Mike Pence was asked point blank at Tuesday night's vice presidential debate to explain Donald Trump's plan to protect health care coverage for people with preexisting conditions. And despite Pence's earlier claim that such a plan exists, he ran for the hills.
"You mentioned earlier, Vice President Pence, that the president was committed to maintaining protections for people with preexisting conditions," said moderator Susan Page of USA Today. "Tell us specifically, how would your administration protect Americans with preexisting conditions to have access to affordable insurance if the Affordable Care Act is struck down?"
Pence had two minutes. He never once used the words "preexisting conditions" in his answer, nor did he even feign an answer to the question. Instead, he changed the subject.
"Let me just say," Pence said, "I couldn’t be more proud to serve as vice president to a president who stands without apology for the sanctity of human life."
Oh, apparently this was a question about abortion.
"I’m pro-life," Pence continued. "I don't apologize for it."
Having skipped the preexisting condition question altogether, Pence then decided to make his own query: "Are you and Joe Biden going to pack the court if Judge Amy Coney Barrett is confirmed?"
Harris, appropriately, decided she wasn’t obligated to answer Pence’s question either. But the subject of Pence's epic dodge also never came up again.
Mission accomplished: Trump and Pence don't have a health care plan and they certainly don’t have a plan to protect coverage for people with preexisting conditions. In fact, they've never even tried to explain such a plan and, after tonight, they still haven't. Hey, it’s only a matter of life and death. No biggie.
Here’s the start of that exchange.