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Thousands of Christians descended on the nation's capital Monday for Christians United for Israel's 12th annual summit.

Mike Pence addressed the crowd, assuring that not only he, but President Donald Trump are proud supporters of the Jewish state.

"And under President Donald Trump, if the world knows nothing else, the world will know this: America stands with Israel. Now and always," he said.

The Vice President also revealed where his love for Israel comes from: not from Capitol Hill, but from the very Word of God.

"To look at Israel is to see that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob keeps his promises," he said. "Like all of you, my passion for Israel springs from my Christian faith. The songs of the land and the people of Israel were the anthems of my youth. As for me and my house, we pray for the peace of Jerusalem and all who call her home. Its really the greatest privilege of my life to serve as Vice President to a President who cares so deeply for our most cherished ally."

It was also very clear the alliance between Israel and America's leaders was not just founded on faith, but common values like freedom and democracy.

"President Trump has made it clear: America stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Israel, as together we confront those enemies who threaten our people, our freedom, and our very way of life," he said.

Pence also made sure to address one issue that so many Christians supported when President Trump ran his campaign -- the move of the United States' embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

"I promise you that the day will come when President Donald Trump moves the American Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. It is not a question of if, it is only when," he said to a standing ovation.

CUFI members are on Capitol Hill Tuesday to urge their representatives and senators to follow Vice President Mike Pence and President Trump's lead and support Israel.

Originally posted here:
Mike Pence to CUFI: I Support Israel Because I Am a Christian - CBN News

But two of his claims -- one broad defense of how the GOP bill would handle Medicaid, and one much more specific comment about waiting lists in Ohio -- have Pence facing criticism from his own party.

In both cases, Pence omitted critical context.

Those omissions go to the heart of the concerns about the bill among many within the GOP. In at least two cases, Republicans cited Pence specifically in voicing their displeasure with the bill in recent days.

Pence's broad defense of the bill included this line: "President Trump and I believe the Senate health care bill strengthens and secures Medicaid for the neediest in our society, and this bill puts this vital American program on a path to long-term sustainability."

Behind closed doors, Pence and top Trump health officials who met with governors stuck to the technically true claim that Medicaid spending would continue to increase under the GOP bill.

And starting in 2025, it would attach growth in Medicaid spending to the Consumer Price Index instead of tying it to medical inflation. Standard inflation has grown at a much slower rate than medical inflation.

The CBO projected this would force states to shrink their Medicaid programs -- leading to 15 million fewer Medicaid enrollees within the next decade. Many Republicans are preemptively discrediting the CBO's analysis, though, ahead of a new score expected this week.

The plan maintains many of Obamacare's subsidies to help people pay for individual insurance and provides money to stabilize the Obamacare market over the next few years. And, Pence and other top Republicans have argued, the Trump administration would grant states much more flexibility to make cost-saving changes to the traditional Medicaid program. Pence cited a plan he expanded in Indiana as one example.

"States across the country will have an unprecedented level of flexibility to reform Medicaid and bring better coverage, better care, and better outcomes to the most vulnerable in your states," Pence said.

However, Democratic governors mocked the notion that increased flexibility could make up for major cuts in federal spending.

Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins also took issue with Pence's claims on CNN's "State of the Union" Sunday.

"I would respectfully disagree with the vice president's analysis," Collins said. "This bill would impose fundamental, sweeping changes in the Medicaid program, and those include very deep cuts. That would affect some of the most vulnerable people in our society, including disabled children, poor seniors. It would affect our rural hospitals and our nursing homes. And they would have a very difficult time even staying in existence.

Pence cited by name another Republican who has criticized the GOP bill -- Ohio Gov. John Kasich -- while claiming his state, which is among the 31 states and the District of Columbia to expand Medicaid under Obamacare, now faces steep waiting lists for coverage.

