The Left Must Understand What Mike Pence Represents
The current President of the United States, Donald Trump, is currently embroiled in scandal after scandal. Much of them concern the matter of Russia's involvement in the election and Trump's awful handling of the controversy surrounding it. Some Democrats, and even a few Republicans, have either mentioned or been asked about the possibility of the impeachment and removal of President Trump. Representative Al Green has begun his efforts at kick-starting impeachment proceedings in the House of Representatives.
While the impeachment and removal of Trump as the president is unlikely while Republicans control both houses of Congress, it is interesting and important to discuss the issue. If Democrats are successful in the process, the vice president, Mike Pence, is next in line to become the president. He represents a relatively significant departure from the current state of governing at the office of the presidency.
Mike Pence, who was the governor of Indiana, has a dark history concerning the LGBTQ community. Pence is the embodiment of the religious right's ideal candidate. He describes himself as being a Christian, a conservative, and a republican, in that order. Much of his policy standpoints exist because of his adherence to his brand of Christianity.
Perhaps his most famous moment regarding his history with LGBTQ community came when he signed into law Indiana's religious freedom bill. This bill was largely criticized for its potential ability to legally allow for discrimination against the LGBTQ community on religious grounds. It wasn't until intense public backlash that a revised version of the bill came into existence. The bill was passed in a largely Republican controlled state government.
The worry about Mike Pence's history of accepting and signing into law legislation that would legalize discrimination on religious grounds, is its potential in the federal government as opposed to a state government. States can face much more immediate and impactful pressure from other political power centers and businesses. The NCAA was largely influential in altering Indiana's religious freedom bill. The federal government, while still susceptible to social movements and outside political influence, may not be as willing and able to create a policy similar to the revised bill. Majorities in federal government are much slimmer and political progress is much slower as a result.
Pence is a much more skilled politician than Trump is. As president, Pence may be able to build a strong GOP policy coalition. He is likely to be more successful at bringing his party together around policies and issues. This suggests that a religious freedom bill that could potentially legalize the discrimination of the LGBTQ community on religious grounds at a federal level would be around the corner should he become president.
All of this doesn't even touch upon his history regarding women.
While the impeachment and removal of Trump as the president is unlikely while Republicans control both houses of Congress, it is interesting and important to discuss the issue. If Democrats are successful in the process, the vice president, Mike Pence, is next in line to become the president. He represents a relatively significant departure from the current state of governing at the office of the presidency.
Mike Pence, who was the governor of Indiana, has a dark history concerning the LGBTQ community. Pence is the embodiment of the religious right's ideal candidate. He describes himself as being a Christian, a conservative, and a republican, in that order. Much of his policy standpoints exist because of his adherence to his brand of Christianity.
Perhaps his most famous moment regarding his history with LGBTQ community came when he signed into law Indiana's religious freedom bill. This bill was largely criticized for its potential ability to legally allow for discrimination against the LGBTQ community on religious grounds. It wasn't until intense public backlash that a revised version of the bill came into existence. The bill was passed in a largely Republican controlled state government.
The worry about Mike Pence's history of accepting and signing into law legislation that would legalize discrimination on religious grounds, is its potential in the federal government as opposed to a state government. States can face much more immediate and impactful pressure from other political power centers and businesses. The NCAA was largely influential in altering Indiana's religious freedom bill. The federal government, while still susceptible to social movements and outside political influence, may not be as willing and able to create a policy similar to the revised bill. Majorities in federal government are much slimmer and political progress is much slower as a result.
Pence is a much more skilled politician than Trump is. As president, Pence may be able to build a strong GOP policy coalition. He is likely to be more successful at bringing his party together around policies and issues. This suggests that a religious freedom bill that could potentially legalize the discrimination of the LGBTQ community on religious grounds at a federal level would be around the corner should he become president.
All of this doesn't even touch upon his history regarding women.