Mike Pence is one of the least probable Republican candidates to challenge former President Donald Trump for the Republican nomination for president in 2024. Pence, the former governor of Indiana and Trump’s vice president, infamously did not support the president on January 6 and attempted to maintain neutrality, eternally branding himself as a man of inaction.
Conservatives have labeled Pence a traitor because he did not use the authority of the vice presidency to resolve the voting irregularities in many states by not certifying the votes. However, Pence has thrown his cap into the 2024 ring, presumably to remain competitive.
However, he may require a new campaign manager or at the very least a new video editor.
Pence released a video statement that backfired on Tuesday in conjunction with the release of an energy plan in response to the sharp rise in petroleum prices and increasing energy dependence that occurred under President Joe Biden’s tenure.
“In order to win the future, America must have the energy capacity to independently power our economy and lead the world’s energy future,” read the energy plan page on Pence’s campaign website.
“By lifting artificial government restrictions, ending preferences, and encouraging private production of every variety of American energy, President Pence will make certain America leads the world again,” it also read.
The website announcement was accompanied by a 60-second ad in which Pence reminded voters of the average price of gas when he and Trump left office in January 2020 and how it has skyrocketed under Joe Biden, with average gas prices hovering around $3.84/gallon as of Tuesday, according to the AAA gas price tracker.
“In order to win the future, America must have the energy capacity to independently power our economy and lead the world’s energy future,” read the energy plan page on Pence’s campaign website.
“By lifting artificial government restrictions, ending preferences, and encouraging private production of every variety of American energy, President Pence will make certain America leads the world again,” it added. Pence then reminded voters about the average gas price in 2020 compared to how it is under Biden.
Initially, the advertisement appears routine; it appears Pence is pumping gas in his truck like any other typical person.
Check out our Pence Plan ⬇️⬇️⬇️https://t.co/v1PvB3411Q pic.twitter.com/ltVuvCK3El
— Mike Pence (@Mike_Pence) August 8, 2023
However, it is evident to anyone paying attention that there was no continuity expert monitoring the video’s factors. First and foremost, Pence never chooses a fuel grade. Second, his finger is not pressed against the gas pump lever. Thirdly, Pence fails to pay for the petroleum because he does not have a credit or debit card.
In a culture of incessant video consumption, these errors are promptly identified and discussed on social media.
Pat Gray, a political commentator, observed the buzzing sound that reminded Vice President Pence of an omission.
“Hey, Pence, that sound you are hearing is the sound to select the fuel grade,” Gray helpfully pointed out.
Another Twitter user said Pence was a “psycho” who “can’t be trusted” for not having a bed liner in his truck.
Pence achieved becoming a laughingstock with his non-professional video. And then this meme was born:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/F3CtTh8WIAA-JZ9?format=webp&name=small
Just as no one was deceived on January 6 when Vice President Mike Pence distanced himself from the Oval Office rather than being part of the team, no one is fooled by this ad, which appears excessively staged and does not resonate with average Americans, especially in the age of social media video discernment.
Red State Comments:
In all seriousness, though, was this ad a disqualifying moment for Mike Pence’s presidential campaign? Of course not. But it does provide a timely reminder for politicos of all stripes that perhaps the best way to at least give off the appearance of being an average American is to not release heavily staged campaign videos showing you looking anything but.
According to the New York Times, Pence faces a “crossroads” in his campaign as the latest Trump indictment, this time for the events of January 6, places him in the witness chair.
Recently in New Hampshire, Trump supporters taunted Pence and shouted, “There’s the sellout!” Here is the betrayer! Why did you sell the people out?” The NBC News network reports.
President Trump and a number of commentators have refuted Vice President Pence’s claims regarding Trump’s actions on January 6, specifically that he did not follow the U.S. Constitution in objecting to voting irregularities in that election.
American First hosted Dr. Sebastian Gorka, who served as Trump’s Deputy Assistant to the President for the final seven months of his presidency. Gorka asserts that Pence not only failed in his role as vice president to certify electors correctly, but also aided the Republican faction that failed to investigate the irregularities, thereby allowing Biden to “win” the election.