As reticent and lackluster as he is, former Vice President Mike Pence is a seasoned and ambitious politician. If he has wavered between crises and obstacles for more than six years, avoiding a definitive break with his former boss, soon he won’t be able to scroll anymore. Judge James Boasberg has just ordered him to stand trial before a federal grand jury.
Between political opportunism and discouragement
The political game, especially at the highest levels, often forces unholy alliances and major compromises within the same political formation. If among Democrats we saw Joe Biden working with Kamala Harris or Bernie Sanders, among Republicans the tandem of Trump and Pence was surprising.
Presented as a conservative and an ardent believer, two things Trump was not, Pence was seen in 2016 as Trump’s moral salvation for the religious right and a bulwark against the eccentric billionaire’s excesses.
What can surprise or disappoint about Pence is how many times he’s looked the other way when his president flouted the rules and basic decency. It has been rightly pointed out that Mike Pence made the right decision on January 6, 2021 when he refused to comply with Trump’s request. At the foot of the wall, he chaired the session that confirmed the election results.
We too often neglect to specify that he was the architect of his own unhappiness, having accepted the unacceptable for so long by encouraging lies and misinformation.
We also forgot that he had to consult before fulfilling his duty on January 6th. Ultimately, it was former Vice President Dan Quayle who got him to listen to reason.
Here is a recollection of their conversation from the book by Bob Woodward and Robert Costa Peril: You don’t know what position I’m in [Pence]. I know the position you are in and I know the law. You listen to the parliamentarian. That’s all you do. you have no power [Quayle].”
You know the rest. Pence’s “bravery” earned him threats against his family and the infamous “hang my pence” slogan. Despite this, Pence has always consistently refused to testify against Trump for fear of offending his base.
Pence makes history
While he is credited with ambitions for the 2024 presidential election but his candidacy is not appealing to voters if the polls are to be believed, Mike Pence is preparing to put his name in the history books. If we’ve never indicted a former president, we’ve never asked a former vice president to testify.
This time the political snake can no longer wave. Once before the grand jury, Pence will have to open his game, and his testimony, as well as being historical, is of great importance for the future of things.
