>>> WELCOME BACK TO "HARDBALL."
>>> WELCOME BACK TO "HARDBALL." VICE-PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE IS
VICE-PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE IS AGAIN PLAYING THE ROLE OF
AGAIN PLAYING THE ROLE OF PRESIDENT TRUMP’S CHIEF DEFENDER
PRESIDENT TRUMP’S CHIEF DEFENDER AND TRANSLATOR EVEN, TRYING TO
AND TRANSLATOR EVEN, TRYING TO MAKE SENSE OF WHAT OFTEN SEEMS
MAKE SENSE OF WHAT OFTEN SEEMS NONSENSICAL.
NONSENSICAL. >> THE PRESIDENT IS SAYING, PLAY
>> THE PRESIDENT IS SAYING, PLAY POLITICS.
POLITICS. PROTECT MEMBERS OF CONGRESS EVEN
PROTECT MEMBERS OF CONGRESS EVEN IF THEY HAVE COMMITTED ACTS OF
IF THEY HAVE COMMITTED ACTS OF CORRUPTION BEFORE THE ELECTION.
CORRUPTION BEFORE THE ELECTION. >> I DON’T THINK THAT’S WHAT THE
>> I DON’T THINK THAT’S WHAT THE PRESIDENT WAS SAYING AT ALL,
PRESIDENT WAS SAYING AT ALL, CHRIS.
CHRIS. I THINK THE PRESIDENT WAS
I THINK THE PRESIDENT WAS REFERRING TO THE LONG-STANDING
REFERRING TO THE LONG-STANDING TRADITION IN THE JUSTICE
TRADITION IN THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TO AVOID
DEPARTMENT TO AVOID UNNECESSARILY IMPACTING ELECTION
UNNECESSARILY IMPACTING ELECTION OUTCOMES.
OUTCOMES. >>> I THINK PRESIDENT DONALD
>>> I THINK PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP IS THE MOST ACCOMPLISHED
TRUMP IS THE MOST ACCOMPLISHED PRESIDENT OF MY LIFETIME, AND I
PRESIDENT OF MY LIFETIME, AND I THINK ALREADY ONE OF THE MOST
THINK ALREADY ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL PRESIDENTS IN
SUCCESSFUL PRESIDENTS IN AMERICAN HISTORY.
AMERICAN HISTORY. >> WELL, YESTERDAY AMID THE
>> WELL, YESTERDAY AMID THE FALLOUT FROM THE UNNAMED OPINION
FALLOUT FROM THE UNNAMED OPINION PIECE IN "THE NEW YORK TIMES,"
PIECE IN "THE NEW YORK TIMES," VICE-PRESIDENT PENCE PLEDGED
VICE-PRESIDENT PENCE PLEDGED FIDELITY TO THE PRESIDENT AND
FIDELITY TO THE PRESIDENT AND VOWED TO PROVE HE’S NOT THE
VOWED TO PROVE HE’S NOT THE AUTHOR OF THAT ARTICLE.
AUTHOR OF THAT ARTICLE. LET’S TAKE A LISTEN TO THAT.
LET’S TAKE A LISTEN TO THAT. >>> DO YOU THINK YOU KNOW WHO
>>> DO YOU THINK YOU KNOW WHO ANONYMOUS IS?
ANONYMOUS IS? >> I DON’T.
>> I DON’T. I DON’T KNOW.
I DON’T KNOW. BUT I DO KNOW THEY SHOULD RESIGN
BUT I DO KNOW THEY SHOULD RESIGN AND LEAVE THIS ADMINISTRATION.
AND LEAVE THIS ADMINISTRATION. >> SHOULD ALL TOP OFFICIALS TAKE
>> SHOULD ALL TOP OFFICIALS TAKE A LIE DETECTOR TEST AND WOULD
A LIE DETECTOR TEST AND WOULD YOU AGREE TO TAKE ONE?
YOU AGREE TO TAKE ONE? >> I WOULD AGREE TO TAKE ONE IN
>> I WOULD AGREE TO TAKE ONE IN A HEARTBEAT AND WOULD SUBMIT TO
A HEARTBEAT AND WOULD SUBMIT TO ANY REVIEW THE ADMINISTRATION
ANY REVIEW THE ADMINISTRATION WANTED TO DO.
WANTED TO DO. >> WELL, BACK IN MAY COLUMNIST
>> WELL, BACK IN MAY COLUMNIST GEORGE F. WILL WROTE, THE
GEORGE F. WILL WROTE, THE OLEAGINOUS MIKE PENCE -- THANK
OLEAGINOUS MIKE PENCE -- THANK YOU FOR THE HELP -- COULD BECOME
YOU FOR THE HELP -- COULD BECOME AMERICA’S MOST REPULSE I HAVEIVE
AMERICA’S MOST REPULSE I HAVEIVE FIGURE.
FIGURE. HE’S THE LICK SPITTLE.
HE’S THE LICK SPITTLE. I CAN’T OUTDO YOU, GEORGE.
