Loading ...Is Gov. Mike Pence Good or Bad for Arab Americans?
Gov. Mike Pence and GOP candidate Donald Trump. Photo credit – ABC
BY: Nisreen Eadeh/Staff Writer
Indiana Governor Mike Pence has been in the politics game for nearly 20 years, and was chosen as Donald Trump’s Vice Presidential running mate for the 2016 presidential elections. After unsuccessfully running for Congress in 1988 and 1990, Pence took a 10-year break. Finally, in 2000, Pence was elected to Congress and has been growing more conservative every year.
On domestic policies, Gov. Pence is always a fiscal and social conservative. He is a supporter of the Tea Party Movement. He does not believe in amnesty or rights for immigrants. He wants to lower the wages of skilled workers. He is strictly anti-abortion and won’t support women’s health clinics. He has voted many times to eliminate or restrict the rights of the LGBTQ community.
He thinks the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) is as horrible as the 9/11 attack. He passed the controversial Indiana Religious Freedom Restoration Act. He supports tax cuts for the wealthiest. He wants America to practice more torture and thinks Guantanamo should stay open. He voted to eliminate funds that would help Hurricane Katrina victims.
And he has provoked several boycotts of Indiana with his discriminatory laws.
Pence opposes half of Trump’s views, such as building a wall and eliminating foreign trade deals, and does not bring a unique following to the Trump Train. Like his running mate, Pence has routinely offended women, gays, and minorities. He is an Evangelical, white male who hates the media, too, just like Trump.
Since Pence is not a woman, or a minority, or a moderate, it is necessary to look at his political history to examine whether or not he can attract the votes of these groups. Here is where Gov. Mike Pence stands on many issues of concern to the Arab American community:
The Good
Trump’s Muslim Ban is Offensive and Unconstitutional
In December of 2015, Pence criticized Trump’s Muslim ban proposal on Twitter. However, Pence was one of several governors who said he would not allow Syrian refugees into his state. It’s difficult to say whether this tweet is an authentic belief, but it is well intentioned.
Calls to ban Muslims from entering the U.S. are offensive and unconstitutional.
— Governor Mike Pence (@GovPenceIN) December 8, 2015
Stop Discrimination Against Arab, Muslim, Sikh, and South Asian Communities
While a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Pence supported a bill that aimed to “improve the economic, social, political, cultural, and civil rights and lives of marginalized U.S. communities.” The bill opposed discrimination, racism, and xenophobia, which is very inclusive of the governor.
Offer more aid to the Palestinian Authority
In Congress, Pence wrote a letter with two Democrats, which called up the House to continue giving aid to the PA in order to ensure Israel’s security. This move demonstrated bi-partisanship and willingness to keep an acting Palestinian government afloat.
Support Egypt’s Democracy Movement
At the start of the Arab Spring, Pence supported the Egyptian movement toward democracy and an end to decades of dictatorship. It came as a good gesture to the Egyptian people to show them support during this difficult time of enforcing government change.
Keep Sanctions on Syria until WMDs are Cleared, and Promote a Peaceful and Democratic Transition
Pence supported legislation that would continue to enforce sanctions on Syria and keep the country isolated. He was a proponent of keeping weapons of mass destruction out of Syria, which became a concern after evidence was found of President Al-Assad using chemical weapons on Syrians. Pence supports the removal of Al-Assad and the country’s transition into a democracy. While this issue is controversial within the Syrian American community, everyone can agree that WMDs should not be used on anyone, especially innocent civilians.
The Bad
Gov. Pence visits IDF soldiers in Israel, 2014. Photo credit in.gov
Committed to an Unbreakable U.S.-Israel Bond
Pence’s entire political career has been lined with his love and devotion for Israel. He has visited Israel several times and always voted on Israel-related issues in Congress. He believes the American Embassy for Israel should be Jerusalem, which he views as the true capitol of Israel. Anytime the UN criticizes Israel or investigates the country’s war crimes, he threatens to eliminate U.S. funding for the international organization.
Supports the War in Iraq and Doesn’t Want to Set an End-Date
The night before the War in Iraq began, Mike Pence told his fellow congressmen his justification for going to war in Iraq. He offered this messianic justification: “There is a nation, some 50 nations, that stand ready to end [Iraqis’] oppression, to dry their tears, and to lead Iraq into a new dawn of civilization, a new dawn of freedom from oppression and torture and the abuse of women and the stifling of basic civil and human rights.”
He opposed setting an end date to the war, even after it became clear that it was a waste of U.S. tax dollars and resources.
The Ugly
Ban all Syrian Refugees from Entering Indiana
I’ve instructed the IN Attorney General to seek an immediate stay & appeal of the Syrian refugee fed court decision https://t.co/9i0hU9bm7F
— Governor Mike Pence (@GovPenceIN) February 29, 2016
After the Paris terrorist attacks in November last year, Gov. Pence suspended all Syrian refugee entry into Indiana. In a statement, Pence said, “Indiana has a long tradition of opening our arms and homes to refugees from around the world but, as governor, my first responsibility is to ensure the safety and security of all Hoosiers.” Although it was quickly revealed that governors do not have this authority, Pence stuck to his guns. Only 40 Syrian refugees had been resettled in Indiana when he issued the ban statement, indicating that Pence was probably not a strong advocate for refugees to enter his state in the first place.
Eliminate and Prohibit “Palestine” from all Government Documents
Pence was a strong advocate for the Palestinian Accountability Act, which serves to punish Palestinians for a variety of potential wrong-doings, such as influencing elections, media, or education in a way that negatively depicts Israel. It also prohibits a two-state solution if Palestinians violate these terms. Lastly, it aims to eliminate the word “Palestine” form all U.S. government documents because it’s not a state and should not be referred to as one.
Defund UN Refugee Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)
In Congress, Pence voted to defund UNRWA because Palestinians were vying for UN statehood at the time. Even though UNRWA only exists to serve the basic needs of those displaced by Israel, Pence was a vocal advocate for eliminating all aid to Palestinians who wanted statehood before achieving a peaceful agreement with Israel.
Make the Patriot Act Permanent
At one point, Pence was very much in favor of keeping the Patriot Act afloat and permanent. He was in favor of continuing mass surveillance programs forever, regardless of the fact that they are unconstitutional and have not worked in countering terrorism.
Ran an Offensive Campaign Ad With an Actor Posing as an Arab “Oil Sheikh”
During his 1990 congressional campaign, in which he lost, Pence aired a television ad that was hated by many Arab Americans. Unfortunately, the ad is irretrievable, but reports from the early 90s still exist.
The ad “featured a man with a heavily Middle Eastern accent wearing a black robe, white headdress, and sunglasses thanking Pence’s opponent Rep. Phil Sharp for not weaning the U.S. off a dependence on foreign oil. Sharp was the chairman of a House Subcommittee on Energy and Power at the time.”
In the ad, Pence’s opponent thanks the Arab man for letting him buy so much oil. After it aired, more than 200 people gathered at a local Greek Orthodox Church, calling the ad racist. At the time, Arab Americans called this an offensive and degrading cheap shot, especially since the actor in the ad wasn’t even Arab.
Pence said he meant “no malice” toward the Arab American community. The ad contributed heavily to his loss that year, as it was a highly politicized and broadcasted mistake.