July 3, 2023

I'm guessing he wants us to believe racism ended in America when we elected a Black president as well. Here's former VP Mike Pence on this Sunday's Face the Nation on CBS, responding to a question about the recent Supreme Court ruling ending affirmative action in college admissions. At first he tried to weasel his way out of answering the question.

MARGARET BRENNAN: I want to ask you about the ruling on affirmative action. Fundamentally, do you believe that there are racial inequities in the education system in the United States?

FORMER VICE PRESIDENT PENCE: Well, I- I couldn't be more proud of the progress, even in- in our lifetime, Margaret, that we've made toward a more perfect union. I mean, to- to see the progress we made, the Civil Rights Act, to see so many years ago, when- when the Supreme Court upheld an effort by universities to make sure the doors of our schools were open to everyone regardless of- of race, I think- I think all represented real progress, but- but, I'm- I'm so grateful that the Supreme Court of the United States here recognized what, frankly, Justice Sandra Day O'Connor said back in 2003, was that affirmative action was a temporary solution. It was an- it was designed to make sure that we opened doors that hadn't been opened before. But she herself said that she expected it to go away within 25 years. It went away more quickly than that. I think that's a tribute to our nation. It's a great, great credit to the extraordinary accomplishments that minority students have had on our campuses. And- and I really do believe that- that- that we can move forward as a country and- and- and embrace the notion that we're all going to be judged not on the color of our skin, but on the content of our character, and in this case, on our GPA.

After Brennan pressed him further, he finally gave her a straight answer.

MARGARET BRENNAN: And- am I understanding you saying there in that answer that you do not believe there is racial inequity in the education system in America?

FORMER VICE PRESIDENT PENCE: I- I just, I- I really don't believe there is. I believe there was. I mean, it's- there may have been a time when affirmative action was necessary simply to open the doors of all of our schools and universities, but I think that time has passed. I really believe that the accomplishments of America's students, particularly our minority students, the great achievements that- that African Americans have- have- have reached in this country on that educational foundation, I think tells us that- that we've opened those doors and minority students on our campuses have excelled and I'm confident those doors will remain open. And we'll continue to move forward as a colorblind society, which is really, the aspiration I believe of every American.

America has never been a "colorblind society" and closing your eyes to the racism isn't going to magically make it go away. Sadly, rather than tell Pence what he said was absolutely ridiculous, Brennan just moved along to the next topic.

Pence said something similar to NBC News the other day, which he was rightfully mocked.

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