Pence Says Choice for 2020 Is 'Socialism or Freedom'

Vice President Mike Pence told the biggest gathering of conservatives on March 1 that Americans voting in the 2020 presidential election will be choosing between "freedom and socialism." In an address to the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Maryland, Pence said that the leading Democratic candidate for the 2020 presidential race, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), is an avowed socialist. Meanwhile, Pence added, many of the other Democratic candidates support socialist policies like the Green New Deal and Medicare For All. Similar socialist policies have failed everywhere they were tried and impoverished millions, Pence pointed out. Nevertheless, Democratic presidential candidates including Sen. Kamala Harris and Sen. Corey Booker are pushing for the same policies with "bumper sticker slogans" and "slick social media campaigns," Pence said. "Under the guise of Medicare for All and a Green New Deal, Democrats are embracing the same tired economic theories that have impoverished nations and stifled the liberties of millions over the past century. That system is socialism," Pence said. "What Medicare for All really means is quality health care for none," he added. "The only thing green about the so-called Green New Deal is how much green it's going to cost taxpayers if these people ever pass it into law." Pence pointed to Venezuela as an example of socialism's failure. The once oil-rich nation has been crippled by socialist policies of now-illegitimate dictator Nicolás Maduro. Nine out of 10 Venezuelans live under the poverty line and more than 3 million have fled the nation, Pence said. The struggle in Venezuela is between "socialism and freedom," Pence suggested. "The truth is, Venezuela needs what America has. Venezuela needs freedom," Pence said. "Freedom is about enabling people to live their lives as they see fit—not government control. Freedom produces more and better goods than any system in any other place and time in American world history."