Here's what Pence said: "Obamacare has put far too many able-bodied adults on the Medicaid rolls, leaving many disabled and vulnerable Americans at the back of the line. It's true, and it's heartbreaking. I know Gov. Kasich isn't with us, but I suspect that he's very troubled to know that in Ohio alone, nearly 60,000 disabled citizens are stuck on waiting lists, leaving them without the care they need for months or even years."

Experts from the Kaiser Family Foundation say that waiting lists for these services are longer in states that have not expanded Medicaid under Obamacare than they are in states that have expanded.

Kasich didn't attend the meeting. But back in Ohio, his aides lashed out, noting that the waiting lists are related to Medicaid's home and community-based services and have nothing to do with Ohio's decision to expand Medicaid under Obamacare.

Pence's office has not responded to CNN's request for comment on the Kasich camp's criticism.

See more here:
Mike Pence's two misleading Medicaid claims - CNN

What is Mike Pence thinking, I often ask myself.

That bespeaks a dull life, for sure. Still the more broken the Trump presidency, the more intriguing the question. The vice president is usually as loyal as a St. Bernard, sticking with a version of the platitude he uttered right after the Comey firing suitable for any scandal: Whatever Washington, D.C., may be focused on at any given time, rest assured, President Donald Trump will never stop fighting for the issues that matter most to the American people.

And so on. But last week, the vice-presidential veneer cracked at an event a few miles from the White House when whatever Washington, D.C., was focused on was Trumps eldest son emailing I love it about a meeting promising damaging information about Hillary Clinton delivered aspart of Russia and its governments support for Mr. Trump.

Whats not to love?

A day earlier Pence had already washed his hands of the latest debacle. Through his spokesman, Pence said,He was not aware of the meeting, or stories about it, especially those pertaining to the time before he joined the campaign.

He continued the distancing in the form of Pep Talk to Self before student leaders at American University the next morning as Time magazine wasrolling off the presses with the headline Red Handed placed over Don Jr.s face. He described good leaders as those in their physical lives and organizations who practice self-control and practice discipline, and have humilitystarkly at odds with you-know-who. Alluding to his own position, he described the attributes of servant leadership as requiring respect for authority, and listening and deferring to those who have been placed above you.

The good servant then asked the question, Whats it like to be the 48thvice president of the United States? And answered himself: You need to keep your arms and legs in the ride at all times. Pull the roll bar down, because you just got to hang on.

This is how it happens: One day youre spouting nostrums about the privilege of working every day to advance the presidents agenda, the next youre talking to portraits on the walls of the West Wing or comparing the job to the Banshee roller coaster at Kings Island in Ohio where you hang from the track with your body swinging wildly. You hire yourself a high-powered personal attorney and replace your chief of staff with a political whiz. And you prepare for the worst. While vice presidents usually focus on raising money for the top of the ticket, in an unusual move Pence formed his very own PAC. A token of Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker Paul Ryans preference for Pence over his boss is that they are hosting a $5,000 a head event to fill his coffers later this month.

If the leader to whom he has to show respect werent such a disaster, Pence wouldnt be that different from other veeps. The job comes with a chunk of indignity written in to it: that the vice presidentwill eat a lot of crow, nod in approval like Nancy Reagan, and visit the rust belt while the president wings off for another handshake competition (and first lady ogling) with French President Emanuel Macron. Like others, Pences future is dependent on that of the principal but in his case theres a twist: Trump needed to balance the ticket character-wise. He needed a rock-ribbed, church going, once-married TV Dad with the hair God gave him.

The failing governor from Indiana filled the bill perfectly. Pences salvation now lies in Trump failing. Two terms of Trump and some of the muck is bound to trickle down so that Pence would most certainly not be measuring the drapes in 2024.

Right now, Republicans long for Pence. He not only knows how a bill becomes a law, he would end their torment of having to answer for the man-child in the White House. Democrats quietly say they want the pursuit of Trump to slow down so that they can defeat him in 2020, not face Pence whom the nation might elect in a spasm of gratitude. They also dont want a far more conservative replacement. Pence risked his governorship on a bill to ensure a bakery wouldnt be obligated to put a bride and a bride atop a wedding cake.

