WASHINGTON – Vice President Mike Pence took the stage at the Conservative Political Action Conference on Thursday, praising the Trump administration and declaring that “the safety of our nation’s schools and our students” is a top priority.
Pence began his speech by addressing the South Florida school shooting last week that resulted in 17 deaths and triggered a national drive by students, parents and advocacy groups for gun control measures to prevent future mass shootings at schools. Pence spoke of the White House gathering on Wednesday with President Donald Trump and school shooting victims’ families and friends and told the conservative audience the administration would “take strong action to make our schools safe.”
Although he avoided getting into many details, Pence spoke about the importance of speeding up background checks of prospective gun purchasers and preventing those with mental illness’ from obtaining a weapon.
“No children, no teachers should ever be in danger in an American school,” he said in kicking off the annual conservative gathering at a suburban Maryland hotel. He said that “we will make the safety of our nation’s schools and our students our top national priority” when Trump meets with the nation’s governors who will gather in Washington.
Earlier in the day, Trump tweeted his support for a number of measures that could put him at odds with the National Rifle Association, including a total ban on bump stocks, that allow guns to fire like automatic weapons; raising the age of purchase for long guns from 18 to 21, and toughening comprehensive background checks.
Pence on domestic issues
Pence told the conservative audience that 2017 was the “most consequential year” ever for the conservative movement.
He hailed Trump’s efforts to improve the economy with a major tax cut that passed at the end of last year and major regulatory reforms to help business.. “Ninety-percent of working Americans got a tax cut and millions are getting increases in their paycheck and already feeling it in their wallets,” he said.
He criticized House Minority Leader, Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., for opposing the the tax bill and for saying the $1,000 “bonus” that many Americans would get from their employers as a result of the tax cut was “bread crumbs.”
Pelosi said that “in terms of the bonus that corporate America received versus the crumbs that they are giving workers to kind of put the schmooze on is so pathetic.”
Pence said that an extra $1,000 in his pocket would not be called “bread crumbs,” but “Christmas.”
Pence also signaled Trump would not falter in keeping his campaign promises to crack down on illegal immigrants, secure the borders and build a wall along the southern border.
“Make no mistake about it, we’re going to build that wall,” Pence said as the crowd chanted “build that wall.”
Pence on international issues
Pence addressed the criticisms against him when he refused to stand for North Korea at the 2018 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony in South Korea He criticized the media for “fawning” over North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un’s sister and said she is still a part of the “evil family clique.”
“The U.S. does not stand with murderous dictatorships; we stand up to murderous dictatorships,” he said.
Pence pointed to terrorism and ISIS and said the U.S. would continue to fight against the terrorist organization until it was defeated at “its source.” He also restated the administration’s harsh criticism of the “disastrous Iran nuclear deal” negotiated by the Obama administration.
Pence on 2018 midterm elections
“Your president and I need you to show up,” Pence said of the 2018 mid-term campaign that will determine whether GOP can retain control of the House and Senate. “Defend all we have accomplished and what we have left to do,” he said.
Pence alluded to bipartisan discussion when he asked the audience to reconnect in future debates with their communities. He said there is too much anger and divide in the U.S. and urged Americans to reconnect with one another.
“There will always be more that unites us than will ever divide the great and good people of this country,” Pence said.