Former Vice President Pence Brings Campaign To Glenwood

Former Vice President Mike Pence spent an hour in Glenwood Saturday morning sharing his vision for America and trying to drum up support for his presidential campaign from potential Republican Party caucus goers.

Pence addressed an audience of around 60 people during a town hall meeting at the Bloom Senior Center.

Pence discussed a variety of topics during his appearance, including the Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel, national debt, energy and the actions he took as vice president during the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

News of the attacks on Israel had just begun to surface as Pence arrived in Glenwood.

“I have long believed Israel is our most cherished ally,” Pence said.

Pence said he got to know Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while serving on the foreign relations committee in Congress and as vice president. He cast blame for the attacks on the policies of President Biden and leaders of his own party.

“This is what happens when you have a president like Joe Biden who spends the last 2 ½ years projecting weakness on the world stage,” Pence said. “Let me also say, I also believe this is what happens when you have leaders in the Republican Party that are signaling retreat on the world stage.

“I believe it’s time to get back to peace through strength. I believe it’s time to get back to America standing as the leader of the free world”

The national debt, which has surpassed $33 trillion, is an issue that’s not receiving the attention it deserves, Pence said.

“I think it’s time to engage the American public and educate people that we have a $33 trillion national debt today, but what you deserve to know if you wait 20 years, that $33 trillion becomes $150 trillion,” he said. “You think groceries cost a lot now, wait until you have five times the national debt.”

Pence said to address the debt, serious discussions have to take place concerning the future of “entitlement programs” like Social Security and Medicare.

“Social Security and Medicare are both slated to run out of money in about eight years and the law requires about a 25 percent cut in benefits,” he said. “On Social Security, that’s about $17,000 per household. Doing nothing is not an option. If you do nothing, people on Social Security are going to experience a cut in about eight years.

“Joe Biden won’t even talk about it – common sense reforms. And frankly, Donald Trump’s position is identical to Joe Biden’s – he won’t even talk about.”

Pence said he has a plan to preserve Social Security and it would not require a reduction in benefits by anyone over the age of 40.

“For Americans under the age of 40, I’d like to have a conversation because they don’t believe they’re going to get anything from these programs,” Pence said. “In exchange for you guys agreeing to maybe adjust when you can retire, income levels, different things that would save these programs for generations, I’d be willing to allow you to take a portion of your payroll tax and put it in a personal savings account.

“If it generates a 2 percent return over the course of your lifetime and your career, that’s twice what Social Security pays out and it’s your money. That’s why I say it’s a better deal for younger Americans. It’s an annuity.”

A member of the audience thanked Pence for the action he took on Jan. 6, 2021, to certify results of the 2020 presidential election.

“I want to compliment you for what you did on Jan. 6,” Larry Winum told Pence. “That took a lot of character and I think that’s what we need in our next president of the United States.

“I think it took a lot of courage. You did the right thing.”

Pence said he was appreciative of the comment, noting he was carrying out his lawful duties as vice president on that day.

“I stood loyal by President Trump until that fateful day came that my oath to the constitution required me to do otherwise,” Pence said.

Pence noted that there has never been evidence of widespread fraud that would have changed the outcome of the 2020 election but conceded confidence in the voting process has eroded. He also said Republican leaders need to do a better job of encouraging voters to cast their ballots early.

“We need to do a better job as a party to encourage people to vote early,” he said. “Frankly, my old running mate was not a fan of mail-in voting. He was always very open about that. It didn’t help. In Indiana, we’ve had early absentee balloting for years. I understand the value of it.”

If elected, Pence said he would strive to bring “civility” back to Washington.

“Democracy depends on civility,” he said. “If I’m your president, we’re going to get back to arguing about ideas and not attack people that have different ideas than us.”

Pence’s appearance in Glenwood was among several campaign stops he made during a two-day swing through southwest Iowa.