Pence Offers Words of Hope, Encouragement to California’s Young Conservatives

ANAHEIM, Calif.—Former Vice President Mike Pence offered words of encouragement April 18 for young conservative leaders at a fundraising dinner for the Lincoln Institute at a private estate in Anaheim Hills, California.

He fielded mainly softball questions during the event, which was billed as a fireside chat, but addressed his “unapologetic” stance on controversial issues such as the Russia-Ukraine war, abortion and energy policies.

Pence said he and his wife, Karen, have “given prayer consideration” to the possibility of “re-entering public life,” but he stopped short of announcing a run for the presidency.

“I have nothing to announce today,” he said.

Pence said President Joe Biden and his administration have “weakened America at home and abroad” and urged young conservative leaders to “step forward” and run for office.

“You’re here tonight because you love this state, you love this country, and you know what’s made this country strong and prosperous and true through the years,” he told the crowd of more than 200 at the event at the home of supporters Jolynn and Pat Mahoney.

The Lincoln Institute’s Project307 is committed to identifying, training, and supporting conservative activists at the 307 most culturally influential colleges and universities in California.

“America needs California. We need California thriving. We need California grounded in common sense, conservative principles,” he told the crowd of conservative college students including Republicans and independents. “We need this generation now more than ever to understand the foundations of our nation enshrined in the Constitution, minted in the Bill of Rights, [and] expressed in the Declaration of Independence. We need this young generation to be the freedom generation.”

Foreign Policy

Pence said it’s important the United States continue to back Ukraine and to send a message to Russia that further military aggression won’t be tolerated.

“Ukraine is not our war, but freedom is our fight,” he said. “The real challenge we face in the 21st century is Communist China, and I believe the best way to restrain China’s ambitions in the Asian Pacific is for the United States to lead a coalition of the West and repel Russian aggression now.”

He said such action would “send a deafening message to Communist China that we will not tolerate authoritarian regimes using force to redraw the national lines.”

As the leader of the Free World, the U.S. remains “the arsenal of democracy,” Pence said.

“I believe that we need to continue to stand with the courageous fighters in Ukraine, and give them the means to fight and repel the Russian invasion.”

He urged the Biden administration to “stop dragging their feet,” and speed up shipments of missiles, tanks, and aircraft to Ukraine.

“The Ukrainian military has demonstrated their tenacity and their strength,” he said. “And make no mistake about it: Russia is responsible for the unconscionable evasion.”

Pence mentioned former President Donald Trump only once in a reference to the “Trump-Pence” administration.

Russia didn’t try to expand its borders during the Trump-Pence administration because “we made historic investments in our national defense,” he said. “They had gone into the country of Georgia under the Bush administration, they had gone into Crimea under the Obama administration, and after that disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan, they rolled the tanks … across the border.”

The administration demonstrated a willingness to use military power to protect American interests in the world, Pence said.

“When Syria crossed the red line and used chemical weapons against their own people, we hit them with 58 cruise missiles. We unleashed our military in the Arab World, and they took out the ISIS caliphate and their leader, and Qasem Soleimani was taken off the face of the Earth,” he said.

The Home Front

Domestically, Pence called for civil dialogue to resolve political division.

“Democracy depends on heavy doses of civility,” Pence said.

He urged conservatives to have faith in the founding principles of America, and in its people.

“I’m not convinced that the American people are as divided as our politics. You get 50 miles out of Washington, D.C., [and] the people in this country actually get along pretty well,” he said. “I truly do believe the challenge that we have in this country today is we just have to have government as good as our people.”

Sanctity of Life

A staunch pro-life advocate, Pence said the U.S. Supreme Court has handed over the debate over abortion to be decided on a