I CAN’T OUTDO YOU, GEORGE. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. WHEN I WATCH THIS GUY HE IS VERY
WHEN I WATCH THIS GUY HE IS VERY MUCH IN THE MODEL ROBERT CARO
MUCH IN THE MODEL ROBERT CARO PLACED -- HIS ONLY WAY TO THE
PLACED -- HIS ONLY WAY TO THE PRESIDENCY IS THROUGH THE
PRESIDENCY IS THROUGH THE VICE-PRESIDENCY.
VICE-PRESIDENCY. AND HE’LL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES.
AND HE’LL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES. >> LINDEN JOHNSON DID NOT
>> LINDEN JOHNSON DID NOT REALIZE THE KENNEDY PEOPLE WERE
REALIZE THE KENNEDY PEOPLE WERE GOING TO TREAT HIM SO BADLY.
GOING TO TREAT HIM SO BADLY. MR. TRUMP GOT HIS MAN AND HIS
MR. TRUMP GOT HIS MAN AND HIS MAN KNEW WHAT HE WAS SIGNING UP
MAN KNEW WHAT HE WAS SIGNING UP FOR.
FOR. IN THE HISTORY OF GREAT LOVES,
IN THE HISTORY OF GREAT LOVES, ROMEO AND JULIETTE, ABILARD AND
ROMEO AND JULIETTE, ABILARD AND ELOISE, PENCE AND TRUMP, THE
ELOISE, PENCE AND TRUMP, THE DIFFERENCE IS IT’S NOT
DIFFERENCE IS IT’S NOT RECIPROCATED BECAUSE THERE IS NO
RECIPROCATED BECAUSE THERE IS NO LOVE COMING BACK TOWARD
LOVE COMING BACK TOWARD MR. PENCE, MR. TRUMP IS
MR. PENCE, MR. TRUMP IS MONOGAMOUS, HE ONLY LOVES
MONOGAMOUS, HE ONLY LOVES HIMSELF.
HIMSELF. >> HOW IN ANY TRANSITION PLAN,
>> HOW IN ANY TRANSITION PLAN, HE’S SITTING THERE LIKE THE DA
HE’S SITTING THERE LIKE THE DA VINCI CODE IN A PIOUS WAY,
VINCI CODE IN A PIOUS WAY, LOOKING 45 DEGREES AT TRUMP’S
LOOKING 45 DEGREES AT TRUMP’S NECK, IS THAT SUPPOSED TO
NECK, IS THAT SUPPOSED TO IMPRESS -- NOT IN THAT PICTURE.
IMPRESS -- NOT IN THAT PICTURE. IS THAT SUPPOSED TO IMPRESS THE
IS THAT SUPPOSED TO IMPRESS THE TRUMP-ITE?
TRUMP-ITE? >> IT’S LIKE EATING CORN ON THE
>> IT’S LIKE EATING CORN ON THE COB.
COB. IT’S HARD TO DO IT WITH DIGNITY.
IT’S HARD TO DO IT WITH DIGNITY. AL GORE DID, CHENEY, THEY HAD
AL GORE DID, CHENEY, THEY HAD GOOD RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEIR
GOOD RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEIR PRESIDENT.
PRESIDENT. YOU DON’T HAVE THAT KIND OF
YOU DON’T HAVE THAT KIND OF RELATIONSHIP WITH THIS
RELATIONSHIP WITH THIS PRESIDENT.
PRESIDENT. >> SOMEONE SAID HE HAD THE SOUL
>> SOMEONE SAID HE HAD THE SOUL OF A VICE-PRESIDENT.
OF A VICE-PRESIDENT. >> WHO SAID THAT?
>> WHO SAID THAT? >> SOMEONE TALKING ABOUT WALTER
>> SOMEONE TALKING ABOUT WALTER MONDALE.
MONDALE. THE VICE-PRESIDENT HAS
THE VICE-PRESIDENT HAS FREQUENTLY PLAYED THE ROLE OF
FREQUENTLY PLAYED THE ROLE OF THE PRESIDENT’S BIGGEST
THE PRESIDENT’S BIGGEST CHEERLEADER.
CHEERLEADER. DON’T YOU THINK?
DON’T YOU THINK? LET’S WATCH.
LET’S WATCH. >> THANKS TO THE LEADERSHIP OF
>> THANKS TO THE LEADERSHIP OF PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP.
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP. WELCOME TO THE BEGINNING OF THE
WELCOME TO THE BEGINNING OF THE END OF OBAMACARE.
END OF OBAMACARE. >>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR BOUNDLESS
>>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR BOUNDLESS FAITH IN THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
FAITH IN THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. >>> PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS BEEN
>>> PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS BEEN MAKING HISTORY SINCE THE FIRST
MAKING HISTORY SINCE THE FIRST DAY OF THIS ADMINISTRATION.
