An Update With Vice President Mike Pence

Welcome to a special episode of Focus on the Family with your host focus president Dr. Jim Daly and I'm John Fuller John were honored to welcome VP Mike Prince on the broadcast today. Our goal is to focus the discussion on some of the major issues facing our culture right now and it's been a tough 2020 we found a lot coming at us. It's such a privilege and honor to talk to the vice president is also important to note that we have extended an invitation to Sen., Harris to join us on the broadcast to hear her viewpoints on the same issues but so far we haven't received a response or will continue to be hopeful for that, Mr. VP, it is great to have you with us today on Focus on the Family great great hey I know your time is limited. I want to get right to it. You have the judge Barrett who is just nominated by the president for the Supreme Court vacancy.

She's a wife and mother of seven, and it seems like their people in the country that really dislike that how you feel about that kind of opposition to such a qualified lady and I couldn't be more Barrett the president appointed to the court of appeals years ago. She is not only brilliant and inspiring personal story and amazing family and we know she's going to make an extraordinary justice on the Supreme Court of the United States mint jam in Jamie County Barrett of the American people have a jurist who will hold the Constitution of the United States will not legislate from the bed. She really is philosophy very much in the mold of the man that she clerked for and was highly regarded by the late Justice Antonin Scalia and so to support her nomination on Capitol Hill meeting with members of the United States.

That Republican and Democrats and see their way clear to recognize the extraordinary character, intellect and quality of the Amy County Barrett. Well, Mr. VP. I so appreciate that approach and II Gracie.

I hope there are some Democrats that will support such a well-qualified person, but at the same time. I'm grateful that you put your faith first and your family second.

And of course your vocation and politics.

Third, let me appeal to that some of us as we listen to the vitriol time and again I mean this isn't the first time, but the amount of vitriol going at such a good person. How do you manage that and what would you say, as is a Christian, what would you say to us who are offended by this account gets under my skin that they treat her so harshly about treatment using you not remember Democratic chairman of the judiciary committee referred to her Catholic faith as being in the dog mother lives loudly within her and expressed concern about that but it kind of intolerance toward Americans of religious faith that really I think offends tens of millions of Americans I know your listeners all across the country. I share that and which is connected to a very strong status.

President contest throughout this administration not only for the appointment of strong, principled conservatives, drug courts, but continue to stand strong for religious liberty. The reality is that the last administration actually brought the Little sisters of the poor into the federal courts to force them to compromise their faith and live under the mandates of Obama care, and Joe Biden has pledged even though the Supreme Court upheld the end of the assault, and for Joe Biden as pledged to reimpose those mandates and Joe Biden's running mate is actually attacked one of our judicial nominees. A few short years ago because they were a member of the pro-life, profamily Catholics, Knights of Columbus in order to stand strong and I think any within the sound of my voice want to do two things in the days ahead. If the church or Constitution if they if they admire the principal judicial philosophy and integrity and character. Jamie going there to pray for judge Barrett for the nomination. I also encourage people to call your senators and let them know Republican or Democrat that you want to see them support this incredible woman is the next justice on the Supreme Court. Three Democrats voted nomination just two short years ago when she was appointed to the Court of Appeals.

So we remain hopeful although we understand were an election season, and we extended the tone and tenor of the political debate. We remain hopeful that the liquid soon you will see a strong vote in the United States Senate work judge Amy County Barrett will become just as well that's good news and I feel my blood pressure already coming down because he or calmness, let me move to another big issue in the culture right now, Mr. VP, that's the violence that were seeing in Portland Chicago.

Other cities I was watching Tucker Carlson couple months ago and he made a statement that really caught my attention. Given the fact that your Focus on the Family were working on keeping marriages together helping dad's be better. Dad's mom's to be the best moms they can be and he said the country is kind of coming down the two types of people. Those who love their fathers and those who hate their fathers and it caught my attention and I thought to myself is the headwaters of so much of this unrest yet again.

