The vice presidential debate was 90 minutes of chaos disguised as an exchange of ideas. Tim Kaine was an attack dog, with a Trump-like propensity to interrupt. How much you could stand that approach depends on how much you agree with Kaine and his mission to hammer on Donald Trump. By comparison, Pence was much more low-key, every bit the even-tempered Midwesterner.
The immediate media analysis is that Pence won on style. But on substance, Pence flopped. Kaine repeatedly pressed the governor to denounce Trump’s worst statement. Pence simply ignored Kaine or denied the facts. Perhaps Pence’s most telling comment was his stumbling defense of his running mate’s comments about punishing women who have an abortion (which Trump uncharacteristically walked back): “He’s not a polished politician.”
No kidding.
One thing seems clear from Pence’s performance. He’s willing to withstand the humiliation Trump heaps on him because he wants to run for president in 2020. He spoke as the representative of the establishment wing of the GOP, which will be desperate to forget that Donald Trump ever happened. He barely raised his voice to defend Trump, meaning he probably knows he’s dust and is looking toward the future.
How about we take this to the next level?
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If Trump loses, Pence will have earned points as a good party soldier. If by some stroke of misfortune Trump wins, Pence’s presence on the ticket reassures the establishment that a Trump White House wouldn’t be completely deranged.
In either case, Pence has set himself up as a front-runner for the next GOP presidential contest. In doing so, he’s managed to redeem himself–at least within his party–for his disastrous performance with Indiana’s religious liberty bill.
The only problem is that, as an unrepentant homophobe, Pence is a throwback to the culture wars of the 1990s. By the time the next election rolls around, his views will be even more dated, leaving the GOP trapped in a political past that no longer exists.
Bob LaBlah
That moderator was the WRONG choice. She could not keep control of the debate. I loved the title of this article because by the end I thought the same thing. I couldn’t help but notice how Pence was making practically NO attempt to defend Trump and his outbursts. He handled it like politician he is and I loved that “look, jackass, I am here getting ready for MY run in 2020. We all know this asshole has blown it” look he had on his face. Its a long shot (2020) and I bet he loses because of Trump. The one thing I admire about Trump is how he has F’d it up for the rest of the GOP for years to come.
Brian
Pence looked almost tranquilized.
Low Country Boy
Mr. Gallagher, that last paragraph was awesome.
leobaga
Same sex is here to say. As Trump has said, “it’s the law of the land.” Pence will change his views too just like Hilliaryvabd Clinton who signed the most anti gay laws like dadt, doma, etc.
leobaga
Pence seriously felt like the only adult in the room. He never lost his composition. Im sure this can be said about everything he does.
RIGay
Pence won on composure, but for the most part, he talked the Breitbart line all night – every point he tried to make had already been debated and debunked, over and over again.
I do concur that he was feathering his bed for a run in 2020. On THAT, he exceeded.
Love Tim Kaine, but I felt like I was watching an angry terrier all night.
DCguy
@leobaga:
I love how the Trump supporting, anti-lgbt, log Cabiners think if they just lie enough people will vote for their bigoted candidate. Trump STATED that he would appoint judges who would overturn the same sex marriage decision. Thus is an lgbt site, why would you think we wouldn’t know that? How delusional are you. Please, use your self hating baggage and support an anti-lgbt bigoted if you want, but don’t try to lie about the situation.
jag4313
Palin would have been a better choice than Pence.
leobaga
It’s really all fearmongering to say same sex marriage will be overturned. in >200 years, once civil rights are recognized and granted, they have NEVER EVER been rescinded. Obergefell was also based on Loving and the 14th’s equal protection clause + due process clauses as well. To overturn Obergefell would be to overturn Loving AND Lawrence. And THAT will NEVER happen.
Marriage has been considered a fundamental right since Maynard v. Hill, 125 U.S. 190, 205, 211 (1888) + 14 cases since then, including Loving v. Virginia and Lawrence v. Texas.
Brian
I didn’t watch this debate. Did they talk about homosexual rights? If not, why not?
I’ve noticed this trend where the debates seem to avoid homosexual issues. It happened at the last debate series in 2012 too. You’d think that homosexual rights would be a major issue but it seems both major parties – as well as the debate organizers – are doing their best to censor or avoid debating it.
Why are the Democrats, in particular, unwilling to discuss homosexual rights at the debates? I thought they stood up for such rights.
Mo Bro
Yeah, you guys screamed the same thing about Palin in 2008, so . . . not gonna base my future on your frantic political predictions.
stranded
It’s kind of scary, I feel like the media is choosing the winner. Like in order to make the race more exciting they needed a 1:1 match instead of 2:0. So the ratings for Sunday’s debate will be higher. I felt like Kaine won. Based on facts and Pence’s inability to justify all the crazy shit Trump has said. Yeah I was turned off by how much Kaine interrupted Pence and brought up the taxes way too many times. Pence didn’t seem calm he seemed like he was there out of party duty and that’s not honorable.
Terrycloth
To me pence seemed lathargic one demensional.
Monotone .Kaine was animated and won the debate by a landslide.I found pence boring lifeless .Kaine really did his homework stuck it to pence who seemed out of place on that stage .
BigWill
@leobaga: Well, you’ve shown us your…education level. It’s “composure” not “composition.”
NateOcean
“Whipped out that Mexican thing”?
I must ask my neighbor, Carlos, more about that.
Kieran
When the liberal news media starts talking about how well a republican did at a debate, you know he didn’t do well at all. Passive Pence got his arse kicked by a domineering Timothy Kaine.
He BGB
I hope by 2020, old fashioned, ignorant, fearful ideas like Pence’s will be non existent and we will live in a world of acceptence, and love. Alot can happen in 4 years.
Kangol
@leobaga: Hillary Clinton didn’t sign DADT or DOMA! Her husband did. Are you out of your mind?
Mike Pence not only is rabidly anti-gay, but he signed a bill forcing women who’d had abortions to have a funeral for the fetus.
He’s beyond nuts, though compared to Trump he looks like a sane politician. GOP, please come get your crazy party!
Kangol
@jag4313: You know, on LGBTQ rights, I think she would be a better choice than Pence, which ain’t saying much, but is something. He was like a stern Sunday school teacher at times, but I’m sure he reassured the ultraconservative Republicans who were worried about Trump at the top of the ticket. He couldn’t even defend Trump’s hatefulness, and he’s very luck Kaine didn’t mention so much of the crazy stuff Pence’s has done!
BigWill
If you’re wearing a “I Love Trump” T-shirt, you might as well being wearing a “I’m an Idiot” T-shirt.
Brian
This is ironic considering that Planned Parenthood’s belief in abortion will result in the termination of humans who would otherwise grow into members of the gay community.
Abortion is homophobia and misogyny rolled into one.