Archive for the ‘Mike Pence’ Category

Mike Pence Wouldn’t Say U.S. Is Morally Superior to Russia | Time … – TIME

Vice President Mike Pence wouldn't say America is morally superior to Russia during an interview with Face the Nation .

When repeatedly asked by moderator John Dickerson about America's moral superiority to Russia, Pence talked about American ideals instead.

"I believe that the ideals that America has stood for throughout our history represent the highest ideals of humankind," he said.

"Shouldn't we able able to just say 'yes' to that question though?" Dickerson asked.

"I think it's without question," Pence responded.

"That America is morally superior to Russia," Dickerson said.

"That American ideas are superior to countries all across the world," Pence said.

Dickerson's question followed a comment by President Donald Trump's from an interview with Bill O'Reilly, in which he said he respects Russian President Vladimir Putin . After O'Reilly noted that Putin is "a killer," Trump said: "There are a lot of killers. We've got a lot of killers. What do you think? Our country's so innocent?"

The interview is set to air Sunday afternoon during the Super Bowl pregame show.

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Mike Pence Wouldn't Say U.S. Is Morally Superior to Russia | Time ... - TIME

Mike Pence on LGBT Rights: Discrimination Has ‘No Place’ in Trump Administration – ABC News

Vice President Mike Pence defended President Trump's decision to let stand an Obama-era order protecting the rights of some LGBT workers, noting that Trump made clear during his campaign that "discrimination would have no place in our administration."

ABC News Chief Anchor George Stephanopoulos asked Pence about the response of social conservatives to Trump's decision last week to keep intact President Obama's 2014 executive order barring discrimination against LGBT employees of federal contractors.

Stephanopoulos referred to the reaction of Bob Vander Plaats of the conservative group The Family Leader, who said, "Our base would want to know who is responsible for what we believe is an issue of religious liberty that would be of concern to us."

"What's the answer?," Stephanopoulos asked Pence.

The vice president responded that Trump's decision was in line with his message about the on the campaign trail.

I think throughout the campaign, President Trump made it clear that discrimination would have no place in our administration, Pence said in an interview on ABC's "This Week" that aired Sunday,. He was the very first Republican nominee to mention the LGBTQ community at our Republican National Convention and was applauded for it. And I was there applauding with him.

Pence continued, "I think the generosity of his spirit, recognizing that in the patriot's heart, there's no room for prejudice, is part of who this president is."

The vice president also reaffirmed Trumps stated plan to "destroy" the Johnson Amendment, which prohibits churches and other tax-exempt organizations from endorsing or opposing political candidates.

The president said at the National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday, "I will get rid of and totally destroy the Johnson Amendment and allow our representatives of faith to speak freely and without fear of retribution."

Passed in 1954, the Johnson Amendment is a provision of the U.S. tax code that prevents tax-exempt organizations like churches and universities from engaging in political activities. Organizations that do so risk losing their tax-exempt status.

Pence told Stephanopoulos, The president's made it clear that he wants to take action on the Johnson Amendment. He's directed the administration to begin to look at ways, both legislatively and through executive action, to do that.

The vice president also left the door open to President Trump issuing executive orders to preserve what Pence described as other matters of religious liberty.

His reiterated commitment to religious liberty are all a part of the kind of leadership that people are going to welcome from President Trump, Pence said.

Stephanopoulos pressed the vice president, asking, Do you think a new executive order is necessary on religious liberty? Or is current law sufficient?

Pence responded that its the purview of the president to determine if further executive action would be necessary.

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Mike Pence on LGBT Rights: Discrimination Has 'No Place' in Trump Administration - ABC News

Mike Pence Disappointed God Has Never Asked Him To Kill One Of Own Children – The Onion (satire)

WASHINGTONSaying he would surely rise to the occasion if tasked by the Almighty with the ultimate test of faith, Vice President Mike Pence said Monday that he was disappointed that God has never called upon him to kill one of his own children. Its just heartbreaking that the Lord hasnt summoned me once to show my dedication to Him by sacrificing one of my precious kids, said Pence, telling reporters that he has spent years waiting for any sign at all from the Heavenly Father that he should ritually slaughter one of his three children. Theyre grown now, so Im starting to think Ill never get the chance to offer the blood of any of them to prove my unshakable devotion. Heck, Id put all three on an altar if thats what He wanted. Pence added that he would nevertheless keep a sharp dagger at the ready in the unlikely event God someday asks him to kill one of his grandchildren.

