Indiana Gov. Pence: Not ‘Helpful’ To ‘Question The President’s Patriotism’

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence announces that the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services had approved the state's waiver request for the plan his administration calls HIP 2.0 during a speech in Indianapolis, Tuesday, Ja... Indiana Gov. Mike Pence announces that the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services had approved the state's waiver request for the plan his administration calls HIP 2.0 during a speech in Indianapolis, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) MORE LESS
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

When asked if he agrees with former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) that President Obama doesn’t “love America,” Indiana Gov. Mike Pence (R) said he didn’t think people should question Obama’s patriotism.

“I don’t think it helps to question the president’s patriotism or motives,” Pence said on “Fox News Sunday” when asked about Giuliani’s comments.

“But look, Rudy Giuliani is a great American. He saw nearly three thousand of his own citizens die on 9/11, and he is understandably frustrated with a president, who — as I said before — is fully willing to lecture the people of this country about The Crusades, but is unwilling to call Islamic extremism for what it is,” Pence continued, referencing Obama’s comments at the National Prayer Breakfast.

Fox host John Roberts asked Pence again whether he himself questioned Obama’s patriotism.

“I just don’t think it’s helpful in the public debate to question motives or to question patriotism,” the governor responded.

Pence echoed 2016 hopeful Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), who said Saturday that it was a “mistake to question” the president’s “motives.”

Latest Livewire

Notable Replies

  1. But Pence thinks tying immigration to Homeland Security funding is somehow helpful? At last he’s consistent with the other clowns.

  2. He took a step toward truth and a display of R courage but remained in the weasley truthiness zone instead

  3. Yes, it’s a “mistake” because it might cause you to tank in general.

    Governor Pence - and Senator Paul - how about saying, “I think he’s as Patriotic as any other American.”

    The ugliness is really ugly.

  4. Avatar for anniew anniew says:

    I guess I’m an uber patriot/hero who can never be questioned because I also saw 3,000 fellow citizens (I also care about any non-citizens in the building, but I’m a hand-wringing liberal) die on 9/11. Why again does this give Guiliani so much cred?

  5. He saw nearly three thousand of his own citizens die

    So, he somehow owns people now? Sounds un-American to me.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

38 more replies

Participants

Avatar for system1 Avatar for robertbrk Avatar for anniew Avatar for daveminnj Avatar for littlegirlblue Avatar for jeffgee1 Avatar for vinceandlinda Avatar for ncsteve Avatar for avattoir Avatar for trippin Avatar for renatastar Avatar for ctvoter Avatar for frankly_my_dear Avatar for ralph_vonholst Avatar for barblzz Avatar for suicide_arsonist Avatar for konnie Avatar for sufi66 Avatar for theronware Avatar for dnl Avatar for sjk Avatar for jinmichigan Avatar for clauscph Avatar for 62fender

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: