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Less than six months after Mike Pence became vice president of the United States, he offered intriguing advice to the graduating class of Grove City College.

Servant leadership, not selfish ambition, must be the animating force of the career that lies before you, he told graduates of the Christian school. Dont fear criticism. Have the humility to listen to it. Learn from it. And most importantly, push through it. Persistence is the key.

Its good counsel, but hard to mesh with Pences own boss: Humility and acceptance of criticism havent been hallmarks of President Donald Trumps tenure.

The contrast is hard to miss: Critics have ridiculed Pence for his unwillingness to dine alone with any woman whos not his wife and pointed out that Trump has bragged about past promiscuousness, had three wives, and faced multiple sex scandals.

How does Pence persist?

Part of the answer lies in Pences belief that the president is pursuing good policy. Another part might be found in a commencement speech he gave to the U.S. Naval Academy during the same month he visited Grove City College. He told the graduates that an orientation to authority was critical to good leadership: Follow the chain of command without exception.

Pence did criticize Trump during the 2016 Republican primaries, and he endorsed Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, ahead of the contest in Pences home state of Indiana. But after Trump tapped Pence as his running mate later that year, Pence followed the chain of command.

Overt criticism of Trump by Pence has been rare. The most serious criticism Pence leveled came just before the 2016 election when an Access Hollywood tape from 2005 revealed Trump making sexually lewd and aggressive comments about women.

Pence reportedly considered dropping out.

He publicly said he was offended by Trumps remarks and that he could not condone or defend them. After Trump offered a public apology (calling the statements locker room talk), Pence continued in the race, and his public support for the president has been unwavering.

Its an interesting relationship and an interesting contrast: While Trump relishes Twitter battles and campaign rallies, Pence has remained low-key and understated in his work.

After widespread rioting erupted in June following the death of George Floyd, Trump made a high-profile walk to St. Johns Church in Washington, D.C., where authorities had dispersed demonstrators in a chaotic scene before the presidents appearance.

Two days later, Pence made a quiet visit to a mostly black church in Maryland to listen to a small group of men and women discuss their concerns about race and other issues. The group expressed support for some of Trumps policies but also told Pence of the struggles they face.

Derek McCoy, a black Christian who works for Compassion International, told the vice president he sometimes has to advise his adult sons about where its safe to go and asks them to check in with him. McCoy said he wasnt bitter, but that it was important to acknowledge the struggles in the country: America is listening, and we have to have the right tone.

Pence sat quietly in the circle as others in the group took turns talking about their experiences and giving their suggestions. He told them: We are here with ears to hear.

On other issues, Pence has listened to an admittedly surprising source: Joe Biden. In her 2018 book First in Line, Kate Andersen Brower reported that during the first year of the Trump administration, Biden and Pence talked at least once a month.

Biden told Brower that Pence has asked for his advice on the office and that they often discussed foreign policy. He acknowledged the pair disagree on plenty of issues, but Mikes a guy you can talk with, you can deal with, in a traditional sense.

A final motivation for Pences loyalty to Trump may be embedded with an obvious question: If Trump wins a second term, does Pence want to run for the presidency in 2024?

Pence, 61, mostly refuses to talk about presidential prospects publicly. And speculation has already swirled around other potential Republican hopefuls, including former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley and Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C.

But its hard to imagine its not on Pences mind. Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris seemed to show accidentally how much the prospect can occupy even a potential vice presidents mind when she recently started a sentence: In a Harris administration

She quickly added, with Joe Biden as the president.

Read part 1 of this issues cover story package: Prosecutor and persecutor

Link:
Following the chain of command | WORLD News Group - WORLD News Group

Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Vice-President Mike Pence has something to say. In fact, he has something to give you. What is it? Its his meat. He has some meat, and its for you.

How do I know this? Because Pence told everyone all about his meat at a speech last week during a Farmers and Ranchers for Trump rally in Iowa. Pence got the farmers and ranchers all riled up as he spoke about his Democratic opponents in the general election: Senator Harris said that she would change the dietary guidelines of this country to reduce the amount of red meat Americans can eat, he said. Thats when he made a candid offer: Well, Ive got some red meat for you. The crowd cheered, going wild for Pences meat.

I for one didnt know that Pence had such strong feelings about his meat, and that he would be talking so much about it during his speech, really just pounding away.

Anyway, have a good day everybody.

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Mike Pence Wants to Tell You About His Meat - The Cut

Joe BidenJoe BidenHouse passes B bill to boost Postal Service Trump seeks to overcome eroding support among women Here are the states where Kanye West is on the ballot MORE has announced Sen. Kamala HarrisKamala HarrisTrump seeks to overcome eroding support among women Does Trump suffer from 'self-destructive syndrome'? Could Kamala Harris transform law enforcement as the vice president? MORE (D-Calif.) as his running mate in 2020. While many in the liberal media are hailing Bidens choice as safe, Harris is anything but that. Harris may appeal to the left, but she doesnt have much to offer mainstream America.

