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Bishop Vincent Matthews Jr., a conservative African American preacher with the Church of God in Christ denomination, recently called Vice President Mike Pence one of the most persecuted Christians in America.

That tells us two things: Matthews cant help but suck up to this administration and Matthews has no idea what persecuted means.

The real clincher? This happened during a service honoring Martin Luther King Jr..

Mathews comments, which Pence alluded to as part of an overly generous introduction, came during a visit from the vice president at the Holy City Church of God in Christ in Raleigh, Tennessee. During the visit Pence hailed Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as one of the heroes of his youth and highlighted ways in which the Trump administration has been good for African Americans.

He must have said that somewhere in between the recollections of Trump calling neo-Nazis very fine people, referring to African nations as shithole countries, and becoming the patron saint of white supremacists.

Mathews justified his comments by saying Pence actually believes the Bible. They hate him for believing the Bible.

Thats obviously a lie. (Barack Obama believed the Bible, too, even if Republicans refuse to accept that.) Pence is criticized for his policy preferences, his covering for Trumps actions, and his blatant hypocrisy when it comes to the Christian mandate to care for the least of these.

Thats not persecution. Those are consequences. Even the Bible calls for necessary rebuke when needed.

It requires a great deal of cognitive dissonance to say that Jesus would approve of separating refugee families (when He was one), cutting SNAP benefits (when He fed the poor for free), and making healthcare inaccessible for the most vulnerable (when He healed people without sending them a bill). But that dissonance has never been an issue for Trumps most fervent supporters.

Thats what happens when you worship power while using the Bible to throw people off the scent.

(Screenshot via YouTube)

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Black Preacher: Mike Pence Is One of the Most Persecuted Christians in America - Friendly Atheist - Patheos

Since his selection as Donald Trumps running mate, many people believe that Mike PenceMichael (Mike) Richard PenceTrump, Pence visit MLK memorial JFK's grandson calls Pence op-ed a 'total perversion' of Kennedy's legacy Sunday shows preview: Lawmakers gear up for Senate impeachment trial MORE has been mired in the throes of PTSD in this case, an acronym for President TrumpDonald John TrumpSanders apologizes to Biden for supporter's op-ed Jayapal: 'We will end up with another Trump' if the US doesn't elect progressive Democrats: McConnell impeachment trial rules a 'cover up,' 'national disgrace' MORE Stress Disorder.

That is not to say that the vice president does not strongly support the president. He most certainly does. Its just that Pence also seems to have a terminal case of whiplash as he snaps his head around time and again to witness the next shoe dropping, about or from the president.

Pence is the poster child of a reserved, traditional, button-down politician. Trump at times appears to consider these traits a weakness, counter to the persona he needs to push to protect his name, policies and legacy against the entrenched elites in the mainstream media and political parties who have sought to take him down since day one.

Connected Republicans in Washington and in Indiana Pences home state, where he was governor and a U.S. House member have told me that they wonder if the never-ending drip, drip, drip of current events combined with this contrast in style, temperament and judgment between the two leaders is wearing down the vice president.

The fact is, no vice president in recent memory has had to deal with the daily uncertainty that swirls around Pence: the impeachment of his boss, the barrage of investigations, the accusations against Trump and partisan investigations.

And those on the left, in the Never Trump world, still openly salivate at the thought of somehow removing the president via the 25th Amendment. Were that political pipe dream ever to come about, Pence would become our 46th president.

Except, add to the mix ofthese challenging scenarios the fact that there is open talk among some Republicans that unless Pence is replaced by someone else of stature such as frequently mentioned former U.N. Ambassador Nikki HaleyNimrata (Nikki) HaleyIs Mike Pence preparing to resign, assume the presidency, or both? Judd Apatow urges Georgia voters to get rid of Doug Collins after 'terrorists' comment Nikki Haley: Democratic leadership, 2020 Dems are the only people mourning Soleimani death MORE Trump may well be the last Republican president for the foreseeable future.

Aside from that stinging rebuke from within the entrenched GOP establishment, you have the lefts continual attacks upon Pence some of them truly despicable, involving his faith, his family and personal life.

Through that darkening fog of chaos, criticism and uncertainty, the process of presidential succession flashes like a neon sign on steroids. Its a process that duty and reality have forced Pence to focus upon.

The U.S. Constitution spells it out simply in Article II, Section 1, Clause 6: In Case of the Removal of the President from Office, or his Death, Resignation, or Inability to discharge the Powers and Duties of the said Office, the same shall devolve on the Vice President.

Leaving aside that his boss is only the third U.S. president to face an impeachment trial, Pence undoubtedly knew long before that burst of partisan revenge that nine vice presidents have been elevated to the Office of President because of a presidents death or resignation. From the start, Pence, like any vice president, had only one real job: For the good of the nation, he must be prepared to step into the presidency immediately. That is Politics 101.

Now, Pence is navigating something dramatically removed from the basics a world where meetings behind closed doors, whispered conversations, promised new positions and suspect loyalties are the norm. Its an atmosphere youd expect to find created by murder mystery author Agatha Christie or Italian diplomat Niccolo Machiavelli more so than our Founding Fathers.

For three years, Pence also has served as president of the Senate, and he knows all about those closed-door meetings, whispered conversations and changing loyalties. More than that, he understands that precisely because of his roles, he is far from an impartial observer. Pence is one heartbeat or one conviction away from the presidency and realizes that, like it or not, he is standing at the edge of making history.

Several years ago, I had the honor of meeting then-Gov. Pence at a private home in Florida, where we spoke at some length over a cup of coffee. He came across as advertised: kind, respectful, dignified, decent and highly informed.