The breakdown of the family and I I am concluding that that is true. That's where we learn how to treat others and how to live in society together, how to tolerate one another so much of that is taught in the family and there is such a great family breakdown right now that my conclusion is that we have got to do more to strengthen family.

How do you feel about it is just the same.

We got to be there for families in universities and in small towns around America when you think about the challenges facing families who have to endure violence and crime in our major cities but to think that we need to do is what we been doing the last three years and one to stand with the men and women in law enforcement. You really have the you have people that are talking about defunding the police or reimagining the enforcement unit at the Los Angeles mayor who recently cut hundred 50 million out of the police department and try but I believe that we need to stand with the men and women who serve in the everyday we do. We also need to provide them with the resources to be able to do their very difficult job in the same.

We reject the notion that we have to choose between supporting enforcement and supporting our African-American families of the major cities we have done but for the last 3 1/2 years and given the opportunity for four more years under Pres. Donald Trump with with our economic policies resolve the lowest unemployment recorded for African-Americans. We saw historically black colleges and universities receive permanent funding at the highest level ever.

We saw 8000 opportunity zones, attracting investment, creating jobs in our inner cities and president from and I have fought for the right of inner-city families to be able to choose where their children go to school and I truly do believe that expanding educational choice expanding economic opportunities in stand strong home to strengthen families in our African-American community paired with the strong support for the enforcement is the pathway toward more public safety and more opportunity in improving the well-being of all the people live in our city flag deeply deeply appreciate that.

I know on the school choice issue. People do not understand that when these politicians do not allow parents to pick the best schools for their kids there basically condemning these children to a life of poverty.

It's this is not pro-minority children and that I'm so grateful that you have stood for that. Let me ask you to know about the code really really really you is remarkable for me to think that Joe Biden and his running mate. Oppose giving families including minority families. The ability to choose where the children go to school to let his ethical for closing schools across America and I would say your eloquent comments to right after strengthening families, giving parents, inner-city leadership is the best public private charter Christian parochial school that will best serve their children is the most important thing that we can do the pathway toward a stronger, brighter future for our kids is a strong education.

The reality is that many of the families United cities, many of minority children included black children in America are relegated some of our most dangerous and failing schools president Trump and I are standing firm to give every parent in America the right to choose where the children go to school regardless of their income in area code to keep fighting for that given the opportunity for four more years and I appreciate that.

I think that is the secret to getting up and out of poverty. Let me ask you about coveted 19. Obviously, first of all let me say something you may not hear a lot. Thank you for your leadership on the task force and when I look at it. The response of the government broadly. I feel like you have all done such a good job when I look at the original numbers coming out of the CDC.

Of course Dr. Francis Collins is a good friend from the National Institutes of Health. I spoke with him a couple of times during this whole ordeal and that they were projecting 2 million deaths and we have been able to contain that to 200,000 and that's horrible but man I want you to hear.

Thank you for doing all you can do to help us as a nation to get through this time of our national response to the coronavirus and let me say right there with Dr. Francis Collins told you when when we went to the American people after the president Trump chided the greatest national mobilization to create personal protective equipment and supplies for doctors and nurses and families. When we went to the American people and ask what would become 45 days to scrap and that just if we didn't take that action we could lose 2.2 million American because the American people willing to put the help of others. First, they were willing to do the hard things work nurses and first responders were willing to come alongside people provided level of care that any family want that because our essential workers were able to keep food on the table and keep the lights on to keep critical and essential infrastructure bowling was considerably less than that amount. I will say we we do mourn with those who grieve in our hearts go out to anyone in the sound of my voice. It lost a loved one to the coronavirus, but I could because what the American people down because water critical healthcare workers have done because of the partnership, the president, Trump state and local health authorities and and because of our national response saved countless American lives and I believe we are on track to school Novartis vaccine and millions of doses before the end of the year and as I said it spent spent a great privilege for me to do some small part of the thank you for your kindness Jim. I so appreciated in that same regard, and I know this may be a difficult question for you to answer, but it seals.

