Gov. Pence had repeatedly and proudly described himself by saying, "I'm a Christian, a conservative, and a Republican, in that order."
Apparently, he considers himself a Christian before he considers himself an American, a conservative before he considers himself an American, and a Republican before he considers himself an American.
I am a proud American, the son of proud Americans, deeply and simply innately grateful for all the opportunities my country has afforded me. With that gratitude and out of simple respect, I stand and hold my hand over my heart for the Star Spangled Banner, sometimes (but not always) when I am home and hearing it on TV. I can and have been brought to tears more than once singing along to America The Beautiful. Btw, I also consider myself a citizen of the world, and I see no contradiction whatsoever therein.
Anyway, I am here to say that we cannot trust this religious zealot and partisan hack, who also puts his party before country, to uphold our Constitution.
We have spent more than 200 years trying to live up to the spirit of this document, often in maddening fits and starts. We have fallen brutally short far too many times, both domestically and internationally, but I believe in our better angels.
I consider it dastardly unpatriotic not to acknowledge our often bloody mistakes and shortcomings. Only in truth and humility can we commit to doing better. My patriotism is the quiet patriotism of my parents, who were both life long Republicans, but would have been disgusted and alarmed at what the GOP has presently come to.
Therefore, I will do everything in my power to make sure this repugnant ticket of a blowhard billionaire carney barker and a zealot who puts his religion and party before country do not reverse what progress we have made.
We are better than that. We are better than them.