Former Vice President Mike Pence made a surprise visit to Ukraine this week to set himself apart from other Republican presidential candidates.
“The purpose of the trip, it appears, was for Pence to position himself as the most experienced and best prepared for dealing with critical affairs on the world stage, something he’d do as president,” ABC News reported.
But by choosing to embrace Ukraine to separate himself from the pack, Pence may have just signed the death warrant to his own campaign.
“Currently, 44% of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents say the U.S. is giving too much aid to Ukraine, up modestly since January (40%) and the highest level since shortly after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year,” the Pew Research Center reported earlier this month.
Conversely, only 14 percent of Democrat voters felt the same way, meaning that the former VP’s current stunt is much more likely to appease Democrat voters, not Republican voters.
The proof can be seen on Twitter, where Pence posted the following tweet Thursday:
I know the difference between a genius and a war criminal, and I know who needs to win this war in Ukraine, and it’s the people fighting for their freedom and fighting to restore their national sovereignty. There is no room in our party for apologists for Putin. There is only… pic.twitter.com/VKyeM0exgU
— Mike Pence (@Mike_Pence) June 29, 2023
In response to the tweet, Republicans rushed out of the woodwork to accuse Pence of caring more about the Ukrainian people than about the American people.
Republicans also reminded Pence that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy isn’t exactly the biggest fan of democracy.
Look:
Write a personal check to fund the war instead of trying to spend our money Mike.
— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) June 29, 2023
I didn’t think I could lose respect for you and yet I just did. You are part of the money laundering scheme. Disgusting.
— Kentucky Colonel (@sterlingblue) June 30, 2023
Are you running for president in Ukraine, I thought you were running here in America where the people vote. Ukrainians don’t vote in America.
— Mike Hayes (@Michael86974090) June 29, 2023
There’s no room for neo-cons, Mike. That’s pretty apparent in how poorly you’re doing in primary polling. You’re embarrassing yourself. Delete your campaign and go out with some dignity fercrisakes.
— Dave Explains (@DaveExplainsWhy) June 30, 2023
Zelensky just took all the freedom and democracy away from the Ukraine people denying them their rights to chose their president in the next election. Why don’t you stay there under this war dictatorship since the people there have no voice/votes.
— County KAG (@ShaBacksTheBlue) June 29, 2023
That’s great Mike. Go ahead and send your personal check over.
But our not wanting to waste American tax payers hard earned money on a regional conflict, does not make us apologists for Putin. Any more than you being in support of such waste means you are getting #kickbacks… pic.twitter.com/bLSOPpCM3A— Chuck Martel (@TheChuckMartel) June 29, 2023
Yet Pence didn’t seem fazed by the criticism.
“We are with you. We have to stand together, freedom-loving-nations, stand with the people fighting for their freedom here in Ukraine, and that’ll be my message when I return home,” he told reporters while in Ukraine.
Asked to address the fact that some Republicans don’t support Ukraine, Pence said he believes a majority of Republicans do in fact support the ally nation.
“Look, I really believe that the majority of the American people and I believe the majority of Republicans understand that America is the leader of the free world,” he said.
“As I made clear to President Zelenskyy today, when I return home, whatever the future holds for me and my family, we’re gonna stand for freedom. And I’ll do my part to make sure that America continues to stand for the courageous fighters here in Ukraine that are fighting to reclaim their freedom,” he added.
Pence reportedly also spoke directly with some Ukrainians.
“I’m sorry for your loss. Your bravery is inspiring … I want you to know we’re with you,” he told an elderly woman whose nephew and neighbor were killed in the war.
“I hope you see the heart and generosity of the American people,” he told a separate group of people.
His visit comes months after incumbent President Joe Biden traveled to Ukraine in February. As of this week, Biden and Pence were the only presidential candidates to have visited the ally nation this election cycle.
Indeed, when it comes to Ukraine, it appears Pence is much more aligned with Biden (Democrats again) than with his fellow Republicans like former President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
ABC News notes, for instance, that in March, “[f]ormer President Donald Trump and Gov. Ron DeSantis took similar isolationist positions, with DeSantis facing criticism for distilling the conflict down to ‘a territorial dispute.'”
WATCH: Mike Pence makes a surprise visit to Ukraine, tells @DashaBurns that American military support for Ukraine has “shown our commitment to freedom.”
Pence: “By giving the Ukrainian military the resources that we have … the West has really shown its strength.” pic.twitter.com/jaSLklqUxH
— Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) June 29, 2023
Pence didn’t care for this.
“The war in Ukraine is not a territorial dispute. It’s a Russian invasion. It’s just the latest instance of Russia attempting to redraw international lines by force, and the United States of America must continue at a quickened pace to provide the Ukrainian military the support that they need to repel the Russian invasion — and the stakes are that high,” he told ABC News host Jonathan Karl at the time.
He’s since doubled and tripled down on his pro-Ukraine zealousness, going so far as to take a direct shot at Trump when he launched his campaign: “Frankly, when Vladimir Putin rolled into Ukraine, the former president called him a genius. I know the difference between a genius and a war criminal,” he said.
And then in an NBC News interview earlier this month, he tripled down.
“My former running mate, seeing war raging in Eastern Europe, is signaling an ambiguous message, not even able to say who he would prefer to see win the war in Ukraine,” he said.
“The United States needs to stand by the courageous fighters in Ukraine, give them the resources more quickly than Joe Biden has, to take the fight to the Russians and repel this invasion,” he added.
As of June 30th, Pence boasted an average primary score of 5.7 percent, down by dozens from Trump’s 52.4 percent.
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
V. Saxena is a staff writer with a decade of experience as a professional writer, and a lifetime of experience as an avid news junkie. He holds a degree in computer technology from Purdue University. Saxena also contributes to BizPac Review.
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