The Courage of former Vice President Mike Pence

First, let me say this disclaimer about former Vice President Mike Pence; I’ve known him for a long time.   And, at the funeral of a dear friend, J. Patrick Rooney, then-Congressman Pence told my assembled children: “your  father is a Great American.”

I am long overdue for congratulating former Vice President Pence on the courage he showed on January 6th, when the Secret Service officers around him were sending goodbye messages to their families because they believed they would die soon.

(For a complete list of reasons the Secret Service is doing everything it can to tamp down this story, here is a helpful explanation.)

That was Pence’s first act of real courage that day, and he stayed in the Capitol despite the fact the Secret Service was demanding of him. No, Pence refused to get in the car because, as he might say, he had a greater calling to the U.S. Constitution and the oath he took to uphold it.

Pence risked his life and stayed to perform the duties of the Vice President leader of the Senate and ratify the State certifications of the 2020 Presidential election and Joe Biden’s victory.

Pence strongly believed that Trump’s incessant bile spewing about how the elections were stolen was complete hogwash.

And that was Pence’s second great act of courage, effectively telling Trump to go pound sand. At the same time, Pence voted every slate of official electors from every State’s official, Secretary of State certified list.

And now, former Mike Pence has done a third great act of courage; he stood up to Trump’s bullying of the Republican Party.

Trump predictably said he would not necessarily accept the results of the Republican nomination or support the nominee. Trump wants the national Republican party to bend their knee and beg Trump to support the nominee if it is not Trump, for the simple reason that Trump supporters either not voting or not voting for Republicans who were not Trumpy-enough, meant that the 2022 midterm elections were a disaster.

Trump’s behavior also created the non-Trumpet Republicans not voting for Trumpet Republican candidates.

OK, but how did Pence stand up to Trump’s bullying of the Republican Party?

He gave Trump a taste of Trump’s own medicine.

Pence said multiple times he would not guarantee to support the  Republican nominee.

If Trump wins, he will come begging Pence and the other candidates that take a similar stance as Pence.

So here are three acts of courage by former Vice President Pence, leading by example and with courage.