So far, Pence may be complicit but hes no co-conspirator. He used to call the Russia hacking a bizarre rumor because he was out of that loop. He luckily was asked to leave the Oval Office when Trump pulled Comey aside to ask him to go easy on former national security adviser Michael Flynn. Although as transition-head Pence failed to vet Flynn adequately, hes protected by Trumps ardent desire to have a Friend of Putin in that position no matter what. When Trump had a choice to keep his national security adviser or banish him immediately for lying to Pence, Trump chose the liar over his veep.

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Now Pence isnt just being sullied by the father but by Don Jr. and who knows what family members to come. Last week just before Trump took off for Bastille Day, Pence joined him in the Oval Office at a gathering of evangelists. Pence stayed on the periphery and did not participate in the laying of hands on the president.

As Trump was about to leave for Bastille Day in Paris, Pence bowed his head in prayer, in gratitude perhaps, that he would have the place to himself for a few days to ask himself the question: What is Mike Pence thinking?

Read the original:
Mike Pence's Prayer - Daily Beast

Matthew Tully, Indianapolis Star Opinion Published 3:53 p.m. ET July 12, 2017 | Updated 4:36 p.m. ET July 12, 2017

A formal article of impeachment for obstruction of justice against President Trump. Veuer's Nick Cardona (@nickcardona93) has that story. Buzz60

Vice President Pence(Photo: Malcolm Benemark, USA TODAY Network)

What must Mike Pence be thinking?

If I had to bet, itd be this: It will all be worth it. All the drama and all the craziness, as well as the close proximity to scandal and the spot forever etched in history next to an inept, mean-spirited president it will all be worth it. Yes, theres a decent chance Mike Pence will someday be president perhaps sooner rather than later and for many, winning trumps everything else.

Still, there must be a part of our former governor that has regrets.

There must be a piece of the vice president that wonders if hed be better off in his old job as governor, announcing new road projects in Terre Haute and holding press conferences in Indianapolis. With every passing day, the decision by Pence to join forces with Donald J. Trump looks even more cynical, more hypocritical and ickier than it did last summer. And to be clear, it looked quite cynical, hypocritical and icky then.

But thats ambition. It can take you to strange places. And Pence is certainly in a strange place these days.

Trump could learn from these social media tips for kids

Practice saying President Mike Pence: Matthew Tully

This week, a vice president who by all accounts has been a model of loyalty issued a loftier-than-thou statement that, to those of us who covered him as governor, sounded very much like Mike Pence. The statement came after Donald Trumps Jr. outrageous dalliance with the Russians came to light and quickly overshadowed everything else going on in American politics.

Heres what Pence said, through a spokesman: The vice president is working every day to advance the presidents agenda, which is what the American people sent us here to do. He is not focused on stories about the campaign, particularly stories about the time before he joined the ticket.

Classic Pence.

Start with flattery. Then act as if your administration actually has a coherent agenda. Scoff at the notion that youd ever spend one moment focused on something as petty as politics. Portray yourself as above it all. Then make sure everyone knows that whatever shenanigans went on occurred before you joined the team.

As Donald Trump Jr. would say: I love it.

The statement left many of us chuckling for a few reasons. First, as a politician Pence has always been more about campaigns and insider politics than policies and legislative agendas. Second, once you team up with a guy like Trump you have forever surrendered the right to portray yourself as above the petty messiness in politics. Finally, theres that popular video of him speaking to CBSs Face the Nation in January.

Did any adviser or anybody in the Trump campaign have any contact with the Russians who were trying to meddle in the elections? he was asked.

Pence didnt pause.

Oh, of course not, he said, pursing his lips, shaking his head from left to right, and squinting as he often does when shooting for sincerity. And I think to suggest that is to give credence to some of these bizarre rumors that have swirled around the candidacy.

