Donald J. Trump for President

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING: TRUMP PICKS “PRINCIPLED CONSERVATIVE” IN PENCE VP SELECTION

"Principled Conservative" … "Solid Grasp On Policy" … "A Home Run" … "Could Not Have Made A Better Choice"

American Conservative Union's Matt Schlapp: "This is welcome and exciting news to conservative activists across the country…he is a social conservative, he is a free market advocate, he is strong on national defense, he has sterling character…" (Washington Examiner, 7/15/16)

Club for Growth president David McIntosh : "Mike Pence would be an outstanding vice president." (WSJ, 7/15/16)

The Washington Post's Dan Balz: "The Choice Of Pence Brings Trump Obvious Short-Term Benefits." (The Washington Post , 7/15/16)

ABC News' Rick Klein: "Pence Is A Solid Social And Fiscal Conservative, With Both Washington And Statehouse Experience…" "Pence is a solid social and fiscal conservative, with both Washington and statehouse experience, not to mention a Midwestern vanilla manner that leaves him a virtual unknown outside Indiana." (ABC News, 7/14/16)

Bloomberg's Albert Hunt: "Donald Trump Has Selected The Perfect Non-Trump As His Running Mate." (Bloomberg, 7/15/16)

Fox News' Stephen Moore: "Well Donald Trump Has Passed His First Big Test As A Presidential Nominee With Flying Colors." (Fox News, 7/15/16)

Fox News Headline: "Why Mike Pence Is A Gutsy Choice For Trump." (Fox News, 7/15/16)

NBC News' Benji Sarlin: "Pence Brings Plenty Of Experience To The Trump Ticket… Steady Conservative Record…" "Indiana Gov. Mike Pence brings plenty of experience to the Trump ticket. In addition to his time running the state, he had a long career in Congress, where he served for more than a decade and rose to a leadership position. His steady conservative record prompted speculation that he might run as a dark horse presidential candidate in 2012 and 2016, but he declined both times." (NBC News, 7/15/16)

PBS' Gretchen Frazee And Daniel Bush: "Pence Is A Republican's Republican." (PBS, 7/15/16)

CNBC: "Pence… Brings Years Of Legislative And Executive Experience." "Pence represents a relatively safe pick for Trump, and brings years of legislative and executive experience." (CNBC, 7/15/16)

Chicago Tribune Editorial Board: "[Pence Is] A Principled Conservative… A Veteran Legislator With A Solid Grasp Of Policy…" "The Indiana governor has a lot to recommend him. He's a principled conservative who understands and shares his party's ideals. He's a veteran legislator with a solid grasp of policy, based on 12 years in Congress and a stint as head of a conservative Indiana think tank." (Chicago Tribune , 7/15/16)

The Wall Street Journal's Patrick O'Connor: Pence "A Seasoned Conservative." "Donald Trump named Indiana Gov. Mike Pence as his running mate Friday, balancing his ticket with a seasoned conservative." (The Wall Street Journal, 7/15/16)

The Hill's Peter Schroeder: "Establishment And Conservative Bona Fides… A Man With Experience…" "Vice presidential nominee Mike Pence is lending his GOP establishment and conservative bona fides to Donald Trump. Trump's selection of Pence as his No. 2 gives the ticket a man with experience running a Midwestern state who is also a household name in the hallways of Congress." (The Hill, 7/15/16)

USA Today's Eliza Collins: "Mike Pence Being On Donald Trump's Ticket Is Making Some Conservatives Very Happy." (USA Today , 7/15/16)

Susan B. Anthony List's Marjorie Dannenfelser: " Mr. Trump's selection of Gov. Mike Pence is an affirmation of the pro-life commitments he's made and will rally the pro-life grassroots…Mr. Trump could not have made a better choice." (Washington Examiner, 7/15/16)

Bloomberg's Mark Niquette: Pence "Adds Significant Government Experience…" "The choice of Pence, who served in the U.S. House of Representatives for 12 years, was a nod to the socially conservative wing of the Republican Party and to the Rust Belt, a region crucial to Trump's chances of victory. It adds significant government experience to Trump's outsider campaign for the White House." (Bloomberg, 7/15/16)