The clich tells us that nice guys finish last. Mike Pence is indeed a nice guy, yet one who knows how to survive the often brutal political arena. With the Senate trial and more cracks appearing and then being patched in the foundation of solidarity beneath Trump Pence knows that more whispered conversations are taking place.

Some are wondering whether all of this will cause Pence to decline to serve as vice president in a second Trump term. They believe Pence has no chance to be elected president on his own and that, sometime after the Senate trial, he will opt for a private sector life of normalcy, family and faith. Should that be the case, who could fault him?

Douglas MacKinnon, a political and communications consultant, was a writer in the White House for Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, and former special assistant for policy and communications at the Pentagon during the last three years of the Bush administration.

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Is Mike Pence preparing to resign, assume the presidency, or both? | TheHill - The Hill

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (localmemphis.com) Local 24 News political analyst and commentator Otis Sanford shares his point of view on Vice President Mike Pences visit to Memphis.

Was the Memphis visit by Vice President Mike Pencenothing more than a patronizing photo op? The partisans on both sides of thepolitical fence can debate the question all day. And both sides would havevalid points.

Perhaps there was a political motive to Pences visitto the National Civil Rights Museum and Holy City Church of God in Christ on the eve of todays Martin Luther King holiday. After all, a recent nationalpoll found that most African Americans are deeply pessimistic about the DonaldTrump presidency. And eight in 10 believe the President is a racist.

But while the poll results were a notable backdrop toPences Memphis visit, I believe there was some genuineness in his desire tocome to the Bluff City. Yes, Pence has stood silently by as Trump hasdenigrated black politicians, cursed at black athletes, and shown an appallinglack of knowledge of black history. But I take Pence at his word that Dr. Kingwas one of his childhood heroes. And his tour of the civil rights museum wassincere and apolitical.

Pences remarks at Holy City Church, however, didventure into campaign talking points. But he was warmly greeted by thecongregation which was appropriate.

Todays MLK holiday should be a special day for allAmericans. That includes a Veep who despite all thats wrong with thisadministration deserves the benefit of the doubt. And thats my point ofview.

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Was Memphis visit by VP Mike Pence nothing more than a patronizing photo op, asks Otis Sanford? - WATN - Local 24

MILWAUKEE Vice President Mike Pence made a stop to a local Culver's while in town for President Trump's Milwaukee rally.

People inside the restaurant lined up to greet him.

The vice president also greeted diners, booth by booth, briefly talking to customers and thanking his supporters.

Vice President Mike Pence stopped by a local Culver's while in town

The election was brought into the conversation as he was speaking to people.

"Wisconsin made a huge difference last time. The president's on his way right now," he told a couple. "The rally came to you. Do you want to take a picture? Hand someone your camera."

He then greeted several members of the staff and took pictures with them.

The vice president then ordered a turtle sundae and paid with cash.

"It's going on Air Force Two," he told the cashier.

"If any of you sees Mrs. Pence, there's no reason to bring this up," he joked on his way out, turtle sundae in hand.

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VP Pence stopped by a local Culver's while in town [PHOTOS] - WTMJ-TV

Sabrina Haake is running for congress in the home state of Mike Pence. (haakeforcongress/ Instagram)

A lesbian lawyer who wants to tackle the climate crisis is running for congress in Indiana, the home state of Donald Trumps notoriously anti-LGBT+ vice president Mike Pence.

Sabrina Haake is running for Indianas 1st congressional district, which has been Democratic since the 1930s, although most congressional seats in Indiana are held by Republicans.

Haake lives with her wife and three rescue dogs in the city of Gary, Indiana, and she told LGBTQ Nation that her campaign will focus on the climate crisis.

Indiana-born Pence has repeatedly refused to declare that climate change is threat to national security, and in 2014 he said the scientific community had not resolved whether climate change was a man-made issue.

But Haake believes she can reach people by outlining the economic benefits of renewable energy, and said that 40,000 new jobs could be created in Northwest Indiana alone if more federal investment could be secured.

She said: Everyone we know can drive electric cars, but at the end of the day if we dont get industry to convert, it wont make any difference.

Its just reality. Industry needs federal resources to convert. We cant ask steel to just invest billions and trillions into infrastructure upgrade.

Of course LGBT+ rights have a personal significance to Haake and, according to her website, she promises to be a fierce advocate for legislation such as the Equality Act, which would make discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity illegal under existing civil rights law.

She continued: Aside from the White House efforts to deny job protection to gay people, its no secret that the current environment in Washington is hostile to LGBTQ people.

The president has repeatedly narrowed the rights of trans people, including the right to serve in the military, and the White House has rescinded protections for the rights of trans students in federally funded schools.

Republicans at every level of government routinely draft legislation to deny gay people rights to basic human needs, like housing, employment healthcare and education.

These attacks hurt all of us, but they especially hurt low-income communities of colour.

In contrast, Pence advocated for taking away healthcare from trans people in the US military, before helping to ban them from serving completely, and said same-sex marriage would lead to societal collapse.

Haake said she had a tough upbringing which lead her to plan, if elected, to assess children in first grade for signs of trauma, and to focus on increasing mental health support in Indiana.

She wrote on her website: I had a tough upbringing, I wont hide it. As is true for many families today, we struggled.

My home life was fraught with chronic and extreme domestic violence, untreated mental illness, and acute substance abuse.

We need to stop the stigma and have a bold, honest discussion about trauma in the home so that children living with violence and substance abuse know they are not alone.

Pence voted against making coverage of mental health conditions equal to coverage of physical health conditions.

Although her life experiences inform the issues she fights for, Haake said she doesnt want her sexuality to be the focus of her campaign.

She told LGBTQ Nation: I dont think thats a qualification. I think thats part of who I am as a person.

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Lesbian environmentalist runs for congress in the home state of Mike Pence - PinkNews