I'm just a guy on the street but when were talking about things. It certainly looks like this is been highly politicized when you have the LA health Commissioner saying that there's an open schools that the day after the election. It just smacks of the politicized nation of the health crisis and it's unfortunate. Not people's motives.

Unit reality is that currently the person's leadership is been praised describe as phenomenal by governors from New York to California all way and as I said we never been a day gone by that I ever thought about families that have lost loved ones, but I'm negligently convinced that what we have done as a nation has slowed the spread continue to protect the vulnerable until we come to that day when we have a vaccine to put this in the past, but the really good news. Jim, as we are opening up America again were opening up America's schools and proud to say that that my wife Karen teaches at a Christian school. Washington DC is already back in the classroom teaching art and that we have millions of kids that are already back classroom continue to work with state and local authorities to get the kids back to school so many are back on college and university campuses in our economy is roaring back 10.6 million jobs added back to the economy just months would believe the best is yet to come of the American people vaccine more growth in our economy and 2021 could be one of the greatest years in the history of our country.

Lights will set let me end with this last question and something to its close to both of our hearts. I know you and I know that you care about the pro-life position, and even in this context. When you look at 200,000 lives lost. Regrettably, we get that and we mourn that as you have so wonderfully said, and now we look at the numbers of babies lost over 60 million children lost to abortion. That should have weight is well within the culture about that situation. I am grateful that you have been such a Stallworth within the pro-life community.

You have been so many ways in a strong believer in the life movement and course.

President Trump has been there and I'd say the most pro-life administration we seen since Roe V Wade, and again I want to say thank you for that. How do you see that battle now are we winning that. Are we moving in the right direction is the culture beginning to understand through technology and science that this is a baby gemlike because of the care and compassion of knowledge is like those that had the privilege to visit recently around the country like this winning because men and women in government and willing to step back-and life is waiting because we do have president in American history.

Pres. Donald Trump. This is a president who reinstituted the Mexico City policy. Four days into our administration to prevent taxpayer dollars are being used to provide or promote January this year. He actually went to the national mall. Let it rest the March for life on that that sad anniversary of Roe versus Wade. And all along the way the president is taken taken steps to stand with the unborn and into to stand firm for pro-life Americans by contrasting note, Joe Biden's running mate support text meaning of abortion. Although the to the moment of birth there: per record increases in funding for Planned Parenthood of America is Donald Trump actually signed a bill that allowed every state in America to defund Planned Parenthood. So the choice could not be more clear in this election when it comes to the sanctity of human life and four more years of Pres. Donald Trump. The site I promise you we will continue to stand without apology for this, the sanctity of life and the right to life in America. Mr. VP you been gracious with your time were grateful for that position on the pro-life plank and thank you for how you so wonderfully articulate that that position for the pro-life community.

I bless you know that millions are praying for you. I know the focus listeners pray for you every day. So God bless you and I will see you soon. Jim also said the listeners that I know that the first family. Karen bought myself. We are grateful for those terms of the single day and and just God bless you in this great ministry. Thank you so much Mina black that commitment. We just talked about to life.

Just last Saturday we did something for the first time here Focus on the Family that was to do a pro-life documentary. If you missed it. It's called sea life 2020 and you can go to our website and see the one hour presentation. I think it's the best pro-life documentary that's ever been done and it's worth one hour of your time. If you haven't seen it, and working to take just a few moments here to play some of what we presented, and I again would encourage you to go to the website and see the full presentation have watched a couple of times now and it really is wonderful and features some great speakers like Candace Owens, Alvina King, Christina Bennett and so many more and I was about a five minute piece from sea life 2020 home environment in Alabama and I am lights, tingling, teaching civil rights I was intending even in the face.

