Debate Reveals How VP Candidates View Faith, Politics
Vice presidential candidates Sen. Tim Kaine and Indiana Gov. Mike Pence battled it out on the debate stage Tuesday night over hot button issues like abortion, terrorism, and immigration. They used the open stage to give the American people a chance to envision what the country would look like under a Clinton or Trump presidency.
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The two men share more than just backgrounds as seasoned politicians, both are also very open about their Christian faith.
Watch CBN's Jennifer Wishon Discuss Faith and Politics in the Vice Presidential Debate
"I try to practice my religion in a very devout way and follow the teachings of my church in my own personal life," said Sen. Kaine, a committed Catholic. "But I think it is really, really important that those of us who have deep faith lives not feel like we can just substitute our own views for everyone else in society."
Faith and the Sanctity of Life
One of the ways Sen. Kaine does not let his faith dictate his actions in the political arena is on the issue of abortion, an issue Gov. Pence feels very differently about.
"My Christian faith is at the very heart of who I am," Gov. Pence said. "For me the sanctity of life proceeds out of the belief, that ancient principle, where God says 'Before you were formed in your Mother's womb I knew you'...But what I can't understand with Hillary Clinton and now Senator Kaine at her side is to support a practice like partial birth abortions."
Senator Kaine was recently blasted by Catholic leaders for not only supporting abortion, but also working to repeal a law that keeps tax payer dollars out of the pockets of the abortion industry.
Pro-Life activists are also concerned Kaine would not use his political office to protect the unborn.
"Sen. Kaine speaks often of his Catholic faith yet ignores that faith's dedication to the sanctity of human life," Jeanne Macini, head of March for Life, told CBN News.
"It is shameful to ignore the most innocent and vulnerable and the views of the American people for political expediency," she said.
Macini also told CBN News the abortion issue is a tremendously important election issue as always because millions of "Americans have not been given the right to life."
The War on Terror
Both candidates also had very different views on the best way for America to win the war against terror in the wake of the massacres in Brussels, Paris, and Orlando.
"The terror threat has decreased in some ways because Bin Laden is dead. The terrorist threat has decreased in some ways because an Iranian nuclear weapons program has been stopped," argued Sen. Kaine.
But Gov. Pence believes it was the Obama-Clinton administration that set the stage for ISIS when they sent thousands of American troops home from the battle fields of the Middle East.
"This administration created a vacuum for ISIS to grow," Pence contended. "And in reference to that Iranian deal... You essentially guaranteed that Iran would some day become a nuclear power because there are no limitations."
Immigration Reform
One of the biggest concerns Americans have is the security of boarders and the intentions of immigrants who are entering the country. While both candidates agree America needs securer borders, they have different views on how to get that done. Kaine proposes a strategy that would help absorb immigrants, while Pence promotes policy that uses extreme vetting when it comes to immigrants.
"We are a nation of immigrants. We've done well by absorbing immigrants and it has made our nation stronger," Kaine told the audience.
"They have a plan for open borders...Donald trump has a plan to restore the borders to secure the borders of this nation," Pence countered.
With the conclusion of the only Vice Presidential debate, Americans are looking forward to next week's showdown between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. They are hoping it will help them decide if America will be great again or stronger together.
