Outside the Beltway

Pence Won’t Endorse Trump

Sic a mob on a guy and this is the thanks Trump gets.

Steven L. Taylor
10

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Via CNN: Pence says he ‘cannot in good conscience’ endorse Trump.

“Donald Trump is pursuing and articulating an agenda that is at odds with the conservative agenda that we governed on during our four years. That’s why I cannot in good conscience endorse Donald Trump in this campaign,” Pence said on Fox News.

I would prefer he note that Trump is pursuing and articulating an agenda that undermines the US Constitution and democratic governance, rather than pretend like the issue is the lack of a “conservative agenda” but this is better than nothing.

This is not a big deal, but it is also not no deal at all. Every single Republican who refuses to endorse Trump increases the odds, even if just a little bit, that some Republican voters will simply choose not to vote for president in November. That could be the difference in states that matter.

Every little bit helps.

(And while this is a plus in Pence’s column, it still does not erase the role he played in helping Trump win in 2016 in the first place).

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10 responses to “Pence Won’t Endorse Trump”

  1. Mister Bluster Avatar
    Mister Bluster

    Will Pence be the fly in Trump’s ointment?
    Stay tuned…

    1
  2. CSK Avatar
    CSK

    @Mister Bluster:

    Would that be connected with the fly that landed on Pence’s head?

    I pointed out in the open thread that 40 out of 44 of Trump’s cabinet members have declined to endorse him.

    7
  3. Kathy Avatar
    Kathy

    Gee, you send your thugs to hang him, and the guy sours on you.

    9
  4. Mister Bluster Avatar
    Mister Bluster

    @CSK:…the fly…

    Professor Taylor: better than nothing.

    I agree. But I still have a hazy memory of “Spud” Quayle and maybe another Constitutional Wizard telling Pence “you can’t do this Mike” on January 6. Who knows what the VP might have done without this advice.
    I cannot even venture a guess about how many tens of voters will be convinced not to vote for Trump because Pence refuses to endorse the Republican candidate.

    6
  5. DrDaveT Avatar
    DrDaveT

    The word “conservative” has now been rendered entirely denotation-free. In the mouths of the GOP, it now means “the hateful things I believe in but won’t say out loud.” (The MAGA faithful who are willing to say them out loud do not bother to label them “conservative”.)

    7
  6. Hari Avatar
    Hari

    I believe Chris Christie when he says he won’t endorse Trump. I have a hard time believing Pence and Haley aren’t going to trade an endorsement for a speech at the RNC.

    2
  7. Scott Avatar
    Scott

    Indiana Senator Todd Young also said he won’t endorse Trump. Two major Indiana Republicans. Whether that makes a difference remains to be seen.

    1
  8. JKB Avatar
    JKB

    For the best, Pence came out for a national abortion ban after Dobbs and just before the 2022 election. He, and a few others, worked hard to ensure Democrats did well in the 2022 election over the abortion issue.

    1
  9. Scott F. Avatar
    Scott F.

    I would prefer he note that Trump is pursuing and articulating an agenda that undermines the US Constitution and democratic governance, rather than pretend like the issue is the lack of a “conservative agenda” but this is better than nothing.

    I’m not so sure it’s better than nothing. Pence is tacitly forgiving the threat to democracy that the Republicans have become on some hoary No True Conservative BS. He also said he wouldn’t vote for Biden and that his personal vote is between him and God. He could easily vote for Trump in the end for the sake of his tribe.

    With the rest of the GOP bending the knee to Trump, the threat of authoritarianism has increased. You don’t get points for merely standing aside. In this historical moment, you have to stand against.

    4
  10. Just nutha ignint cracker Avatar
    Just nutha ignint cracker

    @Scott F.:

    He also said he wouldn’t vote for Biden and that his personal vote is between him and God.

    And when he wants God’s opinion on how to vote, he’ll tell God who to tell him to vote for.

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