DAY OF THIS ADMINISTRATION. >> I KNOW I SPEAK ON BEHALF OF
>> I KNOW I SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE CABINET AND OF
THE ENTIRE CABINET AND OF MILLIONS OF AMERICANS WHEN I SAY
MILLIONS OF AMERICANS WHEN I SAY CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU.
CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU. YOU HAVE RESTORED AMERICAN
YOU HAVE RESTORED AMERICAN CREDIBILITY ON THE WORLD STAGE.
CREDIBILITY ON THE WORLD STAGE. YOU SIGNED MORE BILLS, ROLLING
YOU SIGNED MORE BILLS, ROLLING BACK MORE RED TAPE THAN ANY
BACK MORE RED TAPE THAN ANY PRESIDENT IN AMERICAN HISTORY.
PRESIDENT IN AMERICAN HISTORY. YOU SPURRED AN OPTIMISM.
YOU SPURRED AN OPTIMISM. I’M DEEPLY HUMBLED TO BE HERE.
I’M DEEPLY HUMBLED TO BE HERE. >> IT IS THE GREATEST PRIVILEGE
>> IT IS THE GREATEST PRIVILEGE OF MY LIFE TO SERVE AS
OF MY LIFE TO SERVE AS VICE-PRESIDENT TO PRESIDENT
VICE-PRESIDENT TO PRESIDENT TRUMP.
TRUMP. HE’S A MAN OF HIS WORD.
HE’S A MAN OF HIS WORD. HE’S A MAN OF ACTION.
HE’S A MAN OF ACTION. >> I THINK OF THE CULTURE OF
>> I THINK OF THE CULTURE OF THESE TWO GENTLEMEN.
THESE TWO GENTLEMEN. ONE IS TOTALLY SICK LAR IN HIS
ONE IS TOTALLY SICK LAR IN HIS LIFE, HIS LIFE-STYLE IS NOT
LIFE, HIS LIFE-STYLE IS NOT PIOUS AND RELIGIOUS IN ANY FORM.
PIOUS AND RELIGIOUS IN ANY FORM. ONE SEEMS VERY PIOUS, VERY
ONE SEEMS VERY PIOUS, VERY EVANGELICAL, MORAL BY HIS TERMS.
EVANGELICAL, MORAL BY HIS TERMS. WLOO DO THEY HAVE IN COMMON
WLOO DO THEY HAVE IN COMMON THESE TWO GUYS?
THESE TWO GUYS? >> NOTHING.
>> NOTHING. NOTHING WHATEVER.
NOTHING WHATEVER. IF YOU BELIEVE AS MR. PENCE
IF YOU BELIEVE AS MR. PENCE MIGHT AND SOME PEOPLE SAY HE
MIGHT AND SOME PEOPLE SAY HE DOES BELIEVE, THAT, A, HE’S IN
DOES BELIEVE, THAT, A, HE’S IN CONSTANT COMMUNICATION WITH GOD
CONSTANT COMMUNICATION WITH GOD ASK THAT GOD WANTS HIM TO BE
ASK THAT GOD WANTS HIM TO BE PRESIDENT, THEREFORE ANYTHING
PRESIDENT, THEREFORE ANYTHING MR. PENCE DOES IT ADVANCES HIS
MR. PENCE DOES IT ADVANCES HIS PRESIDENTIAL PROSPECT PLEASES
PRESIDENTIAL PROSPECT PLEASES GOD.
GOD. IF YOU HAVE THAT LINE OF
IF YOU HAVE THAT LINE OF REASONING, THEN YOU COULD SEE
REASONING, THEN YOU COULD SEE WHY NOTHING HE DOES IS REALLY
WHY NOTHING HE DOES IS REALLY DEGRADING, IT’S GOD’S WILL.
DEGRADING, IT’S GOD’S WILL. >> WELL, HIS CAREER HAS BEEN
>> WELL, HIS CAREER HAS BEEN LICK ETTY SPLIT.
LICK ETTY SPLIT. HE WENT FROM U.S. CONGRESS, IT’S
HE WENT FROM U.S. CONGRESS, IT’S ALMOST NIXONIAN IN HIS SPEED.
ALMOST NIXONIAN IN HIS SPEED. >> HE MIGHT HAVE KNOWN GETTING
>> HE MIGHT HAVE KNOWN GETTING ON THE TICKET WITH MR. TRUMP WAS
ON THE TICKET WITH MR. TRUMP WAS A WAY TO GET IN THE RACE IN
A WAY TO GET IN THE RACE IN 2016.
2016. HE MIGHT HAVE LOST.
HE MIGHT HAVE LOST. >> WHAT DO YOU THINK THE
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK THE PRESIDENT
PRESIDENT VICE-PRESIDENT IS GOING TO DO,
VICE-PRESIDENT IS GOING TO DO, STICK AROUND FOR AS MANY TERMS
STICK AROUND FOR AS MANY TERMS AS HE CAN GET?
AS HE CAN GET? >> OF COURSE.
>> OF COURSE. >> THERE WE ARE.
