Rich Zeoli Column: Put In Pence
By Rich Zeoli
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- I am really hoping Donald Trump chooses Indiana Governor Mike Pence to be his running mate.
Pence is a solid conservative who can articulate a conservative message and empathize with people who disagree with him. I believe he would ensure that President Trump nominates conservatives to the Supreme Court, and as I often say, that is the most important issue in this election.
We know Hillary Clinton would appoint leftist judges in the mold of unabashed progressive, and vocal Trump critic, Ruth Bader Ginsburg. We know that leftist judges all vote as a bloc and have shown an unyielding propensity to treat the Supreme Court as a legislature. The progressive judges use their black robes to advance an agenda that would never pass in the Congress. We know that the most contentious issues of the day will always find their way to the Supreme Court.
We don't know however, who Donald Trump would appoint to the United States Supreme Court. He has provided names of solid conservative judges and I am satisfied with assurances that he would only appoint conservatives. With Vice President Mike Pence by his side, I would be convinced of such.
Conservatives who fear that Trump is a closet progressive who will unleash liberalism once he enters the Oval Office would be wise to understand the impact of a Vice President Mike Pence.
This is a man with a record of fighting to preserve the 2nd Amendment, life, and traditional marriage. He has fought to preserve the rights of businesses to refrain from entering into commerce when it violates their religious beliefs. He is also a fiscal conservative who has a long record in both the House of Representatives and the Indiana statehouse of fighting for taxpayers.
He would have made an outstanding candidate himself and many conservatives were encouraging him to run in 2016. He took a pass and now may well emerge to win the veep-stakes (disclaimer I hate that phrase).
Conservatives often ask how I can be sure that Trump would actually appoint conservatives to the Court. While I can't prove he will, I believe that having the guidance of a stalwart conservative like Mike Pence to advise him increases the odds.
Between a Vice President Pence advising the President, and conservative Senators like Ted Cruz, Jeff Sessions, and Rand Paul, willing to block a nominee who isn't conservative, I believe enough pressure will be put on the Trump White House to only put forth the names of solid conservatives to the Supreme Court.
