Pence slams op-ed during Scott rally
VP criticizes NY Times at Orlando visit
The New York Times should be “ashamed” it printed a column by an anonymous Trump Administration official who claimed there is chaos within the White House, Vice President Mike Pence told reporters in Orlando on Thursday.
Pence, in town to stump for Gov. Rick Scott in his bid to become a U.S. senator, spoke about the controversial op-ed for the first time since its publication Wednesday, calling it “a disgrace.”
“The anonymous editorial published in the New York Times represents a new low in American journalism,” Pence said. “I think the New York Times should be ashamed, and I think whoever wrote this anonymous editorial should also be ashamed as well.”
Pence’s spokesman on Wednesday denied the vice president was the author of the piece, which claimed “the president continues to act in a manner that is detrimental to the health of our republic” and “his impulsiveness results in half-baked, ill-informed and occasionally reckless decisions that have to be walked back.”
Other Cabinet members and administration officials, including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo
and Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats, also have denied authorship.
Later, Pence told a gathering of Republicans at the Marriott Orlando Downtown that he “couldn’t be more excited about what will be possible when Rick Scott becomes part of an even larger Republican majority.”
Pence described the state’s strong economy and how Scott in the Senate would lead to approval of more of Trump’s agenda — despite Scott’s attempts to distance himself from Trump over the course of his campaign to defeat Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson.
“Florida is booming under Gov. Rick Scott, and America is booming under President Donald Trump,” Pence said. “You can see the symmetry with what the president and I are doing in Washington, D.C., and what Rick Scott is doing in Florida . ... When Rick Scott arrives in the Senate, he’ll bring a record of experience and common-sense conservative principle to the U.S. Senate.”
The vice president also said he had to cast eight tie-breaking votes in the U.S. Senate since he was sworn in. “And, Rick, I don’t want to ever cast another tiebreaking vote again.”
Scott took aim at both Nelson and Democratic gubernatorial nominee Andrew Gillum, saying Gillum’s proposal to raise taxes on corporations would “kill” the Florida economy.
Scott said Gillum’s proposal of “Medicare for All” was “reckless” and “should be named the end of Medicare as we know it,” as he compared Democratic policies to those of Venezuela and Cuba.
The governor also said Democrats were wrong in their attacks on education spending.
“One could argue that we should spend more or that teachers should make more money,” Scott said. “That’s fair, and that’s something we should shoot for. But make no mistake, if you destroy Florida’s economy with taxes and spending, you will be destroying public education at the very same time.”
Scott added, “I would love to say something nice about Bill Nelson and what he’s done for education. But as it turns out, he’s never done anything.”
Pence, who was also scheduled to appear at a private luncheon for Scott in The Villages, also praised U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis, the GOP gubernatorial nominee, and DeSantis’ new running mate, state Rep. Jeanette Nuñez. DeSantis first appeared with Nuñez at a GOP unity rally at the Ace Cafe downtown shortly before Pence’s arrival.
In a statement, Florida Democrats said in response to Pence’s visit, “If Rick Scott and Mike Pence had their way, Floridians would be less healthy and would face higher health-care costs.”
“For years, Scott and Pence have been lockstep in their repeated efforts to strip protections for those with pre-existing conditions and drive up health-care premiums, and their callousness when it comes to ensuring access to quality affordable health care is on display now more than ever,” the statement said.