Former Vice President Mike Pence joined me this morning to discuss last night’s debate:

Audio:

09-28hhs-pence

Transcript:

HH: So pleased that Vice President Pence has gotten up early on the West Coast to join me. Good morning, Mr. Vice President. Welcome back. How are you?

MP: Good morning, Hugh. We’re at short night, but big night last night. I’m actually speaking to you from just outside the Ronald Reagan Library, and couldn’t think of a better way to start the day than on the Hugh Hewitt Show.

HH: Well, thank you, sir. If I’d been on the panel last night, I would have asked you first, but I would have asked everyone else the same question – why would you be a better commander-in-chief than Former President Trump?

MP: Right. Right. Well, I actually think that is a central question that all of us, all of us should be able to answer. And I think in my case, it’s the range of experience that I’ve had, that I’ve not only served as vice president of the United States, traveled the world representing our country, I have met and spoken to Vladimir Putin, met and spoken with President Xi. I know our allies around the world. I understand the challenges that we’re facing. But also, because I was 12 years in the Congress of the United States. I believe I’m uniquely qualified to be able to go to the Congress and build a military fitted to the challenges of the 21st Century, Hugh. Look, when we came into office, we had to rebuild our military. And with Armed Services members in both of our families, it’s very personal. But the truth is, Obama had spent years of reckless budget cuts. But when you look at what’s happening in Eastern Europe, Russia on the move, China continuing to menace in the Asia Pacific, I laid out a plan for a 355-ship Navy, for making investments in our long-term strategic arsenal, to accelerate investment in hypersonics. It’s going to take somebody that knows the Congress, knows the people there, can go and sell that case, can build out that military. That’s how we achieve peace through strength. And I think that combination is what prepares me for that role.

HH: But the Former President has already done it. Why would you be better than the Former President doing it going forward?

MP: Well, I just believe different times call for different leadership. And right now, I believe that we need leadership that at least has the capacity to restore a threshold of civility in public life. I mean, you saw, you saw some of the back and forth in that debate last night. And you know, we tried to weigh in to the best of our abilities, but you know, I think millions of Americans are literally exhausted with the political fracas across this country. And I believe that I represent the kind of leadership that not only could build out our military, not only has my experience having been in the Situation Room when decisions were made for the use of military force, but also I have the ability to really united the country behind the greatest challenges that we face. It’s that the enemies of freedom are on the move. We’ve got to find a way to bring the American people together. I believe I can do that.

HH: I would also have asked you and every other candidate, because I do think the intense need to develop conflict drives television networks crazy as opposed to get answers. Why would you be better at dealing with Xi Jinping and the Chinese Communist Party, which is our number one existential threat for a lot of reasons, than Donald Trump or anyone else on that stage?

MP: Well, as you know in 2018, I articulated our administration’s change strategy toward China. In that speech at the Hudson Institute, I returned a week and a half ago to Hudson Institute to articulate my vision with regard to China. It all begins with building that military I just described, fitted to the times, and increasing tariffs on China, restricting access to our country until they abandon trade abuses, intellectual property theft, until they end their military provocations. But also, it’s very specific, very specific efforts that ending the H1B program for Chinese nationals who’ve been used for intellectual property theft, ending the sale of farmland to China and land near strategic assets in our country. I’ve spoken to President Xi. I’ve looked him in the eye. I helped lead our administration’s effort. I understand who we’re dealing with, with China. And it is the greatest economic and strategic threat facing the United States of America. And we have to meet this moment with experience that’s fitted to the times, and I believe in all humility that I’m that man.

HH: Now you got a question from our Univision host about LGBTQ, and I turned to my colleagues, and I said this is not a GOP debate question. They’re all going to say the same thing. You said it very well. The GOP is very, very friendly to all Americans of all persuasions and all backgrounds. Come and live freely among us, and all that sort of thing. But the question that did not get answered for me is whether or not Vivek is actually doing business with China, did business with China, or is advocating TikTok, because Nikki Haley took him apart on that. What did you think of Mr. Ramaswamy’s non-answer to the TikTok question?

MP: Well, I mean, earlier this year, Vivek Ramaswamy said that TikTok was digital fentanyl for America’s youth. And then a week or so back, he signed onto TikTok. And to me, look, I think TikTok, which is controlled by the Chinese Communist Party, literally every day is compromising the privacy rights of tens of millions of Americans. And I didn’t really track what he was saying about, you know, we’ve got to win elections. Actually, Republicans have won a whole lot of elections. I know he hasn’t voted in any until 2020, but Republicans have actually won a whole lot of elections without subjecting our country to penetration by the Chinese Communist Party. So look, I’m with you. I’ll leave people to sort out his varying positions on issues. But for me, it’s very clear. We’ve got to be strong on China. We’ve got to protect the people of this country, their intellectual property and their privacy rights, and I’ll do that as president.

HH: I want to close by going back to the commander-in-chief. What don’t these people know, Mr. Vice President? You were in the Oval a lot, once a week with the Former President. You’ve always been very quiet about those conversations as is respectful of the office. But what don’t they know about the job?

MP: Well, I think it’s just at the end of the day, the weight of the decisions that have to be made. You know, I was in the Situation Room when we watched in real time satellite imagery as our Special Forces descended on the compound where Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was holed up. And I remember taking a moment before the President arrived in the Situation Room to invite all of the generals to join me in a word of prayer for our forces that would be sliding down those ropes and going into harm’s way. And having been in that moment, having been in the discussions leading up to the decision to take out Qassam Soleimani, I understand the way of the decision that a president of the United States has to make when you’re putting armed forces into harm’s way. I’ve been there. I’ve been alongside. I understand it. And I have to tell you, you know, you and I are awful proud of our families as well. I understand the unique challenges and how precious the men and women of our armed forces are to us. If I’m president of the United States, I’ll make sure our soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, and Guardians and Coast Guard have everything they need to accomplish their mission and get home safe. As I like to say, you know, I’ll treat them like a member of my family, because in our cases, Hugh, they are.

HH: Very last question, a bonus question, Mr. Vice President. Should the Former President join the next debate?

MP: I think Donald Trump owes it to the Republican Party, owes it to the American people to be on that stage in Miami and answer the questions. Look, I think we are at a time for choosing in this country. It’s fitting to have been able to articulate that here at the Reagan Library last night. But look, I’m a conservative. I believe in that the Reagan agenda of American leadership in the world, limited government, fiscal responsibility, traditional values. And that’s what Reagan brought to our party. That’s how we governed for four years in the Trump-Pence administration. But people deserve to know that Donald Trump and many of his imitators on the stage last night want to take our party in a different direction – appeasement on the world stage, ignoring a national debt. Donald Trump’s actually advocating a 10% tax on everything coming into the United States, which would put an enormous burden on people in our country. And of course, you’ve seen him actually demean pro-life laws passed around the country at the state level and refuse to call for federal protections for the unborn. So I’m going to stand true on that conservative agenda. I want to make it clear to people that I believe the choice in our party is whether we’re going to continue on that time-honored conservative agenda, or whether we’re going to follow the siren song of populism unmoored to conservative principles. And that’s the choice Republicans face, and people know I’m the most consistent, the most qualified conservative in this field, and I’ll be ready day one to lead us to what’s always made American strong and prosperous and free.

HH: Former Vice President Pence, thank you, as always, for joining me. I will talk to you again down the campaign road. Have a great day, and thank you for getting up early today.

MP: You bet, Hugh. Great to be with you.

End of interview.