New York Times | Amid White House Tumult, Pence Offers Trump a Steady Hand New York Times WASHINGTON When some of President Trump's aides were reassuring him over the past few weeks that he had enough votes to pass a health care bill, Vice President Mike Pence was skeptical. Mr. Pence, a Hill-wise former Indiana congressman who is ... |
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Amid White House Tumult, Pence Offers Trump a Steady Hand - New York Times
Details Last Updated: Friday, 31 March 2017 12:42 March 31, 2017 - Washington, D.C. Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement yesterday after Vice President Mike Pence cast the tie-breaking vote in the Senate to send to the Presidents desk H.J. Res 43, a resolution under the Congressional Review Act that repeals the Obama Administration rule that was designed to protect Americans access to family planning andlifesaving preventive care services:
Todays vote is just the latest evidence that Republicans do not believe in womens right to contraception and family planning.
Every year, over four million women receive family planning and preventive care at the Title X-funded clinics Republicans are attacking. Sadly, Republicans assault on Title X funding will likely have heartbreaking impacts for thousands of vulnerable families who will lose access to lifesaving preventive care.
The Republican Congress is utterly consumed with contempt for womens ability to access affordable contraception and lifesaving preventative care. Republicans are once again demonstrating that they will stop at nothing to limit womens access to comprehensive health care services. Source:Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi
It hasn't been long since social media erupted over the name Mike Pence reportedly calls his wife Karen, and recently, new details about their relationship have emerged.
The second lady acts as her husband's "gut check," shield" and "prayer warrior," and she is often by his side -- sometimes with a tray of cookies.
SEE ALSO: Mike Pence debuts new family pet -- and it has the best name ever
A profile of the vice president's wife in the Washington Post reveals the couple adheres to strict rules to preserve the sanctity of their relationship.
According to the article, Mike told the Hill in 2002 that he never eats alone with a woman other than his wife. He also will not attend events featuring alcohol without her by his side.
Though she is often by his side and political events, Karen has repeatedly said that one of her "hard and fast rules" is that she never weighs in on foreign policy.
The profile includes several anecdotes about the couple that prove how strong and respectful their bond is.
See photos of the couple:
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Mike and Karen Pence
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U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, left, and his wife, Karen Pence acknowledge the audience before he speaks at the Republican Jewish Coalition's annual meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada February 24, 2017.
(REUTERS/David Becker)
U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, his wife Karen and daughter Charlotte, visit the former German Nazi concentration camp in Dachau near Munich, Germany February 19, 2017.
(REUTERS/Michael Dalder)
U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and his wife Karen wave after he spoke at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in National Harbor, Maryland, U.S., February 23, 2017.
(REUTERS/Joshua Roberts)
U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and his wife Karen arrive in Munich, Germany, February 17, 2017.
(REUTERS/Michaela Rehle)
U.S. President Donald Trump with his wife Melania and Vice President Mike Pence with his wife Karen dance at a Liberty Ball in Washington, U.S., January 20, 2017.
(REUTERS/Yuri Gripas)
Mike Pence kisses his wife Karen after taking the oath of office for U.S. Vice President during inauguration ceremonies swearing in Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United States on the West front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., January 20, 2017.
(REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson)
U.S. President Donald Trump with his wife Melania and Vice President Mike Pence with his wife Karen cut a cake at the Armed Services Ball in Washington, U.S., January 20, 2017.
(REUTERS/Yuri Gripas)
U.S. Vice President Mike Pence with his wife Karen waves at a Liberty Ball in Washington, U.S., January 20, 2017.
(REUTERS/Yuri Gripas)
Mike Pence is sworn in as U.S. Vice President as his wife Karen holds a bible during inauguration ceremonies swearing in Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United States on the West front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., January 20, 2017.
(REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque)
Vice President Mike Pence is sworn in as his wife Karen Pence watches during inauguration ceremonies swearing in Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United States on the West front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., January 20, 2017.
(REUTERS/Carlos Barria)
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden says goodbye to Karen Pence after a luncheon and meeting with Vice President-elect Mike Pence at the Naval Observatory in Washington, U.S., November 16, 2016.
(REUTERS/Gary Cameron)
Indiana Governor Mike Pence, the Republican vice presidential nominee, and his wife Karen arrive to a rally in Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S. October 10, 2016.
(REUTERS/Jason Miczek)
Indiana Governor Mike Pence holds hands with wife Karen Pence after being named Donald Trump's Vice Presidential candidate as the walk out of Trump Tower in New York, U.S., July 15, 2016.
