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Pence Wows Conservative Crowd in Des Moines

Joyce Russell/IPR
Vice-President Mike Pence

Vice President Mike Pence rallied Republican voters in Des Moines today at a roundtable event sponsored by a pro tax-cut group known as “America First Policies.” 

In a rousing 30-minute speech to a first-come, first-served crowd of about 250, Pence criticized the Washington media and recited what he sees as the accomplishments so far of the Trump administration.  

That includes record tax cuts, exiting the Paris climate accords, and a crackdown on undocumented immigrants.

“We’re removing criminal immigrants and gangs from our streets in record numbers and we’ve already started to build that wall on the southern border of the United States,” Pence declared to cheers and whistles.  “It’s happening.”

Vice-President Mike Pence

Pence repeated the president’s call for a new space-based branch of the armed services.  And he predicted progress on better trade deals for the nation’s farmers. 

“We will never stop fighting until American farmers win as never before,” Pence said.

Pence attributes the current growth in the American economy to the record tax cuts and derided House minority leader Nancy Pelosi for minimizing the effect of the tax cuts on working families’ paychecks.  He won more applause by saying the Trump administration has appointed a record number of appeals court judges.

“And they are conservatives all,” he said.   

Democratic protesters outside waved placards criticizing “The GOP War on Working Families,” and declaring, “Tweets are not solutions.”

Pence offered sympathy to the family of missing University of Iowa student Molly Tibbetts and pledged federal support for law enforcement in the case.  He also attended a private fundraiser for 3rd District Republican Congressman David Young.