Pence swipes at Democrats for embracing ‘far-left agenda,’ impeachment

Vice President Pence took a swipe at Democrats during remarks Tuesday evening, accusing 2020 candidates of embracing a “radical, far-left agenda” and House Democrats of pursuing a “partisan impeachment” of President Trump.

In remarks at the Heritage Foundation’s Honors Gala in Washington, Pence recalled watching the recent Democratic primary debate.

“I didn’t really want to,” Pence said, drawing chuckles from the crowd. “I figure there’s a vice presidential nominee in there somewhere. Those people were standing so far on the left of that stage I thought it was going to tip over.”

Pence knocked Democrats for embracing tax increases, regulation, “Medicare of all” and taxpayer-funded abortion.

“Today’s Democratic party has embraced a radical, far-left agenda on issues across the board,” Pence said, accusing candidates of advocating for socialism – a charge Trump often levels at his campaign rallies and public appearances.

“It was freedom, not socialism, that gave us the strongest and most prosperous nation in the history of this world,” Pence said. “It was freedom, not socialism, that ended slavery, won two world wars, and stands today as a beacon of hope for all the world.”

“The moment that America becomes a socialist country is the day that America ceases to be America,” Pence continued.

The vice president also briefly mentioned House Democrats’ quickening impeachment inquiry, echoing other White House officials by claiming they are trying to overturn the results of the 2016 presidential election.

“They’ve spent the last three years on endless investigations to overturn the will of the American people in the last election,” Pence said. “The American people have had enough of their endless investigations and partisan impeachment.”

Pence’s remarks came after House Democrats heard damaging testimony from the top U.S. diplomat in Ukraine, William Taylor, about the Trump administration’s efforts to press Ukraine for investigations sought by Trump.

Taylor told congressional investigators behind closed doors that he was told security assistance to Ukraine was contingent on Kiev publicly announcing pursuit of investigations into Burisma, a Ukrainian energy company tied to Hunter Biden, and alleged Ukrainian interference in the 2016 election.

Democrats have sought documents from the White House, including Pence, in connection with the inquiry, but the administration has refused to furnish them, accusing the lower chamber of engaging in an “illegitimate” and partisan effort.

Trump lashed out at the impeachment inquiry in a tweet early Tuesday, comparing it to a “lynching” – a remark that stirred broad backlash.