US News' Peter Roff: "Pence Is A Solid Conservative With A Strong Record…" "Pence is a solid conservative with a strong record, both in Congress and as governor of Indiana where he has been an aggressive proponent of expanding parental choice in education and broke the big labor stranglehold on blue collar workers by signing a right-to-work law." (US News, 7/15/16)

USA Today's David Jackson: Pence "A Policy Maker Who Is Well Liked By Conservative Lawmakers And Activists…" "In Pence, Trump went with a candidate who, while he will no doubt be aggressive on the stump, is known more as a policy maker who is well liked by conservative lawmakers and activists - many of whom applauded his selection." (USA Today , 7/15/16)

National Rifle Association's Ken Blackwell: "Mike Pence is a home run choice and by picking him Donald Trump gets a A-plus for his first presidential decision." (Breitbart , 7/15/16)

Faith and Freedom Coalition's Tim Head: "It's a very solid pick from an evangelical standpoint, from a conservative standpoint, and from a personal standpoint." (Washington Examiner, 7/15/16)

Young America's Foundation : "A step in the right direction. Our country desperately needs leaders committed to promoting conservative principles - and Pence fits comfortable into that category." (Washington Examiner, 7/15/16)

Concerned Women for America CEO Penny Nance: "I look forward to working with him as Vice President. This is an excellent choice by Donald Trump, Mike Pence will be a unifying factor and conservatives will be very supportive." (WSJ, 7/15/16)

For America Chairman Brent Bozell : "The naming of Governor Mike Pence as his running mate is a homerun for Donald Trump. It's the best conservatives could possibly want. It's a powerful signal, and a welcomed one. This was a top priority for conservatives, and Trump came through in a smashing manner." (Breitbart , 7/15/16)


Republican National Committee

RNC Statement On Donald Trump’s Choice Of Governor Mike Pence As His Running Mate

WASHINGTON - Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Reince Priebus released the following statement on Donald J. Trump’s selection of Indiana Governor Mike Pence as his running mate:
 
“Governor Mike Pence is a strong addition to the ticket,” said RNC Chairman Reince Priebus. “Governor Pence is an experienced public servant and a solid conservative whose policies have led to the longest period of uninterrupted job growth in Indiana’s history. This is a job-creating, America First ticket, whose wealth of knowledge and experience will get middle-class families thriving again. Their winning ideas are in stark contrast to Hillary Clinton, whose plans are merely more of the failed Obama policies which have sent debt skyrocketing and paychecks slumping. Our ticket’s robust vision for prosperity and security makes it clear that the Republican Party is the only party prepared to lead an American turnaround."
 
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American Conservative Union

ACU’s Matt Schlapp on Selection of Gov. Pence

"This is a great day for conservatism and great news for conservatives.  Governor Mike Pence is an excellent pick to be the Vice President.  He is a proven leader who has worked with grassroots conservatives to advance policies and solutions that strengthen our economy, our national defense, and our families.  His Reagan-esque approach, as a great communicator with the courage of his convictions, sends the signal to conservatives across America that Donald Trump is eager to bring Americans together to reject Hillary Clinton’s plans to continue President Obama’s radical agenda.  We are proud to call Mike and his wife Karen friends of ACU and we are very pleased with this selection.”

Susan B Anthony List

Mike Pence is a Pro-Life Trailblazer who will Rally Grassroots

Washington, D.C.  – This morning the national pro-life group Susan B. Anthony List (SBA List) praised the selection of Indiana Governor Mike Pence as Donald Trump’s running mate.

“Mr. Trump’s selection of Gov. Mike Pence is an affirmation of the pro-life commitments he’s made and will rally the pro-life grassroots,” said SBA List President Marjorie Dannenfelser. “Gov. Pence has proven to be a pro-life champion both during his time in Congress and as Governor of Indiana. It was Mike Pence who led the effort to defund Planned Parenthood in Congress, and it was Gov. Pence who signed into law a historic bill protecting unborn children from lethal discrimination in the womb. Mike Pence is a pro-life trailblazer and Mr. Trump could not have made a better choice.”

