Trib's Pence editorial confuses 'principled conservatism' with mendacious politics

Anytime a right wing organization wants to praise the loony, misguided or even hateful policies of a favored politician, they tab him a 'principled conservative'. That theme was on full display in the Chicago Tribune's bizarre piece "Mike Pence a far better candidate than Donald Trump". That title itself is a masterful example of damning with faint praise as Trump represents a hideous political cocktail of racism, xenophobia, misogyny, compulsive lying and vicious personal attacks presenting a bar lower than Hell to exceed.

But Mike Pence flies over that bar because he's a "principled conservative who understands and shares his party ideals... has congressional and legislative experience...and is a disciplined communicator who exhibits a mature temperament befitting his self description as 'Rush Limbaugh on decaf."

Missing from the Trib's glowing endorsement is that Pence failed to pass a single one of the 90 bills he introduced in his 12 year congressional stint. Back in 1997, Pence laid claim to being the last public servant shilling for Big Tobacco when he said "Smoking doesn't kill." The Trib lauds his executive experience as Indiana governor in spite his his misguided and hateful support for an anti LGBT bill which created a firestorm of criticism and $60 million in lost revenue from protesting business. Religious fanatic Pence's opposition to women's reproductive freedom is so extreme that restrictive anti abortion bills weren't enough. He proudly said the fight to defund Planned Parenthood was worth a government shutdown.

If Trump's mendacity is not enough faint praise to lavish on Pence, The Trib Editorial Board is thrilled that compared to Sarah Palin, possibly the worst vice presidential pick in history, Pence actually looks presidential.

America doesn't need Rush Limbaugh on caffeine. Nor do we need, indeed diverse, Mike Pence's version on decaf.