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Why Mike Pence’s speech was really important, and what it says about 2024
The former vice president well received speech was interrupted by numerous standing ovations by the sold out crowd of conservative activists and leaders, but most importantly, he gave his most extensive comments to date about the deadly Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.
www.foxnews.com
Former Vice President Mike Pence made headlines during his stop in New Hampshire.
The former vice president well received speech was interrupted by numerous standing ovations by the sold out crowd of conservative activists and leaders. His address included plenty body slams of President Biden’s "failed leadership," and he dove head first into the nation’s culture wars by targeting critical race theory and stressing that "America is not a racist nation," as well as firing away at the congressional Democrats push to "nationalize our elections" while praising GOP controlled states that have passed into law tightened voting access rules.
By headlining a top county fundraising dinner in the state that holds the first primary in the race for the White House, Pence also sparked more speculation about a likely 2024 run for the Republican presidential nomination.
Former Vice President Mike Pence speaks at the annual Hillsborough County NH GOP Lincoln-Reagan Dinner, Thursday, June 3, 2021, in Manchester, N.H. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
But the most newsworthy moment of his address came as he gave his most extensive comments to date about the deadly Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Pence has been in a precarious position among some in the GOP base since the storming of the Capitol by right wing extremists aiming to disrupt congressional certification of Biden’s election victory over then-President Trump.
Pence was at the Capitol at the time it was attacked, overseeing the joint session of Congress. By following his Constitution duties instead of following Trump’s wishes and overturn the results, Pence has endured the wrath of the former president and some of Trump’s most devout loyalists and supporters.
In his Thursday night speech at the Hillsborough County GOP’s Lincoln-Reagan Day dinner, Pence - who along with members of Congress was forced to move to secure rooms while the Capitol was stormed - called the attack a "dark" and "tragic" day in American history. But he emphasized "that same day we reconvened the Congress and did our duty under the Constitution and the laws of the United States."
Pence, Trump’s loyal right hand man the past four years, highlighted that he and Trump have spoken "many times" since the end of their administration in January. But pointing to what many see as his now frayed relationship with the former president, he acknowledged that "I don’t know if we’ll ever see eye to eye about that day."
But he quickly added that "I will always be proud what we accomplished for the American people over the last four years," which brought the sold out audience of more than 360 Granite State conservative leaders and activists to their feet in applause. Throughout his address Pence repeatedly touted the Trump-Pence administration’s successes.
And alluding to the unsuccessful push by congressional Democrats to pass legislation setting up a Jan. 6 commission to investigation the insurrection – which was thwarted by GOP leadership in the U.S. Senate – Pence said "I will not allow the Democrats and their allies in the media to use one tragic day to discredit the aspirations of millions of Americans."
