Tonight’s one and only debate between Republican Mike Pence and Democrat Tim Kaine will be talked about for a day or two … and then forgotten. There were no memorable zingers historians will quote years from now.
The best that can be said is that for most of the debate, over an array of issues, each candidate held his own. There were no outrageous gaffes from either candidate that could reflect badly on the person at the top of the ticket.
But towards the end of the debate, when each man of faith was asked how he juggles his religious beliefs and public service, viewers were treated to a stark difference between the two men.
Tim Kaine replied, “For me the hardest struggle in my faith life was the Catholic Church as against the death penalty.” Kaine went on to say when he ran for governor of Virginia, a capital punishment state, he promised to uphold the law and he did.
“It is really, really important that those of us who have deep faith lives don’t feel like we can just substitute our own views for everybody else in society,” said Kaine.
Mike Pence never answered the question asked him. But he did talk about his strong pro-life position.
“For me the sanctity of life proceeds out of the belief, that ancient principle, when God says before you were formed in the womb, I knew you,” said Pence. “My faith informs my life. I try and spend a little time on my knees each day.”
“But it all for me begins with cherishing the dignity, the worth, the value of every human life,” Pence added.
“It is not the role of the public servant to mandate that (their religious views) for everybody else,” Kaine replied. “We respect Roe v. Wade. Governor Pence wants to repeal Roe v. Wade.”
Putting it as simply as possible, Kaine said, “ That is the fundamental difference between a Clinton/Kaine ticket and a Trump/Pence ticket that wants to punish women who make that choice.”
Referring to abortion, Kaine asked Pence, “ Why don’t you trust women to make this choice for themselves?”
Pence did not answer that question either.
For a Trump campaign that is having a difficult time attracting more female voters, this exchange on abortion rights surely won’t help them. Women will be reminded that Roe v. Wade could be just one conservative Supreme Court justice away from being overturned.
Donald Trump’s favorite Supreme Court Justice? Clarence Thomas.
Photo | insider.foxnews.com
