Former Vice President Mike Pence was mocked online after claiming he had a dramatic, face-to-face confrontation with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Pence, who many expect to announce a 2024 presidential bid in the near future, appeared on Fox News’s “Hannity” and was engaged in a bit of saber-rattling while advocating for more support for Ukraine in its war with Russia — never mind that many on the right are leery of further escalation with a nuclear power over a non-NATO ally.
(Video: Fox News)
The Republican politician noted that Russia did not try to grab land during the “Trump-Pence” administration, citing their “peace through strength” approach. He added that this all changed under President Biden, even though we are now “in the fight.”
Citing the Reagan Doctrine, which states that the U.S. “must stand by our democratic allies. And we must not break faith with those who are risking their lives to defy Soviet-supported aggression,” Pence declared, “We are involved in a proxy war against the Soviet Union, the Ukrainians are fighting it. I really believe that it is essential that we see it through and we demand our European allies do more than their share because it is their front yard.”
He then called for an increase in support to Ukraine, including tanks and F-16s, to which host Sean Hannity interrupted to say that Biden vetoed Poland giving Ukraine MiG fighter jets.
“President Biden was dragging his feet from the go, and remember he said it might be acceptable if there was just a ‘small incursion’ by the Russian military,” Pence said. “This is an absent, without leadership, administration when it comes to the foreign stage and they have been playing catch up ever since.”
“I really do believe it is absolutely essential that we embrace that [Ronald] Reagan doctrine,” he added. “I have stood closer than I am to you and looked Vladimir Putin right in the eye and told him things he didn’t want to hear.”
The remark about Putin did not go over well online, particularly with those who will never let Pence live down the association with Donald Trump.
Here’s a quick sampling of responses from Twitter:
No one believes this.
— Chris D. Jackson (@ChrisDJackson) February 22, 2023
Was it, Sir, I don’t think we won the election?
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) February 22, 2023
And Putin likely looked back and thought “what a putz”
— MarkHertling (@MarkHertling) February 22, 2023
“I told him ‘Purple Rain’ isn’t Prince’s best — that honor goes to ‘Parade.’ I also told him velcro shoe straps don’t hold the foot as solidly as regular shoestrings. He was really angry when I insisted that Roger Moore was the best James Bond.”
— david moye (@dmoyeweirdnews) February 22, 2023
Not buying the new “macho Pence” routine either, huh?
I suspect not many will.
— Khashoggi’s Ghost (@UROCKlive1) February 22, 2023
There are many things Mike Pence has never done in his life. Chief among them is look Vladimir Putin in the eye and tell him anything of consequence, let alone things he didn’t want to hear. What a weird lie to tell. https://t.co/xg7lMApkph
— Brian Normoyle (@BrianNormoyle) February 22, 2023
of all the things that never happened, this never happened the most https://t.co/8KeEGdZydn
— shauna (@goldengateblond) February 22, 2023
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Tom Tillison grew up in Maryland before moving to Central Florida as a young teen. It is in the Sunshine State that he honed both his passion for politics and his writing skills. Tillison also contributes to BizPac Review.
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