act. There can be no bystanders to this history. For the peace and security of our hemisphere, the world and the United Nations must stand with the people of Venezuela. To that end, the United States is preparing a resolution recognizing the legitimacy of the government of Interim President Juan Guaidó. And today, we urge every member of the Security Council and all U.N. member states to support this resolution.” Watch the beginning of the video on the link bellow.
“History has taught us what happens when the civilized nations of the world allow oppression to go unchecked. When a brutal dictatorship arose in Europe, the world failed to respond. Millions of lives were lost in the Second World War. This very institution was forged in the aftermath of that war so that nations around the world could come together and confront dictatorship with one voice. And so the United States is calling on the United Nations to live up to its very purpose: Reject the failed leadership of Nicolás Maduro, and stand with us, stand with nations across the world and across this hemisphere to help the people of Venezuela forge a brighter future.” he concluded.
Vice President Mike Pence condemned the Green New Deal and the Democratic initiatives of Medicare for All and sought to frame the 2020 presidential campaign as a referendum on socialism.
“Under the guise of Medicare for All and a Green New Deal, Democrats are embracing the same tired economic theories that have impoverished nations and stifled the liberties of millions over the past century. That system is socialism,” said the Vice President, per his prepared remarks shared with The Daily Caller.
Vice President Mike Pence continued, “the truth is, we want people to make poor people richer, they want to make rich people poorer. We want to make poverty more rare; they want to make poverty more comfortable. That’s the choice we face today: between freedom and socialism, between personal responsibility and government dependence.”
WARSAW, POLAND – FEBRUARY 14: U.S. Vice President Mike Pence (C) stands next to Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki (R) and Polish Foreign Minister Jazek Czaputowicz at the group photo at the Ministerial to Promote a Future of Peace and Security in the Middle East on February 14, 2019 in Warsaw, Poland. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
The Vice President pointed out to Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders’ candidacy, saying, “remarkably, a leading candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination is an avowed socialist.”
“And it’s not just him,” said Pence. “Bernie’s been joined by a chorus of candidates and newly elected officials who have papered over the failed policies of socialism with bumper-sticker slogans and slick social-media campaigns.”
Pence’s refrain comes days after he returned from a trip to South America, where the U.S. is trying to facilitate a transition of government in Venezuela.
The United States is confronting Venezuelan dictator Nicholas Maduro and officially recognized National Assembly leader Juan Guaido as the legitimate leader of the country.
The Vice President has become one of the major forces within the administration shepherding Latin America policy. He announced new sanctions on the Venezuelan regime while in Bogota, Colombia and criticized the Maduro government for blocking humanitarian aid supplies.
Pence recalled one of President Trump’s Warsaw speech in which he queried whether “the West has the will to survive,” declaring “as we gather together here today, we must ask our movement the same question.”
As the president said that day, “Do we have confidence in our values to defend them at any cost? Do we have enough respect for our citizens to protect our borders? Do we have the desire and the courage to preserve our civilization in the face of those who would subvert and destroy?”
