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Mike Pence slams Biden, anarchy in RNC speech

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Vice President Mike Pence passionately defended law enforcement Wednesday night as he addressed Republican convention proceedings that unfolded amid new riots and looting following the latest shooting.

The evening’s featured speaker, Pence argued that Democratic leaders are allowing lawlessness to prevail from coast to coast. He and others described cities wracked by violence.

“The American people know we don’t have to choose between supporting law enforcement and standing with African American neighbors to improve the quality of life in our cities and towns,” he said.

“The hard truth is … you won’t be safe in Joe Biden’s America,” Pence said. “Let me be clear: The violence must stop – whether in Minneapolis, Portland, or Kenosha.”

While unrest in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and Portland raged on, Pence’s mention of Minneapolis was timely. Mass looting occurred in the city after what authorities are calling a suicide.

A gunman who was suspected of murder was being chased by the police before fatally turning the gun on himself. Angry protests, riots, and looting occurred in the aftermath of the incident.

You can view videos of the chaos below:

Pence doubled down in his support for police amid the violence. Critics noted he made no direct mention of Jacob Blake, the Black man who was wounded by police on Sunday in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

As their convention nears its conclusion on Thursday, Republicans are seeking to reconcile their depiction of President Donald Trump as a smooth, stable leader with the reality that the United States is facing a series of crises that include mass demonstrations that too often devolve into riots, a potentially catastrophic hurricane, and a raging pandemic that is killing more than 1,000 Americans a day.

The historic convergence of health, economic, environmental, and social emergencies is only increasing the pressure on Trump, as he looks to ramp up his campaign against Biden with Election Day just 10 weeks off and early voting beginning much sooner.

The vice president, who is also the chair of the White House coronavirus task force, defended the administration’s handling of the pandemic, a political liability that was otherwise largely absent from the convention program. He also delivered sober, encouraging words to Gulf Coast residents as Hurricane Laura neared.

“This is a serious storm,” Pence said. “And we urge all those in the affected areas to heed state and local authorities. Stay safe and know that we’ll be with you every step of the way to support, rescue, respond, and recover in the days and weeks ahead.”

Positioning himself as a potential heir to Trump in 2024, Pence delivered sharp attacks against Biden, but also presented an optimistic vision of the country’s future. He spoke from Baltimore’s Fort McHenry, where an 1814 battle inspired the National Anthem — which has been at the center of a cultural debate, fueled by Trump, over athletes who kneel rather than stand in protest of racial injustice.

Trump made an unannounced appearance to join Pence after his remarks for a performance of the anthem at the fort. The president, vice president and their wives later greeted guests, some of whom were in walkers and stood for the anthem.

While the Fort McHenry speech was orchestrated to present a grand scene, earlier portions of the program were more lowkey. The show for Americans at home lacked some of the production elements that had made previous nights memorable, including slickly produced videos and surprise announcements, such as an unexpected presidential pardon and a citizenship ceremony.

Besides Pence, there was no major headline speaker and few boldface names. George W. Bush, the sole living former Republican president, isn’t expected to address the convention. Mitt Romney, the party’s 2012 nominee who has emerged as a Trump foe, is also absent from the lineup.

Many of the speakers Wednesday night reinforced Trump’s law-and-order message, warning that electing Biden would lead to violence in cities spilling into the suburbs. Trump’s campaign believes his aggressive response will help him with suburban women who may be concerned by the violence.

The Trump campaign’s focus on law enforcement continued a weeklong emphasis on motivating his political base — rather than appealing to moderate voters.

Michael McHale, the president of the National Association of Police Organizations, told the convention, “The violence and bloodshed we are seeing in these and other cities isn’t happening by chance. It’s the direct result of refusing to allow law enforcement to protect our communities.”

And Burgess Owens, a former NFL player now running for Congress in Utah, declared, “This November, we stand at a crossroads. Mobs torch our cities while popular members of Congress promote the same socialism that my father fought against in World War II.”

The night included remarks from the president’s daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, as well as several administration officials including departing Counselor Kellyanne Conway, the manager of Trump’s 2016 general election campaign, and press secretary Kayleigh McEnany.

“This is the man I know and the president we need,” said Conway, a week before she is to leave the White House. “He picks the toughest fights and tackles the most complex problems. He has stood by me, and he will stand up for you.”

You can relive the 37-minute address below:

The Associated Press contributed to this article

About the Author

Darrian Johnson is an experienced, conservative journalist who values facts (not feelings). Originally from Missouri, when he's not traveling for fly fishing, Darrian lives in Maryland.