Vice-Presidential Candidate: Mike Pence

Monday, September 19th, we went to the Music Man Square in Mason City, Iowa to attend a Mike Pence rally.  Governor Mike Pence of Indiana is Donald Trump's running-mate.  We wanted a good seat, so we arrived just a few minutes after the doors opened at 1:00 pm.

The Secret Service was on duty, so we had to go through a metal detector and have our purses searched.  Inside, we ran into Chris Hupke, an awesome guy who works on the Trump campaign (and to whom I will always be thankful for rescuing our Trump photos from the Secret Service at another rally, so we could have them autographed).

The event was not scheduled to start till 3:00, so we looked around, talked with reporters, and enjoyed the familiar music of Trump rallies.

At about 2:20 Tana Goertz got the meeting started with her usual enthusiasm.  She introduced a lady who led everyone in prayer and then the national anthem, and a gentleman who led in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Next up to speak was Iowa House Speaker Linda Upmeyer.  She was followed by the Cerro Gordo county GOP chairwoman, Barbara Hovland.

Clockwise from top left: Linda Upmeyer, Chris Hupke and I, Barbara Hovland, and Tana Goertz with the lady who sang the national anthem.

After hearing these speakers endorse Trump, we had to wait a while for Pence. Governor and Mrs. Pence walked on stage just short of 10 minutes late...an improvement over the 15 minutes we had to wait for Trump in Waterloo.  

I was happy that Pence started out his speech with the usual platitudes, which gave me time to take photos before I started taking notes.

Miscellaneous Facts:  Mike Pence is 57 years old.  His paternal grandfather and maternal great grandparents immigrated from Ireland.  He claims to be a born-again, evangelical Catholic.  He has been married to Karen Pence since 1985, and they have three children.  Pence's height is listed at 5 ft. 11 in.

Pence's Speech

It's an honor and a privilege to have been chosen to run for Vice President by our party's nominee, Donald Trump.  I'm a Christian, a conservative, and a Republican, in that order.  Our nation needs broad-shouldered leadership.

We're campaigning on prosperity and security.  Our nation has faced terrorist attacks from Minnesota to New York City and New Jersey.  It's a miracle no lives were lost in the latest attack, and I'm glad a suspect was just apprehended.  We need to thank our law enforcement every day.

Weakness arouses evil.  The policy of leading from behind instituted by Obama and Clinton has emboldened our enemies.  That's all going to end.  I'm not sure they know we're at war.  A White House spokesman recently said we're in a narrative battle with ISIS; I'm sure that's news to the men and women in Iraq.  We're at war with ISIS!  

ISIS started as a result of the failed policies of Obama and Clinton.  They withdrew from Iraq too quickly.  Now there is an ISIS-inspired terrorist attack outside the war zone every 84 hours.  [Pence lists cities attacked and casualties.]  Last month ISIS doubled the number of countries they are in.  

I have news for Clinton: we are at war with radical Islamic terror.  Hillary Clinton has a narrative of denial, and is more concerned about Islamophobia.  She now says she wants to reform the visa system.  Why didn't she reform it as Secretary of State?  She says Trump's rhetoric gives "comfort to our adversaries."  Strength does not give comfort to adversaries; weakness does.  

America needs to be strong for the world to be safe.  We must destroy ISIS.  Under a Trump presidency, America will lead from strength.  We will rebuild our military.  That's why 160 generals and admirals have endorsed him.

We will end political correctness, and give police and the FBI the tools they need to prevent terror.  There is no enemy that can't be beaten.  We'll fight for peace at home and security abroad.

The second part of our platform is prosperity.  We currently have low labor participation and growing poverty.  With Clinton, it will just be more of the same.  Is this economy the best we can do?  About thirty years ago we had a similar situation with a President who told us we needed to turn down our thermostats and wear a sweater.  Then Reagan came and showed us it didn't have to be that way.  We can get the economy moving!

We need to lower marginal income tax, end the death tax, and lower the business tax by 15% so we can compete with other markets.  We also need to roll back regulations.  When Trump is elected, he will roll back Obamacare and repeal every executive order that stifles economic growth.

Energy reform is needed.  We need to utilize our natural resources with an all of the above strategy and grow our energy economy.

As our Negotiator in Chief, Trump will make trade deals that work for us.  We will hold our trading partners accountable.  

It's unrealistic to elect the same leaders expecting things to become any different.  Security is first and prosperity is next in our platform, but there is one other issue at stake in this election: the fate of the Supreme Court for the next 40 years.  We need to cherish our God-given liberties, cherish the sanctity of life, and when we decide on our next president, choose Donald J. Trump.  

Townhall Questions

Q: What will you do to address the rising cost of prescription drugs?

A:  We'll let the power of the free market work.  We'll repeal Obamacare, and block-grant Medicaid back to the states.  We'll allow the marketplace to create products to transform healthcare.

Q: What will you do to reform the Veteran's Administration?

A: Trump has a 10-point plan to reform the VA.  People are dying waiting for treatment.  That will end.  We will let veterans decide whether to be treated in VA hospitals or at private hospitals, so they get the best care possible.  [Pence asks veterans to stand up and be acknowledged.]

Q: What should be done to whistle-blowers?

A:  We should protect them in the law.  There is an avalanche of corruption from the Clintons.  It's time to have the highest standards of integrity in the highest office.

Question from a little boy: How big is that wall?

A:  [Laughter from audience.] Bigger than that [points to barrier around podium].  It will be big enough, and Mexico's going to pay for it.

My remarks: I think Trump made a good choice when he selected Pence in an effort to draw conservative voters.  He seems like a nice person.  It was great to meet Pence and listen to him, and I went away beaming after my sister and I succeeded in getting a selfie with him and autographs!  Success!!  

Pence seemed a more organized speaker than Trump, but also a somewhat less exciting one.  Trump sometimes goes off on tangents, tells stories, says the unexpected (and the oh, so expected), and electrifies the crowd.  Pence had points to make. He made them well, and efficiently finished his speech.  There are parts of what he said I like, and other parts I don't like.  But I'm very glad I went.  It was a lot of fun.

Disclaimer: Candidates' speeches are reconstructed from my imperfect notes.  If you notice any mistakes, just let me know.  I would not intentionally misrepresent anyone's position.  I am not endorsing any candidate or candidate's position at this time, and no candidate has endorsed me.  And yes, I do realize that often speeches are to some extent propaganda, but it's interesting to me to see the points candidates consider as most important.
For my personal political views, please see this article.