Mike PenceMichael (Mike) Richard PenceTrump holds private funeral service for brother Robert Trump at White House Democrats prep ads, events to hit Trump during GOP convention The Hill's Convention Report: Postmaster General grilled | Looking ahead to GOP convention | Trump campaign passes billion in spending MORE, by contrast, has a proven record of delivering on the promises that the American people want the Trump administration to keep. In thehead-to-headbetween Pence and Harris, Pence is clearly the better choice.

Lets start with abortion.Seventy-five percent of Americanssupport some legal restrictions on abortion access. Any safe or representative vice president pick would hold views that reflect this fact. But Harris is not that pick. As a senator, Harris co-sponsored the Womens Health Protection Act, which would make it impossible for states to enforce precisely those legal restrictions Americans want, things like informed consent laws or mandatory waiting periods. And just earlier this year, Harris voted against the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, which would make it a federal crime for doctors to withhold life-saving medical care from an infant who survives a botched abortion.

For Harris, appealing to the far lefts radical pro-choice politics takes precedence over defending the right of an infant to receive healthcare. With Harris on the ticket, Biden is running the most pro-choice campaign in history.

Meanwhile, Mike Pence has helped lead the charge on many, if not all, of the Trump administrationsoutstanding anti-abortion accomplishments. And even though many Americans have come to accept Roe v. Wade, the vast majority of them, and also a3 in 10 minority of Democrats, still reject the radical pro-choice politics of the contemporary left.

Then theres religious freedom. In an era of highly polarized partisan politics, religious freedom is one of the few areas where almost all Americans agree. An AP-NORC poll from 2015 found that8 in 10 Americanssupport religious freedom for Christians. Americans understand the importance of religious liberty for the distinctly American vision of a free and flourishing republic.

Fromdiscriminating against a judicial nomineebecause of his Catholic faith toopposing the right of private businessesto uphold their faith against the Affordable Care Acts mandates, Harriss record on religious liberty is far from stellar. And twice now, Harris has introduced the Do No Harm Act to Congress, a bill designed to gut the religious liberty protections established by the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993.

Mike Pence has a proven record as a staunch advocate for religious freedom, both before and since entering the White House. Pence has even said that one of theproudest momentsof his service as vice president came when he delivered a tie-breaking Senate vote to allow states to withhold federal family planning money from abortion providers. And together with Trump, Pencetook the issue of religious freedom before the U.N.to help protect religious freedom abroad.

Pence is also the victor when it comes to school choice.Sixty-seven percentof Americans support school choice, with58percentsupporting government vouchers for private schools. But back when she was running for president, Harrisjoined in the chorus of Democrat voices decrying school choice initiativesand proposing legislation that would directly limit and infringe on the right of every American to get the education they want. Pence, on the other hand, has consistently fought to expand school choice, both at the local level while he was governor of Indiana and at the national level as Trumps vice president.

These are just three key issues, but they paint an accurate picture of what sets Pence apart from Harris namely, that Pence is taking the positions that the majority of Americans want, while Harris is way out in the left field.

As a grassroots organizer, Ive witnessed firsthand the disconnect between the Democratic partys drift ever leftward and the opinions of real everyday Americans. Americans, by and large, want some pro-life protections. They want their freedoms upheld. They want their Christian faith defended. And they want their country to be led by people who represent them.

But on almost every issue of consequence, Kamala Harris represents, not the base of ordinary Americans, but a far-left fringe of progressive activists. In this regard, shes woefully out of touch. If the choice for 2020 wasnt already clear, it just got clearer. In the Pence vs. Harris matchup, Harris simply cant compete.

TimothyHeadis executive director of theFaith and Freedom Coalition,a national grassroots movement of over two million conservatives and people of faith in support of time-honored values, stronger families, and individual freedom.

More:
Pence vs Harris: Only one of them is right for America | TheHill - The Hill

Presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Bidens decision to choose Sen. Kamala Harris as his running mate leaves President Donald Scared Trump with little choicehe needs to dump Vice President Mike Pence.

I know, its a shame for both Trump and Pence. The two seemed like a match made in a strange and wildly inaccurate version of heaven.

But Trump will see the fanfare the Harris pick bringsshes an energetic and experienced lawmaker, a former prosecutor and attorney general, and the first woman of color on a major party ticketand then hell look over at Pence and see a man as electrifying as a dollop of mayonnaise.

For a president who spends most of his time watching TV or tweeting about things he saw on TV, the telegenic Harris will be too much to bear.