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Mike Pence Disappointed God Has Never Asked Him To Kill One Of Own Children - The Onion (satire)

Who’s Attending the Super Bowl? Mike Pence and Lady Gaga Among Big Names at Big Game – NBCNews.com

Vice President Mike Pence waves as he leaves the Senate GOP policy luncheon on Capitol Hill on Jan. 31, 2017, in Washington, DC. Mark Wilson / Getty Images

He will be the fourth vice president to attend the Super Bowl, following former vice presidents Spiro Agnew, George H.W. Bush and Al Gore, who made special appearances during their stints in office.

Related:

Former President George H.W. Bush and first lady Barbara Bush will also be at the game Sunday to play an important role: the coin toss.

Bush, who was

President Donald Trump is in Florida this weekend and there was no official notice from the White House for him to fly to Houston.

The celebrities

Lady Gaga will take center stage as the halftime show headliner. The pop singer has been giving fans video teasers in recent days about what songs she could end up performing.

While the outspoken artist has been vocal about LGBTQ rights, she hasn't indicated whether she will make any political statements during her performance.

Gaga coyly suggested a possible Beyonc appearance during the game in her most recent Instagram photo. She captioned the photo, "Houston, you are beautiful" with a bee emoji at the end.

Fans on social media have interpreted the bee emoji as a sign for Beyonc, a Houston native known for her nickname "Queen Bey." But the singer, who already made a surprise showing at last year's halftime show, may be harder to lure again after she revealed this week she's

Prior to Gaga's performance, Broadway's "Hamilton" alums Phillipa Soo, Renee Elise Goldsberry and Jasmine Cephas-Jones, who played the Schuyler sisters, will follow Super Bowl tradition and perform "America the Beautiful" before the national anthem.

Meanwhile, country star Luke Bryan, who will belt out the national anthem, will be the first male artist to sing the song at a Super Bowl game in a decade.

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Who's Attending the Super Bowl? Mike Pence and Lady Gaga Among Big Names at Big Game - NBCNews.com

Pence: ‘Frustrating’ to see judge suspend Trump’s immigration order – Politico

"I think the American people are very accustomed to this president speaking his mind and speaking very straight with them," Pence said. | AP Photo

Vice President Mike Pence said Saturday that Seattle judge James Robart's ruling to halt President Donald Trump's immigration order is "frustrating to all of us."

During an interview with ABC's "This Week," Pence was asked by host George Stephanopoulos whether it was appropriate for Trump to question the legitimacy of a federal judge, after he tweeted Saturday morning about the "so-called" judge.

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"I think the American people are very accustomed to this president speaking his mind and speaking very straight with them," Pence said in an excerpt released Saturday. "But to see a judge actually suspend that order across the country, George, is frustrating to all of us."

The full interview will air Sunday.

Early Saturday, Trump tweeted: "The opinion of this so-called judge, which essentially takes law-enforcement away from our country, is ridiculous and will be overturned!"

Pence said Trump's order, which bans Syrian refugees from coming to the U.S. and halts visas from being issued to people from seven Muslim-majority countries, was "legal" and that the "administration is going to be using all legal means at our disposal to challenge the judge's order."

When pressed by Stephanopoulous about Trump's statement on how Robart is a "so-called judge," Pence said "the president is determined to use the authority that he has under the Constitution, and under the law, but we'll work through the courts to challenge that rule."

Stephanopoulos followed up by asking whether Robart has the authority to do what he did.

"He certainly does, and that's why the administration is complying with that order as we speak and we'll go through that process in the courts to get a stay of that order so that, again, we can implement this action that is entirely focused on the safety and security of the American people," Pence said.

Robart was nominated by former President George W. Bush.

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Pence: 'Frustrating' to see judge suspend Trump's immigration order - Politico