“When I was in Congress it became apparent to me immediately that Mike Pence was committed to conservative principles,” added SBA List Vice President of Government Affairs, former U.S. Congresswoman Marilyn Musgrave. “He was an incredible leader of the Republican Study Committee, making sure that Republican Leadership stayed true to our core values, including life. He had the courage and conviction that it took to be a true leader. His floor speeches were like those of great orators in our history. But what I admired about Mike Pence most of all was his commitment to his faith, and Karen and his kids. He kept his priorities right.  I always knew that he was destined for even greater things.  He is most deserving of this honor and I couldn’t be happier for him and Karen.”

Mr. Trump has pledged to advance and sign into law the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, defund Planned Parenthood, and appoint pro-life Justices to the Supreme Court.

Susan B. Anthony List and its Political Action Committees, the SBA List Candidate Fund and Women Speak Out PAC, spent $16.71 million in the 2014 election cycle to defeat pro-abortion incumbents and elect pro-life candidates to federal and statewide office. The SBA List is dedicated to pursuing policies and electing candidates who will reduce and ultimately end abortion. To that end, the SBA List emphasizes the education, promotion, mobilization, and election of pro-life women.  The SBA List is a network of more than 465,000 pro-life Americans nationwide.

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Great America PAC

ED ROLLINS STATEMENT ON ANNOUNCEMENT OF A TRUMP PENCE GOP TICKET

Alexandria, VA – Today Great America PAC lead strategist, Ed Rollins, released the following statement regarding the selection of Indiana Governor Mike Pence as Vice President on the Republican ticket with Donald J. Trump.

“Donald Trump has made an excellent choice in Governor Mike Pence.  The Governor has an impeccable track record of leadership that will inspire American voters and a unique ability to effectively move the Trump agenda forward.  As a presidential candidate, this is the most important decision you make during the campaign -- Donald Trump has nailed it.  Governor Pence compliments him perfectly and a Trump Pence ticket will absolutely deliver on the promise to make America great again,” said Rollins.


Hillary for America

HFA Response to Trump’s Event Naming Mike Pence As His Running Mate

Hillary for America Deputy Communications Director Christina Reynolds released the following statement after Donald Trump officially announced his running mate:

“We were prepared to respond with the many ways in which Mike Pence is the most extreme pick in a generation—a doubling down of Trump’s divisive rhetoric and policies. But after publicly waffling over his own choice, Trump spent more time today making false attacks on Hillary Clinton—several of which could also be leveled against Pence—and talking about his own businesses than his own running mate. It turns out, you can force Trump to make a choice and give him a speech, he’s always going to be Trump.”

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For Immediate Release, July 16, 2016
Democratic National Committee

DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz’s Statement on Donald Trump’s Choice of Mike Pence as his Running Mate

WASHINGTON -  DNC Chair Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz issued the following statement:

“With his choice of Mike Pence, the most extreme Vice Presidential pick in a generation, Donald Trump has doubled down on the very qualities that make him unfit for the Oval Office. In Pence, Trump now has a running mate equally committed to pitting the American people against one another with discriminatory politics, and with backwards policies that rig the economy in favor of those at the very top.

“An early member of the Tea Party, Pence’s record is littered with extreme stances and troubling failures of judgment that mirror Trump’s. As governor, Pence spearheaded Indiana’s law to discriminate against LGBT-Americans, which cost the state jobs and tens of millions of dollars, and he inappropriately used his office to stand in the way of a woman’s right to choose. While Trump said women should be punished for abortions, Pence said Roe V. Wade should be sent to the ash heap of history, and he co-sponsored a bill to allow hospitals to refuse to perform one, even if the woman’s life is at stake. While Trump said that wages are too high, Pence pushed to reduce wages for hardworking Hoosiers. And while Trump defrauded seniors and veterans at Trump University, Pence slashed his state’s higher education budget by millions of dollars.

“Hardworking Americans are still recovering from the last Republican administration’s Great Recession. The last thing we can afford is to let either of these two men anywhere near the White House.”

