OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
Former Vice President Mike Pence has spoken in defense of his role in certifying the presidential election of Joe Biden.
An Iowa student asked Pence why he “bucked Trump” and certified the 2020 election results on January 6th.
“On January 5th, you were convinced that the election was correctly stolen,” the student named Jared said. “You, Trump, Peter Navarro, John Eastman, and others had a plan on the morning of the 6th to send the certification back to the states. What is the name of the person who convinced you to buck President Trump’s plan and certify the votes?”
Pence named one of the nation’s founders, the fourth President of the United States James Madison, who many say is the “father of the Constitution,” as that person.
“The Constitution is very clear that elections are to be governed at the state level. The Founders actually made that decision at the Constitutional Convention. And the only role of the federal government was to open and count the electoral votes that were sent by the states,” he said.
“I understand the disappointment in the election,” the former vice president said. “You might remember I was on the ballot. But you’ve got to be willing to do your duty. And the time may come that some of you are in that position, or one like it. And I just have a feeling based on the shining faces I’m seeing around here you’re going to be men and women who do your duty in that time as well.”
He even quoted the Bible as part of his reason.
“Psalm 15 says he who keeps his oath even when it hurts,” he said.
“I continue to share those concerns and I support efforts in states to improve voter integrity as has been done in places like Georgia and Arizona and elsewhere,” he said. “You’ve got to be willing to do your duty.”
Over the summer, Pence attempted to toe a line between supporting Donald Trump and staying in the good graces of the old Republican Party.
He spoke to a crowd at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library when he said he was proud of his role on January 6.
“I will always be proud that we did our part on that tragic day to reconvene the Congress and fulfilled our duty under the Constitution and the laws of the United States,” he said.
And while he did not mention Trump by name, Pence took a pointed jab at the 45th President of the United States.
“The truth is, there is almost no idea more un-American than the notion that anyone person could choose the American president,” he said.
Pence, who many believe is considering campaigning for president in 2024, expressed his disappointment with the results of the election but did not dispute their veracity.
“Now, I understand the disappointment many feel about the last election,” Pence said. “I can relate. I was on the ballot. But you know, there’s more at stake than our party and our political fortunes in this moment. If we lose faith in the Constitution, we won’t just lose elections – we’ll lose our country.’”
“We live in a time when the leaders in the Democratic Party routinely demean the American founding,” he said. “We must make it clear the Republican Party will always defend the principles at the heart of our republic.”
But he did tout the accomplishments and record of Trump.
‘He too disrupted the status quo,” he said. “He challenged the establishment. He invigorated our movement and set a bold new course for America.”
This is not the first time Pence has spoken about the events of January 6 at the Capitol and has made it known that he and Trump are at odds on the issue.
“You know, President Trump and I have spoken many times since we left office. And I don’t know if we’ll ever see eye-to-eye on that day,” he said at a Republican fundraiser on June 3.
“As I said that day, Jan. 6 was a dark day in history of the United States Capitol. But thanks to the swift action of the Capitol Police and federal law enforcement, violence was quelled. The Capitol was secured.
“And that same day, we reconvened the Congress and did our duty under the Constitution and the laws of the United States,” he said.
But he was quick to pivot to Democrats and how their agenda is destroying the nation and must be stopped.
“’I will not allow Democrats or their allies in the media to use one tragic day to discredit the aspirations of millions of Americans.
“Or allow Democrats or their allies in the media to distract our attention from a new administration intent on dividing our country to advance their radical agenda.
“My fellow Republicans, for our country, for our future, for our children and our grandchildren, we must move forward, united,” he said.
But Trump has been more to the point about his disagreements with Pence over what happened in the election and on January 6.
“Well, I’ve always liked Mike and I’m very disappointed that he didn’t send it back to the Legislatures when you have more votes than you have voters in some cases, and when you have the kind of things that were known then,” he said this week to Real America’s Voice host David Brody.
“’I was disappointed that he didn’t send it back,” he said of the Electoral College results. “I felt that he had the right to send it back. He should have sent it back. That’s my opinion.”
