Mike Pence: Appearing on Radio Show of Top Anti-Gay Leader James Dobson ‘Greatest Honor of My Life’

‘We’re Going to Err on the Side of Protecting Liberties of Our People’ Pence Says. ‘Our People’?

Mike Pence says being interviewed by Dr. James Dobson is the “greatest honor” of his life. The Republican nominee made those remarks in an interview that was broadcast Wednesday, October 5. Dobson, who has endorsed Donald Trump, is the founder of two top anti-gay organizations, Focus On The Family and the Family Research Council, and is known for his anti-LGBT hate often shrouded in evangelical and “pro-family” language. For example, in 2012 he blamed the tragic shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary on same-sex marriage, and just last year claimed same-sex marriage could lead the U.S. into another civil war. 

Pence’s greatest legacy to date has been throwing his state into turmoil by supporting an extreme, virulently anti-LGBT pro-discrimination bill that originally allowed anyone citing a “deeply-held” religious belief against LGBT people to have the right to refuse to serve or otherwise do business with them.

Comparing Donald Trump to Ronald Reagan, Governor Pence in his interview told Dobson the Trump campaign is a “movement.” 

Asked about President Barack Obama’s guidance to public schools to protect and not discriminate against transgender students, Pence said he and Trump believe “Washington has no business intruding on the operation of our local schools.” He also claimed “these issues” should be resolved at the local level and have been in his state of Indiana.

Dr. Dobson just last year wrote an op-ed titled, “Protect Your Kids From Tyrant Obama,” saying the president’s “order made me furious, and then sick to my stomach.”

In June of this year Dobson announced he was sad that fathers aren’t protecting their wives and daughters by shooting transgender people – whom he suggested are all “perverts” – when they use restrooms that correspond with their gender identity.

Dobson said the typical transgender woman is “a strange-looking man, dressed like a woman,” who peers “over toilet cubicles to watch your wife in a private moment.” 

“If you are a dad, I pray you will protect your little girls from men who walk in unannounced, unzip their pants and urinate in front of them. If this had happened 100 years ago, someone might have been shot. Where is today’s manhood? God help us!”

In his Wednesday interview Dobson asked Pence if he and Trump will uphold Obama’s mandate ensuring women have access to contraception through their employer-based health plans. Dobson claims it would put him and his “ministry” out of business.

“What I can tell you is the Trump-Pence administration will be dedicated to preserving the liberties of our people, including the freedom of religion that’s enshrined in our Bill of Rights,” Pence responded. 

“We have a long tradition in this country of accommodating religious beliefs,” Pence continued. “Our administration is going to err on the side of freedom, we’re going to err on the side of protecting liberties of our people.”

The Indiana governor also said that Donald Trump is absolutely committed to appointing justices to the Supreme Court “in the tradition of the late and great Antonin Scalia.”

 

Hat tip: Opposing Views