Correct The Record

CTR STATEMENT ON MIKE PENCE AS TRUMP’S VP

By Selecting Pence, Trump Chooses Someone Just as Toxic and Extreme as Himself

Washington, D.C.—Today, Correct The Record Communications Director Elizabeth Shappell released the following statement on Donald Trump’s selection of Indiana Governor Mike Pence as his running mate:

“By selecting Mike Pence as his running mate, Donald Trump has found someone just as toxic and extreme as himself,” said Elizabeth Shappell, Communications Director for Correct The Record. “In Indiana, Pence signed bills legalizing discrimination against LGBT Hoosiers and taking rights away from women. He gutted wages for skilled workers and dislikes transparency so much he tried to create his own state-run news outlet. Like Trump, Pence’s potent combination of divisiveness has embarrassed voters, angered Republican leaders and alienated the business community. By choosing Pence, Trump has continued his campaign’s strategy of pitting Americans against each other.”

Correct The Record is a strategic research and rapid response team designed to defend Hillary Clinton from baseless attacks.

EMILY's List

EMILY’s List Responds to Trump’s VP Pick

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In response to today’s announcement that Donald Trump had picked Indiana Governor Mike Pence as his running mate, EMILY’s List, the nation’s largest resource for women in politics, released the following statement:

“It’s no surprise that Donald Trump picked someone to mirror his divisive and dangerous agenda for women,” said Stephanie Schriock, President of EMILY’s List. “As governor and as a congressman, Mike Pence has a lengthy record of advocating for terrifying anti-woman policies. Both Pence and Trump are obsessed with overturning Roe v. Wade and taking away women’s right to health care. As governor, Pence signed a draconian anti-choice bill that was so radical, some Indiana Republicans actually argued against it. Very much in line with the themes of Trump’s campaign, Pence threatened to shut down the government over funding Planned Parenthood, pushed for legislation that legalized discrimination against members of Indiana’s LGBT community, and has repeatedly voted against equal pay."

“If Trump has delusions that this choice will help attract women – seven in ten of whom already have an unfavorable opinion of him - it absolutely will not.”

“Make no mistake, women will decide this election and the choice could not be more clear."
 
EMILY’s List, the nation’s largest resource for women in politics, has raised over $400 million to support pro-choice Democratic women candidates – making it one of the most successful political organizations ever. We recruit and train candidates, support strong campaigns, research women's issues, and turn out women voters. We've trained over 9,000 women to run and helped elect over 100 women to the House, 19 to the Senate, 11 governors, and over 700 to state and local office. Since its founding in 1985, almost one-third of the candidates EMILY’s List has helped elect to Congress have been women of color - including every single Latina, African American, and Asian American Democratic congresswoman currently serving.

NARAL Pro-Choice America

NARAL SLAMS TRUMP FOR SELECTING "MR. DEFUND PLANNED PARENTHOOD" MIKE PENCE AS VICE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE

Ilyse Hogue, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, released the following statement in response to Donald Trump's reported selection of Mike Pence as his running mate:

“Donald Trump’s decision to choose Gov. Mike Pence as a running mate is proof positive that when he has said that he will supplement his total lack of policy experience by surrounding himself with ‘policy experts,’ what he really meant was ‘extreme ideologues.’ For women, for LGBT families and for the diverse families that make America great, our nation’s potential future just got a lot scarier.

“While Trump has only hypothesized that women should be punished for having abortions, Governor Pence has turned this theory into law. Governor Pence is a man who has worked to make abortion illegal, imprison doctors for providing abortion services for women, and ban some of the most common forms of contraception. It’s no coincidence that Purvi Patel is serving twenty years in prison in a state under his leadership for her attempt to have an abortion.

"His fervor to close Planned Parenthood clinics and rob Indiana citizens of basic health services has resulted in an all out health crisis for his constituents, including an uptick in HIV infection and fewer prenatal services for rural and impoverished pregnant women.

“In choosing Pence, Trump has doubled down on his dangerous, reckless and hateful campaign and once again proven that when it comes to women and families Trump will take away our rights and turn back the clock on decades worth of progress.”