Sure, the Trump campaign will start out, as it did moments after Bidens announcement of his vice presidential pick Tuesday, with attempts to smear Harris for having embraced the lefts radical manifesto (speaking of which, someone send me the manifesto, I didnt get it) and suggesting she will help Biden surrender control of our nation to the radical mob and open our borders and appease socialist dictators.

But Harris presents a problem for those whose thinking has been impaired by Fox News overexposure. Shes not a radical leftist of any sort. Shes a former prosecutor who, if anything, has a prosecutorial background that bothers the far left. A presidential primary campaign and years of public service mean shes already well-vetted, and her energy and relative youth compared with Biden, and with Trump, for that matter, will give the campaign a spark.

She doesnt suffer fools lightly and wont be easy for Trump to pin down with demeaning nicknames or sexist swipes. Im not saying Harris is perfect, or Biden is an unstoppable force. Not even close.

But Harris is a smart pick, and shell give Biden the thing Trump craves most: attention.

That will drive President Me-Me-Me nuts, and you can bet your membership to Mar-a-Lago that come the next round of not-so-great poll numbers, hell start seeing Pences personalityone part lightly salted mashed potatoes, one part guy whose faux-piety makes you kind of squirmyas a liability.

And dont think Pence is indispensable. Trump needed him the first time around to reassure/con evangelical voters into overlooking his history of being a womanizer, a foul-mouthed bully and, well, a Democrat. But Trump has fully Trumpnotized evangelicals. Theyve bitten the Trump-branded apple and he could pick the lyrics to a Marilyn Manson song as his running mate without losing voters.

Imagine the possible ways Trump could spice up his campaign by ditching Milquetoast Mike and firing up his addicted-to-being-fired-up base.

The most noted possibility is former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley, but she seems tied up lately in a dispute with The Popcorn Factory, an Illinois-based company that apparently messed up some delivery orders.

Haley tweeted Monday: Ok @PopcornFactory two messed up birthday orders missed delivery dates with no explanation. First time I gave you the benefit of the doubt. Second one tells me not to buy from you again. #DisappointedNephew.

Shes clearly not in a good position to join the Trump campaign right now. Thoughts and prayers. But there are other sensible vice-presidential suggestions to help get the Trump Train chugging:

An angry can of Goya beans. Not long ago, after the head of Goya Foods praised Trump, the president continued his demolition of political ethics by promoting several of the brands cans of beans. People in Trumps campaign are likely to think this will constitute diversity, and if the can of beans can effectively communicate a message of intolerance, it will perfectly augment Trumps reelection message.

The MyPillow guy holding a can of angry Goya beans. Trumps base LOVES Mike Lindell, the CEO and founder of MyPillow, a company that makes pillows that I assume cause liberals neck pain. Pairing Trump with Lindell would energize voters who admire TV salesmen, and the angry Goya beans would just be added value for the campaign.

A yacht emblazoned with Trump banners. This is likely to be Trumps ideal pick. He has repeatedly tweeted images of yachts and other large boats displaying Trump flags and signs with exclamations like: We love our boaters! Theres even a Boaters for Trump hat for sale on the Trump campaign website. So why not leverage this sensible appeal to Americas forgotten men and women -- the yacht owners who for so long have had no voice -- by ditching Pence and replacing him with a sleek Riviera 6000 Sport Yacht. The slogan writes itself: Trump/Yacht 2020: Make America Buoyant Again!

The bottom line is that Democratic excitement over Bidens choice of Harris has to be met with something splashy. And you couldnt make Pence splashy if you threw him off a Riviera 6000 Sport Yacht.

So go for it, Mr. President. Dump Mike and find the running mate of your reality television dreams. I hear Kanyes available.

Rex Huppke is a columnist for the Chicago Tribune.

Excerpt from:
Trump should dump Mike Pence, replace him with a yacht - Idaho Mountain Express and Guide

IndyStar journalists Chris Sikich and Robert Scheer talk about their experience covering Pete Buttigieg's campaign, from Iowa to the Carolinas. Indianapolis Star

Pete Buttigieg, who has nabbed a primetime speaking spot Thursday at the Democratic National Convention, chatted with IndyStar this week about Kamala Harris' matchup against Mike Pence, President Donald Trump's handling of the U.S. Postal Serviceand what his own future might look like in a Biden administration.

Here is the conversation with the former South Bend mayor and onetime presidential candidate, edited lightly for brevity.

Question: Why have you been campaigning so hard for Joe Biden?

Answer: Because so much is on the line. It's common in election years to say this is the most important election ever, but I don't think many people disagree this is the most important election of our lifetime. The nation, our democracy, is on the ballot. The country is in a national emergency. The credibility of our country is collapsing. The economy is in the worst shape its been in since the early 20th century. I never thought this was possible when I was running for president, but the stakes have actually gone up compared to the beginning of this year and I think anyone who cares where we are heading has to be as involved as much as possible in making sure this election goes well.

