(Headline USA) Previewing themes for next week’s Republican Party convention in a series of media appearances, Vice President Mike Pence promised a heavy focus on GOP support for law and order as he drew a contrast with Democrats for a “negative” tone at their gathering and failure to acknowledge violence plaguing U.S. cities.
“We’re going to make sure that the American people see the choice here,” Pence said.
Meanwhile, obsessed news anchors repeatedly questioned Pence about QAnon and its adherents, and their support for President Donald Trump. Earlier this week the president said he appreciated supporters of the theory who backed his candidacy.
Daily Caller recounted one exchange between the vice president and the CNN host John Berman, who relentlessly pursued the line of questioning:
Pence added that he doesn’t “know anything about that conspiracy theory,” when Berman cut him off and asked, “how can you not know anything about it, given how much it’s been in the news?”
“Honestly, John, I don’t know anything about it,” Pence retorted. “We dismiss conspiracy theories around here.”
Berman proceeded to ask Pence two more times to dismiss the conspiracy.
“I just did, John,” the vice president flatly stated. “I dismiss conspiracy theories out of hand.”
“I said it’s a conspiracy theory,” Pence added later in the interview. “I don’t have time for it. I don’t know anything about it, and honestly, John, I get it. I get that the media, particularly CNN, chases after shiny objects.”
Asked on “CBS This Morning” if he was inflaming attention on the group by not going on the record to oppose it, Pence decried “spending time on a major network to talk about some conspiracy online theory,” later adding, “I don’t know anything about QAnon, and I dismiss it out of hand.”
Trump insisted on Wednesday he hadn’t heard much about the QAnon movement, “other than I understand they like me very much” and “it is gaining in popularity.”
Trump and Pence have pointed out that the outbreaks of violence are driven by the radical left, which Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and his running mate, California Sen. Kamala Harris, have refused to disavow or criticize. The legacy media has not challenged either of the candidates about the violence, either, unlike their obsession with QAnon and the Republican ticket.
Trump made clear after the death of George Floyd, whose treatment he criticized — like nearly every American in the country — that the protests that sprang up around the country calling for “defunding the police” were irrational and destructive.
“We don’t have to make a choice between supporting law enforcement and supporting our African American families,” Pence argued Friday. “We have done both from the beginning of this administration. We’re going to continue to do both.”
He said that support would be prominently featured next week.
Pence appeared on morning TV talk shows to counter Democrats and promote the Republican viewpoint hours after Democrats wrapped their four-day convention. Biden and Harris accepted the Democratic Party nominations for president and vice president, respectively.
Republicans plan to nominate Trump and Pence at their four-day celebration.
Pence promised a “great lineup of leaders” next week along with a “great number of voices from all across the country to talk about what this president has done.” Among known speakers are Trump, Pence and first lady Melania Trump.
The vice president said he was turned off by the negativity shown by Democrats, who argued Trump is unfit to lead the country for another four years. Former President Barack Obama, a frequent target of Trump’s broadsides, warned that democracy itself is at risk under Trump.
“I didn’t watch much of it and, frankly, I couldn’t watch much of it,” Pence said. “There was so much negativity, nothing but ad hominem attacks.”
Pence appeared Friday on Fox News Channel, Fox Business Network, ABC, CBS and CNN.
Adapted from reporting by Associated Press.