Don Jr. Russia emails trap Trump and his whole circus. They have no good choices.

POLICING THE USA:Alook atrace, justice, media

Pence then talked about media bias, just as his President Trump did Wednesday after egg was splattered all over the face of his administration and his family.

Blame the media if you want, but heres the bottom line: Pence once again looked either disingenuous or out of the loop. In this administration, with all of the scandals and investigations swirling, out of the loop is obviously the far better option. That reality explains the final line of Pences statement, the one making clear this latest scandal preceded his time in the Trump orbit.

Much was made of Pences distancing himself from the White House. Is Mike Pence betting it will all come crashing down on Trump? oneThe Washington Postcolumnist asked, raising questions about whether President Trump will survive the Russia investigations. Is Mike Pence the next president? Newsweek asked, noting the many recent steps by Pence to bolster his own political future.

Those are good questions. They boil down to this: What is Mike Pence thinking? Well, he must be thinking that this is all going to be worth it. But even he must have doubts.

Matthew Tully is a columnist forThe Indianapolis Star,where this piecefirst appeared. Follow him on Twitter:@matthewltully

You can readdiverse opinions from ourBoard of Contributorsand other writers ontheOpinion front page,on Twitter@USATOpinionand in our dailyOpinion newsletter.To submit a letter, comment or column, check oursubmission guidelines.

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Mike Pence's Trump ordeal will be worth it in the end. He hopes. - USA TODAY

Vice President Mike Pence will be the keynote speaker at Nevada Attorney General Adam Laxalts Basque Fry event on Aug. 26.

Vice President Mike Pence will be the keynote speaker at Nevada Attorney General Adam Laxalts Basque Fry event on Aug. 26.

The appearance by the vice president is a major coup for Laxalt, who has laid the groundwork for a widely expected 2018 gubernatorial campaign. Its also a signal to Treasurer Dan Schwartz, a fellow Republican mulling his own bid for governor, that Laxalt has the support of D.C. powerbrokers as well as grass-roots Nevada Republicans.

Laxalt hosts the Basque Fry in Gardnerville, south of Carson City, to support his Morning in Nevada PAC.

We are truly excited for Nevada to welcome Vice President Mike Pence to this years 3rd Annual Basque Fry event, Laxalt said in a statement. This has truly become the grass-roots event for Nevada conservatives and Republicans, attracting residents from all 17 counties.

Pences appearance could present an awkward dilemma for Sen. Dean Heller, R-Nev., whos running for re-election next year. After Heller announced his opposition to Republican legislation to replace Obamacare, a PAC connected to Pence associates announced it would run ads targeting Heller. While the group eventually backed off, Heller could be the deciding vote on the Senates new Obamacare replacement bill.

No matter what Heller does now, his standing with Nevada conservatives has taken a hit. Perennial candidate Danny Tarkanian is mulling a primary challenge to Heller. The response from grass-roots Republicans to Heller, if he decides to attend Laxalts event, could be a good indication of how much traction a primary challenge might have.

The 2015 event sold out, with 1,500 attendees, but the Corley Ranch, which hosts the event, has made changes to accommodate a larger crowd this year. General admission tickets cost $40 until July 29, when the price jumps to $55. Kids get in free.

I expect the event to sell out quickly and that attendance will exceed either of the two previous Basque Fries, said Andy Matthews, executive director of the Morning in Nevada PAC.

Laxalt patterned the Basque Fry gatherings after events his grandfather, former Nevada Gov. and U.S. Sen. Paul Laxalt, held during his time in office. The Basque Fry has attracted many Republican elected officials and candidates trying to connect with the Republican base. Headliners at previous Basque Fries have included Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton and Dr. Ben Carson, the current HUD secretary.

Contact Victor Joecks at vjoecks@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4698. Follow @victorjoecks on Twitter.

Original post:
Mike Pence coming to Nevada to headline Laxalt's Basque Fry - Las Vegas Review-Journal