(REUTERS/Carlo Allegri)
Indiana governor Mike Pence and wife Karen Pence attends the 2014 IPL 500 Festival Parade during the 2014 Indy 500 Festival at on May 24, 2014 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
(Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
Republican Vice presidential nominee Mike Pence and wife Karen listen as Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump addresses the final rally of his 2016 presidential campaign at Devos Place in Grand Rapids, Michigan on November 7, 2016.
(MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images)
Former U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney introduces U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and his wife Karen Pence at the Republican Jewish Coalition's annual leadership meeting at The Venetian Las Vegas on February 24, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mike Pence's speech to the group of Republican Jewish leaders and donors follows his trip last week to Germany where he visited the former Dachau concentration camp and a surprise stop on Wednesday at a Jewish cemetery in Missouri that had been vandalized.
(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
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Eight months into their dating relationship, Karen engraved a small gold cross with the word "yes" on it and kept it in her purse to give to him when he proposed.
A month after she began carrying the cross, Mike popped the question while they were feeding ducks together.
According to the Washington Post, he hollowed out two loaves of bread -- in one, he placed a small bottle of champagne. In the other, he hid the ring box. She found both items while tearing off peaces to feed the birds.
A local paper notes that after the proposal, the couple got the bread shellacked as a keepsake.
Since then, Karen and Mike have been inseparable.
"You can't get a dime between them," Ken Blackwell, senior fellow at the Family Research Council and a senior domestic policy adviser on the Trump transition team, told the Washington Post.
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Second Lady Karen Pence
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Vice President Mike Pence is sworn in as his wife Karen Pence watches during inauguration ceremonies swearing in Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United States on the West front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., January 20, 2017.
(REUTERS/Carlos Barria)
Karen Pence, wife of Republican vice presidential nominee Gov. Mike Pence, speaks to supporters during a campaign event November 3, 2016 in Berwyn, Pennsylvania. Melania Trump, wife of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, campaigned for her husband, five days before the nation pick her next president.
(Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, his wife Karen and daughter Charlotte, visit the former German Nazi concentration camp in Dachau near Munich, Germany February 19, 2017.
(REUTERS/Michael Dalder)
U.S. President Donald Trump with his wife Melania and Vice President Mike Pence with his wife Karen cut a cake at the Armed Services Ball in Washington, U.S., January 20, 2017.
(REUTERS/Yuri Gripas)
Indiana governor Mike Pence and wife Karen Pence attends the 2014 IPL 500 Festival Parade during the 2014 Indy 500 Festival at on May 24, 2014 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
(Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
U.S. Vice President Mike Pence with his wife Karen waves at a Liberty Ball in Washington, U.S., January 20, 2017.
(REUTERS/Yuri Gripas)
Karen Pence (L), wife of Republican U.S. vice presidential nominee Governor Mike Pence (L), talks with Tiffany (C) and Ivanka Trump before the arrival of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in Cleveland, Ohio, U.S., July 20, 2016.
(REUTERS/Carlo Allegri)
Mike Pence is sworn in as U.S. Vice President as his wife Karen holds a bible during inauguration ceremonies swearing in Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United States on the West front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., January 20, 2017.
(REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque)
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden meet with Vice President elect Mike Pence and Karen Pence at the Naval Observatory in Washington, U.S., November 16, 2016.
(REUTERS/Gary Cameron)
Vice President-elect Mike Pence and his wife Karen greet supporters during a rally for Republican U.S. presidential nominee Donald Trump in Manhattan, New York, U.S., November 9, 2016.
(Mike Segar / Reuters)
U.S. Vice President-elect Mike Pence with his wife Karen enters the floor to dance at Indiana Society Ball in Washington, U.S., January 19, 2017.
(REUTERS/Yuri Gripas)
Karen Pence, wife of Republican U.S. vice presidential candidate Governor Mike Pence, waves to other attendees shortly after arriving for the vice presidential debate between her husband and Democratic U.S. vice presidential nominee Senator Tim Kaine at Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia, U.S., October 4, 2016.
(REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst)
Melania Trump, wife to the Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump, and Karen Pence, wife of Trump's running mate, Mike Pence, hold an event at Main Line Sports Centre in Berwyn, Pennsylvania, U.S. November 3, 2016.
(REUTERS/Mark Makela)
U.S. Republican vice presidential nominee Mike Pence and his wife Karen Pence arrive at U.S. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump?s election night rally in Manhattan, New York, U.S., November 8, 2016.
(REUTERS/Carlo Allegri)
Anne Holton (L), wife of Democratic U.S. vice presidential nominee Tim Kaine (L), shakes hands with Karen Pence, wife of Republican U.S. vice presidential nominee Mike Pence, ahead of the start of their vice presidential debate at Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia, U.S., October 4, 2016.
(REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque)
Karen Pence, wife of Republican vice presidential nominee Indiana Governor Mike Pence, gestures after her introduction at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. July 20, 2016.
(REUTERS/Jim Young)
Indiana Governor Mike Pence, the GOP Vice Presidential candidate, greet the crowd along with his wife Karen during a town hall meeting at the Mile High Station August 03, 2016.
(Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post via Getty Images)
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More from AOL.com: Photo of Mike Pence leaves Twitter users infuriated The Secret Service requested $60 million of additional funding to protect the Trump family Pence: America 'suffers' every day that Obamacare survives
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Interview reveals strict rules Mike Pence and his wife have for their relationship - AOL
Dick Brown, Mt. Gretna Published 10:57 a.m. ET March 29, 2017 | Updated 5 hours ago
Richard M. Brown(Photo: Submitted)
Chaos reigns in the United States and presidential adviser Steve Bannon could not be happier. Historically, people have demonstrated that they prefer stability over chaos even if it means tolerating leadership that is authoritarian or even dictatorial.Bannon, the chief adviser to President Donald Trump has done a mind-meld with the president; and they appear to be working from the same playbook.
Trump lives in the "Me, Myself and I" world where only he knows the truth and only he can fix it. I am not sure if he considers himself to be god or simply Emperor Trump. In my opinion Trump's erratic behavior is due to an attention deficit disorder that he suffers from. He is mentally handicapped and is easily manipulated by those close to him.
Bannon is a fairly skilled tactician and he is using the fears expressed by Trumpand his supporters to move the country toward a more nationalistic society. Bannon seems to think that he can manipulate the president to continue creating chaos and fear to the point where the federal government will move toward a more authoritarian rule. Unfortunately, our president does not appear to understand our Constitutional democracy and might actually welcome complete control.
The president is becoming a sideshow to some people. Even some who support him, are treating him like a joke. If you are handicapped, the last thing you want, is to be ridiculed for your shortcomings. This has to hurt and may be behind his constant need to lash out and refusal to apologize for mistakes he makes. When his colleagues say "Donald will be Donald" in response to a tweet or comment, it is not a compliment.
The president's continued use of Twitter to attack people, events or even other countries is negative, diminishes the stature of the presidency and limits his success. He should stop using Twitter, but seems blissfully ignorant to the chaos he creates with his behavior and no one seems to have the courage to really confront him for fear they will hear those famous words: "You're fired."
I do not believe Trump will complete his first term.
He is 70 years old and we know nothing about his health. Trump is a very bright person, but he is definitely handicapped in his social and educational and that is limiting his success as president. His father died of Alzheimers disease, so memory loss has to be a concern for him going forward. He is already showing the stress of the office and he has been president for only a short time. I believe deteriorating mental and physical health will be the most likely causes for Trump to not finish his term.
The other causes for an early exit for Trump are all related to Russia and his finances. His lack of transparency and honesty about these issues sets him up for all kinds of potential charges.
So if Trump leaves the presidency, we get Mike Pence as our president. Pence is an Evangelical Christian and he is probably more polarizing than Trump but he appears to be sane and he has governing experience. His political views are a concern for me, but I have come to the conclusion that I would prefer to have a president who is sane and speaks to god, rather than a person who thinks he is god.
Richard M. Brown is a resident of Mt. Gretna.
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OPED: President Mike Pence is coming - York Dispatch
Zach Berg , zberg@press-citizen.com Published 10:37 a.m. CT March 28, 2017 | Updated 1:09 p.m. CT March 28, 2017
Leslie Odom Jr. performs for guests at Hancher Auditorium on Monday, March 27, 2017. Odom starred as Aaron Burr in the Broadway production of "Hamilton."(Photo: David Scrivner/Iowa City Press-Citizen)Buy Photo
Leslie Odom Jr., the singer who won last year's Best Actor in a Musical Tony for his role as Aaron Burr in "Hamilton," put on a show for Iowa City on Monday night.
The marquee star of this year's University of Iowa Lecture Committee's series of spring speakers, Odom did much more than lecture when he took the stage of Hancher Auditorium to a nearly filled auditorium built for 1,800 people.
He sang songs from his self-titled album, talked about how education got him to Broadway and addressed the controversy of the "Hamilton" cast addressing Vice President-elect Mike Pence from the stage after he had left the show.He even sang threesongs from the Broadway smash "Hamilton" that launched him into stardom.
Odom was met withraucous cheers and two standing ovations.
