V25, N39 Thursday, June 18, 2020 Pence ‘celebrates’ COVID victory Vice president takes aim at media, will join Trump for MAGA rally in Tulsa By BRIAN A. HOWEY INDIANAPOLIS – Last March 29, President Trump said at one of his corona- virus task force shows, “Nothing would be worse than declaring victory before the vic- tory is won.” But that is exactly what Trump and task force chair Mike Pence are saying and doing in their stewarding the United States through the COVID-19 pandemic that has infected more than 1 million people, killing 118,000. Americans are tired of isolation. Trump was told his coronavirus “shows” were recent days, the media has taken to sounding the alarm harming his torpid reelection chances, so he was champing bells over a ‘second wave’ of coronavirus infections. Such at the bit to return to his MAGA rallies he uses to fuel his panic is overblown,” Pence writes. “Thanks to the leader- ego and display political momentum. Pence’s coronavirus ship of President Trump and the courage and compassion task force has been shuttled off to the mothballs. Trump of the American people, our public health system is far hasn’t spoken with Dr. Anthony Fauci in weeks. stronger than it was four months ago, and we are winning On Tuesday in a Wall Street Journal op-ed, Pence Continued on page 3 said there is no “second wave” and blamed the media. “In COVID conventions By MARK SOUDER FORT WAYNE – COVID-19 is about to wreak its havoc on the Indiana Republican Convention, as well as the national conventions. For Indiana Republicans, it largely means two things: 1.) Gov. Holcomb needs to con- “The pandemic is still actively tinue to upset as few people as possible, or upset many as little attacking Hoosiers. In the midst as possible, and 2.) the Republi- cans must nominate a candidate of this pandemic, this attorney for attorney general. The second general is actively trying to take is more challenging. It is clear that an under- health care from Hoosier fami- performing candidate, as Rich- lies by suing to overturn the Af- ard Mourdock became in 2012, can pull down another weak link fordable Care Act.” such as the superintendent of - Democratic attorney general education, who then pulled the gubernatorial candidate, Mike nominee Jonathan Weinzapfel Page 2 Pence, straight downwards. Pence convention process. Trust of govern- narrowly escaped what happened ment among citizens of both par- to his ticket mates. Fortunately, that ties is incredibly low. Train whistles crisis happened late in the cycle and sounding through an on-line conven- the clock ran out. The charges against tion could have long-time repercus- Attorney General Curtis Hill have been sions. Howey Politics Indiana festering in public debate for a long This is not the time for elite WWWHowey Media, LLC time. rule. COVID confinement is being re- c/o Business Office While as a whole Hoosiers jected by the masses no matter what PO Box 6553 don’t seethe with rage, we do get governors are saying. There is a boil- kinda upset sometimes and elect ing bitterness, at the disease and at Kokomo, IN, 46904 leftist radicals like Evan Bayh and Joe government. On all sides. Don’t poke www.howeypolitics.com Donnelly. So there is some risk of los- it. ing an office even in these times. Which brings us to Todd Brian A. Howey, Publisher Just consider how many Rokita, the man Curtis Hill replaced Mark Schoeff Jr., Washington uncomfortable subjects the attor- at the top of the political irrritants ney general situation touches. Mary Lou Howey, Editor Republicans don’t have a deep Susan E. Joiner, Editor reservoir of state elected Afri- can-American officials. The other Subscriptions one is Attorney General Daniel Cameron of Kentucky, who was HPI, HPI Daily Wire $599 elected last year. That is if you HPI Weekly, $350 don’t agree with Joe Biden’s Lisa Hounchell, Account Manager original comment that they are (765) 452-3936 telephone not really black. Bluntly said, if (765) 452-3973 fax Hill wasn’t a conservative Re- [email protected] publican, it is less clear how the media would be reacting. Contact HPI Furthermore, both par- [email protected] ties are nominating candidates Howey’s cell: 317.506.0883 for president who have defi- nitely been a little touchy-feely Washington: 202.256.5822 themselves, and with charges Business Office: 765.452.3936 a lot worse than that. Legislative list of the Republican powers that standards are also a bit checkered. I be. It is tempting to assume that, © 2020, Howey Politics don’t defend it – my position, per- after running multiple candidates up Indiana. All rights reserved. sonal and as I applied to Bill Clinton the flagpole as an alternative to AG, – was that public officials should not they encouraged Rokita to run out of Photocopying, Internet forward- be impeached but resign for sexual