Read the full profile below:

Criminalizing Women and Abortion Providers

  • Led the state that criminalized Purvi Patel for having an abortion.
  • Signed into law a measure that criminalizes doctors for the reasons women seek abortion care.[1]
  • Repeatedly voted for the Federal Abortion Ban, a law that criminalizes some abortion services, with no exception to protect a woman’s health, and carries up to a two-year prison sentence for doctors.[2]
  • Voted in favor of a bill that would criminalize a doctor for the reasons a woman seeks abortion care.[3]

Eroding Roe v. Wade and a Woman’s Right to Choose

  • Repeatedly cosponsored legislation that would, if it went into effect, make abortion illegal nationwide in almost all cases and ban some of the most common forms of contraception, stem-cell research, and in vitro fertilization.[4]
  • Voted for a measure banning medically appropriate abortion care as early as 20 weeks without an adequate exception to protect a woman’s health.[5]
  • Repeatedly voted for the Unborn Victims of Violence Act, a law intended to give separate legal status to an embryo or fetus.[6]  Anti-choice Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) boasted that the law “undermines abortion rights.[7]

Undermining Access to Abortion Services

  • Repeatedly voted to deny abortion coverage for women in the health-insurance exchanges.[8]
  • Repeatedly voted to deny women in the military – who defend our freedom overseas – the right to use their own, private funds for abortion care at military hospitals.[9]
  • Repeatedly voted for legislation that would impose a new, impossibly complex national patchwork of parental-notification mandates on doctors and young women.[10]
  • Repeatedly voted to allow hospitals to refuse to provide emergency abortion care, even when a woman’s life is in danger.[11]
  • Repeatedly voted to allow a broad range of individuals and institutions—including hospitals, hospital employees, health-care providers, employers, and/or insurers—to refuse to provide or cover medical treatment, such as contraception or abortion care.[12]
  • Voted to prohibit federal funds from being used by teaching health centers for training in abortion care.[13]
  •  Voted to prohibit the use of federal funds for prescription or discussion of medical abortion.[14]
  • Voted to block low-income women from getting abortion services in most cases.[15]
  • Repeatedly voted to prohibit the District of Columbia from using its own locally raised revenue to provide funding for abortion services to Medicaid-eligible women.[16]
  • Repeatedly voted to prohibit the federal prison system from using funds to pay for abortion care.[17]
  • Repeatedly signed into law TRAP measures that subject abortion providers to burdensome restrictions not applied to other medical professionals.[18]
  • Signed into law a measure prohibiting abortion coverage in the entire private insurance market.[19]
  • Signed into law a measure prohibiting dispensing of the medication-abortion pill through telehealth networks.[20]

Putting Family Planning At Risk


  • Repeatedly led the effort to defund Planned Parenthood health centers – including bringing the government to the brink of shutdown.[21]
  • Voted to terminate the Title X family-planning program, which provides millions of women with health-care services ranging from birth control to breast cancer screenings.[22]
  • Repeatedly voted in favor of the global gag rule, a policy that bans overseas health clinics from receiving U.S. family-planning aid if they use their own funds to provide legal abortion services, give referrals, or even take a public pro-choice position.[23]
  • Repeatedly voted to block funds for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), an organization that provides family-planning services – not abortion – for the world’s poorest women.[24]
  • Voted to block access to family-planning services for the world’s poorest women.[25]

Repealing Health-Care Reform

  • Supports repealing the Affordable Care Act.[26] The Affordable Care Act greatly improves women’s access to basic health care by ensuring coverage and affordability of maternity care, family-planning services, and other reproductive-health services.
 

Notes:

[1] H.B.1337 (IN 2016).

[2] H.Res.498, Adoption of the Rule for H.R.4965, 7/24/02; H.R.4965, 7/24/02; H.R.760, 6/4/03; S.3 Conference report, 10/2/03.

[3] H.R.3541, 5/31/12.

[4] H.J.Res.20, 107th Cong., (2001); H.R.552, 109th Cong., (2005); H.R.4157, 110th Cong., (2007); H.R.881, 111th Cong., (2009); H.R.374, 112th Cong., (2011).

[5] H.R.3808, 7/31/12.