Leslie Odom Jr. performs for guests at Hancher Auditorium on Monday, March 27, 2017. Odom starred as Aaron Burr in the Broadway production of "Hamilton."(Photo: David Scrivner/Iowa City Press-Citizen)
"There's no me in 'Hamilton,' no Burr in 'Hamilton,' and thus no awards or fun speaking opportunities in Iowawithout the genius of Lin-Manuel Miranda," Odom said of the show's creator and the actor who played the titular role in the production that mixesrap and show tunes to tell the story of the original U.S. Secretary of the Treasury and Founding Father Alexander Hamilton.
"Lin gave us a perfect piece of text, a perfect work of drama. It had everything: pathos and drama, joy and humor," Odom said.
RELATED: When 'Hamilton' is coming to Des Moines
During the final portion of the night, Odomwas read audience questions bySarah Tortora, chair of the UI Lecture Committee.He was asked what political statements the show makes in today's political environment.
With the question, Odom tackled the November 2016 incident when Pence attended a "Hamilton" production in New York City. Pence was addressed by Brandon Dixon, who played Vice President Aaron Burr after Odom left the show, during a curtain call.
'Hamilton' actor Brandon Victor Dixon delivered a message to US Vice President-elect Mike Pence calling on him to "uphold American values." AP
The event drew much ire from then-President-elect Donald Trump, who tweeted the following day that the "Hamilton" cast "was very rude last night to a very good man" and that they had "harassed" Pence.
"I honestly don't think I would have (given the speech) and here's why:Because I think 'Hamilton,' I think that three-hour experience is all you have to say, Odom said Monday night.I believe, truly, that if the material is performed with the generosity of spirit that it was intended to be perform with, there's no curtain call speech needed, there's nothing left to say."
"What I hate more than anything is for the show to become a partisan show, for the show to become something only one kind of person would see, because it is so beautiful and that is not the spirit in which it was created," Odom said.
Leslie Odom Jr. performs for guests at Hancher Auditorium on Monday, March 27, 2017. Odom starred as Aaron Burr in the Broadway production of "Hamilton."(Photo: David Scrivner/Iowa City Press-Citizen)
Most of the evening was lighthearted and introspective as Odom weaved back and forth between singing songs from "Hamilton" and "Rent,"the first Broadway show he performed in, at the age of 17. From "Hamilton," he sang the show's jazzy showstopper "The Room Where it Happened" and its sorrowful ballad "Wait for it."
"I think this is the place to be tonight, isn't it," Chuck Swanson, Hancher Auditorium's executive director, said before Odomand his band started to play.
When Odomwasn't singing in front of his five-member supporting band, he moved to stage right where a simple podium stood and told about his rise to Broadway stardom. How in a kindergarten Black History Month production in which he played Martin Luther King Jr., he bounded onto the staged and shouted his lines without any fright.
He talked of his days at Carnegie Mellon University as a theater major, and how he had to spend an entire semester studying a black howler monkey named Quinton at the Pittsburgh Zoo for a project where he had to turn animal characteristics into human traits for a production.
Leslie Odom Jr. performs for guests at Hancher Auditorium on Monday, March 27, 2017. Odom starred as Aaron Burr in the Broadway production of "Hamilton."(Photo: David Scrivner/Iowa City Press-Citizen)
For an audience made up largely of University of Iowa students, Odomeven gave them advice when it comes to following their dreams post college.
"There's going to come a moment where you have to reckon with why on earth you've chosen this path. That's true for anything worth having, by the way," Odom said."I have come up with the answer: Its about connection. That's why I do it, that's why I love it. I am addicted to the connection with the audience, I am addicted to the people I'm on stage with. It's a very special presence that I can feel from doing this."
But it was the stories about "Hamilton" itself, the stories that partially explained why a Broadway show with a multiracial cast performing as the Founding Fathers went from an idea to a phenomena that sold millions of records and won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, that got the audience most excited.
Sarah Tortora, chair of the University of Iowa Lecture Committee, introduces Leslie Odom Jr. at Hancher Auditorium on Monday, March 27, 2017. Odom starred as Aaron Burr in the Broadway production of "Hamilton."(Photo: David Scrivner/Iowa City Press-Citizen)
Odom recalled seeing a sung production of "Hamilton" in its earliest stages in a theater of 150 seats inPoughkeepsie, N.Y., in 2013, three years before it came to Broadway. He remembered by the fourth song called "The Story of Tonight" that he had fallen for the musical.
"I had never seen four men of color, on a stage, singing a song about brotherhood and friendship in my life. For me, that was the revolution," Odomsaid.
"I just hope ('Hamilton') reminds you of where we've come from and where we are and the potential for where we can go. That's all I hope it does."
Reach Zach Berg at 319-887-5412, zberg@press-citizen.com, or follow him on Twitter at @ZacharyBerg.
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'Hamilton' star sings, talks Mike Pence in Iowa City - Iowa City Press Citizen