All we were facing kinds God to Billy King Junior in his last Christmas before he was assassinated saying that we must learn to value human personality, then we want and killing some civil rights actually began in battle in this nation has been about finding who is worthy of personhood every time there were those willing to stand and raise their voices the role was desolate and dangerous at times. This is worth the risk.

Because the life affirming life giving rewards that they pursued was going to change generation. Now today we are standing is one of those doing the greatest civil rights crisis of our time across inner cities today. Many inner-city black babies that are aborted then want to live on.

It wasn't for the abortion industry and learning and the founder of the abortion industry. Margaret Sanger in her history and Gen X actually believing that people of color were not equipped to do one thing breeding because they were today would have been to many and family.

This is a sin severe racist beginnings in 1916, Sanger opened the country's first birth control clinic as a member of the American eugenics Society. She advocated improving the genetic composition of humans through controlled reproduction of different races and classes many point to a 1923 New York Times interview as proof of Sanger's racist motives, in which she referred to people as we saying it means to release and cultivation of the better racial elements in our society and the gradual suppression elimination and eventual extirpation of defective stocks. Those human weeds which threaten the blooming of the finest flowers of American civilization because Planned Parenthood has really made me into the public education system Planned Parenthood director Abby Johnson says those inside the abortion industry are trained Sanger's racist views give you an answer like this.

Margaret Sanger was was a racist sleep honey was a racist back links because she is your see around 1942. Margaret Sanger's American birth control lead became Planned Parenthood, which is moved to fulfill its founder's goals helped greatly by the Supreme Court decision in row versus Wade under the veil of secrecy and deception 65 million babies have not been born because they were bought it legally. Since 73, one third of that population belonged to the African-American telling number given Blacks make up only 3% of the US population, hard-hitting truth way black child police officer with the black population would be double if it wasn't for abortion 18 million black babies in 1973 the pro life movement today is primarily human rights because which the foundation think about what to think about what Dr. Martin have a dream for children.

For the next generation for freedom right now abortion is the number one cause of death in the black community, now three times might have an abortion so for fighting for the next generation to grab the time looking at the races history of our country and trying to go forward in trying to trying to make a better tomorrow and eliminating abortion is part actually see because when we can raise sons and daughters will building next the human experience is one of the greatest gifts God gives us that chance at life. There's no guarantees it's going to be smooth sailing the hallway. My life certainly has been that you know what having the ability to make your way. Having the ability to love that person you're gonna love hopefully for a lifetime.

These are the treasures of life and the hopefully having children to pass on what it is you believe them for the next generation and it comes with a lot of strain and testing. This is life and I don't think anyone should take that from another person, and that's just one powerful example of this incredible documentary. We have sea life 2020 if you haven't seen that presentation to stop by your website and features some great speakers, including Candace Owens, Alvina King, Mike Singletary and more. And of course incredible 40 ultrasounds of pre-born babies in the womb and Jon, I am so grateful to the speakers that said yes to participate in the summary Mike Singletary one amazing life story he has, and you'll hear more about that when you watch sea life 2020. Let me again say we are so grateful to have spoken with the vice president it we set at the top of the program that we extended an invitation to Sen., Harris as well. We just haven't heard back from them yet, but I'm hopeful that they too will want to discuss these issues out one of the ways you can help. Stay informed on important issues is to sign up for our daily citizen and you can get more information about that at our website that just gives you more information about what's happening in the culture in a timely fashion will link over to the daily citizen and also to the sea life video. Let me mention that if you would please consider supporting the ongoing work of Focus on the Family. Jim mentioned it earlier were all about equipping families keeping families strong and of course championing the value of every life in your monthly pledge or one-time gift makes a great deal of difference. You can donate and more all the links are in the episode notes or call 800 K and on behalf of Jim Daly, and the entire team.

Thanks for joining us today for Focus on the Family I'm John Fuller inviting you back once again help you and your family thrive in Christ