sheer panic. On the other hand, un- ing, faxing or reproducing in any immorality. But sexual harassment less the other candidates pull out be- form, whole or part, is a violation and forced sexual activities are illegal, fore the vote to endorse Rokita, the of federal law without permission not just immoral. To have an attor- surface concept of three candidates from the publisher. ney general censured and punished running against the AG seems like for such behavior, even if the actions sloppy bossism. Or at least despera- were pursued by Democrats and Re- tion. Jack E. Howey publicans who opposed Hill, is, to say Does this bizarre conven- editor emeritus the least, a serious problem. tion process lead to the advantage of 1926-2019 Nevertheless, Republicans bossism or does it weaken it? What understand that the governor and if this goes more than one ballot? the top Republican leaders were not Do Indiana Republicans really have fans of the AG long before the specific any “bosses” in the first place? They charges. They especially didn’t want don’t have the patronage they used him on the ballot running for governor to have, or bank deposits to give in 2024. Because of this, extra scru- to favorites, fewer contracts that tiny will be on the leadership to see aren’t bid, and no license branches if they are transparent and fair in the to control. Unfriending someone on Page 3 Facebook does not have as much sting. There still are a of Indiana’s hardest campaigners in our history. But then few things for allies but an entire convention is somewhat there’s this fact: Curtis Hill has been underestimated in unwieldy. While political bossism is mostly dead, to the every race he’s entered. If neither Hill nor Rokita is nomi- degree it survives, it will be seen in the backrooms of a nated, it will very apparent that political bosses did an in- convention. How does that work over the internet? your-face rejection of what Republican voters would have Here are some key questions: How many done in a primary. Things always change in politics but this alternates, selected by the county leaders, replace those could become a billboard for removing the last reason for who were elected in the primaries? How many chairmen having state conventions. actually picked the primary delegates, versus populist The biggest question for the national Democrats is grassroots Republicans filing on their own? We already who Biden will pick for vice president, which is particularly had one dust-up purge in Allen. Can the central leaders important since he’s 77 already. Will they officially name of Indianapolis control the donut counties, who bolted for President Trump as their campaign manager, since he’s the Mourdock over Lugar, or will social conservatives? Biden campaign’s only asset so far and the only unifying Rokita has clearly penetrated northern Indiana one? strongly, which otherwise might have gone to Hill. I don’t As for Republicans, how does a split convention have any idea how anyone is doing Indy south. Which work? The working part will be in Charlotte and the public raises the question about leaders whose roots are Indy part will be an adoring crowd in Jacksonville. Will demon- and south: Where does Sen. Braun stand? What about strators outnumber the convention attendees in Jackson- Sen. Young and former Congressman Messer? There is ville? Will Jacksonville still be called Jacksonville by late some interesting history related to Rokita on that list. August? The people wait with no suspense. v The assumption is that this convention makes it hard for less organized delegates (i.e. social conserva- Souder is a former Republican congressman from tives) to defeat county chairmen, legislators, the governor Indiana. and other statewide campaigners. And Todd Rokita is one at Tulsa’s BOK Center arena before a packed house, with COVID, from page 1 the Trump campaign reporting a million requests for tickets. the fight against the invisible enemy. While talk of an in- The Trump campaign will hand out face masks and hand crease in cases dominates cable news coverage, more than sanitizers. Social distancing? Don’t count on it. But attend- half of states are actually seeing cases decline or remain ees had to sign a waiver protecting Trump Inc., and holding stable. the arena harmless should anyone contract COVID-19. “Every state, territory and major metropolitan The Tulsa World reported Wednesday: Trump sup- area, with the exception of three, have positive test rates porters, who were gathering outside of the BOK Center on under 10%. And in the six states that have reached more than 1,000 new cases a day, increased testing has allowed public health officials to identify most of the outbreaks in particular settings – prisons, nurs- ing homes and meatpacking facilities – and contain them,” Pence continued.