10-05-2016, 09:46 AM
I watched the replay of the VP debate late last night. It was more interesting than I'd expected.
I thought Pence was smoother -- his previous broadcast career shows -- and he came across like the establishment conservative politician he is. He put forth positions that are absolutely not those put forth publicly by Donald Trump (on immigration, on Russia, on NATO...) and denied over and over what Donald Trump has said and done. He lied a lot. That's gonna hurt later. I'm gonna look for the fact check of the debate when it's available and won't be surprised if Pence made false claims at least 50% the time. Sadly, many people seem not to care about fact and truth anymore (and even resent such realities, oddly enough). But, I still think more people -- especially Independents who aren't defensive of a party -- do care and Pence's lies will be used against the Trump ticket by the Clinton campaign in coming days.
I kept thinking Mike Pence seemed more to be serving himself last night than serving the Trump ticket; he would not or could not defend Trump's platform statements when pushed to do so; he just deflected to Clinton and Obama over and over and over. I don't think he helped Trump much, if at all, because Trump needs women and minorities and young people and Pence pushed the exact establishment conservative points which drive so many of them away. But, I don't think Pence hurt Trump by helping elevate himself for a future bid and I'm sure he made a lot of established Republican politicians happy.
I thought Pence was smoother -- his previous broadcast career shows -- and he came across like the establishment conservative politician he is. He put forth positions that are absolutely not those put forth publicly by Donald Trump (on immigration, on Russia, on NATO...) and denied over and over what Donald Trump has said and done. He lied a lot. That's gonna hurt later. I'm gonna look for the fact check of the debate when it's available and won't be surprised if Pence made false claims at least 50% the time. Sadly, many people seem not to care about fact and truth anymore (and even resent such realities, oddly enough). But, I still think more people -- especially Independents who aren't defensive of a party -- do care and Pence's lies will be used against the Trump ticket by the Clinton campaign in coming days.
I kept thinking Mike Pence seemed more to be serving himself last night than serving the Trump ticket; he would not or could not defend Trump's platform statements when pushed to do so; he just deflected to Clinton and Obama over and over and over. I don't think he helped Trump much, if at all, because Trump needs women and minorities and young people and Pence pushed the exact establishment conservative points which drive so many of them away. But, I don't think Pence hurt Trump by helping elevate himself for a future bid and I'm sure he made a lot of established Republican politicians happy.