Tim Kaine to Mike Pence: You Are Donald Trump’s Apprentice
The 2016 vice presidential debate got off to a remarkably bitter start, with each candidate blaming the other for an ‘insult-driven campaign.’
AP
Tim Kaine and Mike Pence wasted no time hitting each other, and the top of the other party’s ticket, in Tuesday’s night’s vice presidential debate in Farmville, Va.
Kaine went on the offensive in his opening remarks, characterizing Republican nominee Donald Trump as someone who puts himself and his own interests first.
He was then asked by moderator Elaine Quijano about Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton’s low trustworthy ratings, fueled in part by questions over her use of a private email server and the dealings of the Clinton Foundation. But he turned the question right back on Trump.
“As a candidate, [Trump] started his campaign with a speech where he called Mexicans rapists and criminals and he has pursued the discredited and really outrageous lie that President Obama wasn’t born in the United States,” Kaine said. “I can’t imagine how Gov. Pence can defend the insult-driven, selfish, me-first style of Donald Trump.”
Quijano then asked a similar question to Pence, pressing him on Trump’s temperament and perceived “erratic” behavior. But Pence was determined to hit back at Kaine, and responded directly to his criticism of Trump.
“Senator, you and Hillary Clinton would know a lot about an insult-driven campaign,” he said. “It really is remarkable.”
The Indiana governor went on to criticize Hillary Clinton for her tenure as secretary of state, naming the crises in Syria and Russia as examples of the Obama administration’s “weak” foreign policy, which he said had “weakened America’s place in the world.” Kaine countered by commending Obama and Clinton for killing Osama bin Laden and closing the Iran nuclear deal.
Get the best of The Beast delivered right to your inbox
By clicking “SUBSCRIBE” you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
When Pence touted Trump’s business acumen, Kaine, who frequently interrupted Pence, brought up the fact that Trump, who has yet to release his tax returns, claimed a loss of nearly $1 billion in 1995.
“You are Donald Trump’s apprentice,” Kaine concluded of Pence. “Gov. Pence doesn’t think the world is going so well, and he’s going to say it’s everybody’s fault.”
See more of our coverage in your search results.
Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here.
Register below to read this article for free or subscribe
to unlock unlimited access to The Daily Beast.
Monthly
$1
First month then $5.99/month
Annual
$35
First year then $59.99/year
Premium
$79
First year then $119.99/year
*Substack access provided by the next business day, using your subscription email. Choosing the Premium plan constitutes your permission to share your subscription email with Substack and your agreement to Substack’s Privacy Policy.
Already have an account? Sign In
Looks like you already have a subscription!
You're all set!
Thanks for subscribing.