[6] H.R. 503, 107th Cong., 4/26/01; H.R.1997, 2/26/04.

[7] Kate Snow, Laci Peterson Family Endorses “Unborn Victims” Bill, CNN, 5/07/03, available at http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/05/07/laci.bill (last visited 7/14/16).

[8] Stupak amendment to the Health Care for America Act, H.R.3962, 11/7/09; Camp motion to recommit Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, H.R.4872, 3/21/10; H.R.3, 5/4/11; H.R.358, 10/13/11.

[9] Sanchez amendment to FY’02 Department of Defense Authorization Act, H.R.2586, 9/25/01; Sanchez amendment to FY’03 Department of Defense Authorization Act, H.R.4546, 5/10/02; Sanchez amendment to FY’04 Department of Defense Authorization Act, H.R.1588, 5/22/03; Davis amendment to FY’05 National Defense Authorization Act, H.R.4200, 5/19/04; Davis amendment to FY’06 National Defense Authorization Act, H.R.1815, 5/25/05; Davis amendment to FY’07 National Defense Authorization Act, H.R.5122, 5/10/06.

[10] Jackson-Lee Motion to Recommit H.R.476, 4/17/02; H.R.476, 4/17/02; Scott amendment to H.R.748, 4/27/05; Jackson-Lee amendment to H.R.748, 4/27/05; H.R.748, 4/27/05; S.403, 9/26/06.

[11] Capps motion to recommit H.R.358, 10/13/11; H.R.358, 10/13/11.

[12] H.Res.546, Adoption of Rule for H.R.4691, 9/25/02; H.R.4691, 9/25/02; H.R.358, 10/13/11.

[13] Foxx amendment to H.R.1216, 5/25/11.

[14] King amendment to FY’12 Agriculture appropriations, H.R.2112, 6/16/11.

[15] H.R.3, 5/4/11.

[16] Tiahrt motion to recommit FY’10 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, H.R.3170, 7/16/09; H.R. 1, 2/19/11; H.R.3, 5/4/11.

[17] DeGette amendment to FY’02 Commerce, Justice, State, and Judiciary Appropriations, H.R.2500 7/17/01; H.R.3, 5/4/11.

[18] S.B.371 (IN 2013); S.B.292 (IN 2014); H.B.1145 (IN 2015); H.B.1562 (IN 2015); S.B.329 (IN 2015); S.B.546 (IN 2015); H.B.1337 (IN 2016).

[19] H.B.1123 (IN 2014).

[20] H.B.1263 (IN 2016).

[21] Pence amendment to FY’08 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act, H.R.3043, 7/19/07; Pence amendment to FY’10 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act, H.R.3293, 7/24/09; Pence amendment to FY’11 Continuing Resolution, H.R.1, 2/18/11; H.R. 1, 2/19/11; H.Con.Res.36, Enrollment resolution to RY’11 Continuing resolution, 4/14/11.

[22] H.R. 1, 2/19/11.

[23] Hyde amendment to FY’02 State Department Authorization Act, H.R.1646, 5/16/01; Smith and Stupak Amendment to FY’08 Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, H.R.2764, 6/21/07; H.R. 1, 2/19/11.

[24] Smith motion to strike Crowley amendment to FY’04/05 Foreign Relations Authorization Act, H.R.1950, 7/15/03; H.R. 1, 2/19/11.

[25] Smith amendment to FY’06 Foreign Relations Authorization Act, H.R.2601, 7/19/05.

[26] Jesse Wells, Federal funding for State insurance program doesn’t change Pence’s objection to Affordable Care Act, Fox59.com, Jul. 23, 2015, available at http://fox59.com/2015/07/23/federal-funding-for-state-insurance-program-doesnt-change-pences-objection-to-aca/ (last visited Jul. 14, 2016).

 
# # #


Donald J. Trump and Governor Mike Pence
New York, NY
Saturday, July 16th, 2016



Who:
Donald J. Trump and Vice Presidential Candidate, Governor Mike Pence


What:
Donald J. Trump will be taking the stage for the first time after the announcement of his pick for Vice President, Governor Mike Pence


Where:
New York Hilton Midtown
1335 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10019