Q: How do you think vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris will fare against Mike Pence?

A: I think it's a great choice on Joe Biden's part. Of course her nomination is historic, but she's also somebody who speaks with great intelligence and precision as well as empathy. I think that's going to make her a very compelling contrast to Vice President Pence, who has come on board with an administration that is antithetical to every conservative value as well as every progressive value. She is somebody who is quite gifted when it comes to getting to the core of an issue. She has a talent for uncovering the central questions that are at stake, as you can see in the work she has done on Senate committees. That will serve her well in debating Vice President Pence, but I also just think the contrast.She understands from personal experiencewhat's at stake in this becoming a country where gender equality is real, where racial equity is achieved, where Black lives matter. She will be able to speak to that in a moment where that is exactly what the country is looking for.

Q: How should Democrats respond to President Trumps handling of the U.S. Postal Service?

A: Well, like many other things, the Postal Service should be completely free of political interference, and so the president's confession last week that he wantsit to be harder to vote by mail is a stunning admission of why he's motivated to undermine the Postal Service.One of the basic yardsticks of human civilization is the ability to deliver mail, and Americans ought to be able to do that at all times. And yet it's being actively undermined for political reasons. This is something you don't have to be a Democrat to understand. Asa matter of fact, seniors, rural votersand veterans are all among those who will disproportionately suffer from the attempts to undermine the Postal Service.

Q: Why do you think Donald Trump remains so popular in many parts of Indiana?

A: Well, first I think some perspective would be helpful. This is an exceptionally unpopular president by historical standards, but I do think there are many in Indiana who have grown up Republican and vote Republican out of habit. Even when you have a president who attacks Republican values too, it's a hard habit to break.If there was ever a year people should reconsider old partisan habits, it's this year. The way the president has behaved is a direct frontal attack not only on liberal values but on conservative values, too.

Q: What can Democrats do to break through in Indiana, especially in statewide races?

A: I've always believed there's no such thing as a permanently red state. We've seen Indiana go blue in electingJoe Donnelly and in voting for Barack Obama. I think we can do it again. I think it helps that we have really compelling candidates. I noted Dr. Myers, who is running for governor, put out areally compelling videotodayabout his experiences with race and medicine and leadership. I think the most important thing is to ensure that our stories are reaching as many Hoosiers as possible and I'll do my part to try to amplify those stories because they are so important.

Q: What was your biggest lesson from your own campaign for president?

A: The biggest thing that struck me was that Americans are more open to moving across party lines than you would ever guess by looking at the behavior of politicians in Washington. Time and time again, I'd be campaigning in rural areas and conservative areas on a progressive message that was also inclusive and I would see again and again Republicans talk about how enthusiastic they were to support this campaign without ever having to pretend to be something I was not. That really tells you we are in a moment that could change and realign some of this polarization that has gotten to be so deep, especially since we have a Republican president who does not behave according to any American values, conservative or liberal. That creates an historic opportunity to cut through some of these partisan divides. It's something that I felt as a candidate before, and it's something that I feel now as I look at what's happening around the country heading into November.

Q: I heard Joe Biden say you'd have a job in his administration if you wanted one. Would you seek a Cabinet post in a Biden/Harris administration?

A: Well, first we have to make sure there is a Biden/Harris administration, but of course I would love the chance to return to public service if that's what a new president decides and it makes sense. Right now, I'm laser-focused on doing my part to make sure that we have that change in administrations.

Q:What are you looking forward to at the convention?

A: Well, I'm looking forward to the innovation first of all. You know, we've been forced into this situation by a terrible emergency, but I think we all know that conventions were maybe ready for some changes.I'll be interested to see how we find new ways to connect. Last night I did an event with the Indiana delegation where the state party arranged a virtual dance party. So on the social side as well as the political side, I'm excited to see that. The most important thing is the show of unity. We're not pretending to agree on everything in our party, but we're going to deliverthe message that progressives and moderates and independents and even some Republicans are welcome in this effort to deliver this change we need before it's too late.

Q: What was a virtual dance party like?

A: It was interesting. You were able to see everyone's different styles, one little Zoom square at a time. It was fun.

Call IndyStar reporter Chris Sikich at 317-444-6036. Follow him on Twitter: @ChrisSikich.

Read or Share this story: https://www.indystar.com/story/news/politics/2020/08/17/q-a-buttigieg-trumps-handling-usps-kamala-harris-mike-pence/5599506002/

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What Buttigieg said about Harris vs. Pence, the postal service and more - IndyStar