Mike Pence says racism is over because his three white kids graduated from college

2024 Republican presidential candidate Mike Pence commented on the Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College Supreme Court decision that ended Harvard’s affirmative action in admissions policy yesterday, arguing that racism doesn’t exist anymore in the U.S.

His proof? His three white children graduated from college.

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Pence could barely put two words together before he changed the subject.

“I’m grateful to see the conservative majority that we help build on the Supreme Court of the United States bring an end to most of affirmative action,” Pence told NBC News. “Look, we wanna live in a color-blind society. There may have been a time 50 years ago when we needed to affirmatively take steps to correct long-term racial bias in institutions of higher education.”

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“But, I can tell you as a father of three college graduates, those days are long over. And I’m grateful today that the Supreme Court today took us one step back to that America that will judge every man and woman on the content of their character and on their own achievement.”

Pence and his wife Karen Pence are white, and so are their three children, Michael Pence Jr., Charlotte Pence Bond, and Audrey Pence Tomanelli.

“There may have been a time 50 years ago when we needed to affirmatively take steps to correct long-term racial bias in institutions of higher education … I can tell you, as the father of 3 college graduates, those days are long over.”

— Mike Pence on affirmative action ruling pic.twitter.com/cLYFXLWgqZ

— The Recount (@therecount) June 29, 2023

While he implied that he would have supported affirmative action 50 years ago, there doesn’t appear to be much evidence to support that. Pence, 64, started his political career with a run for Congress in 1988 – 35 years ago – where he ran a racist ad against his opponent. After his loss, he hosted a political talk show where he called himself “Rush Limbaugh on decaf,” a non-bombastic but conservative alternative to Rush Limbaugh. Limbaugh opposed affirmative action, calling it “reverse racism.”

By the time he ran for Congress again in 2000, he was supporting conversion therapy as a way to stop the HIV/AIDS epidemic and he spent the rest of his career in politics opposing equal rights for LGBTQ+ people and other oppressed groups.

On Twitter, people understood Pence’s comments to be a sign of how privileged his life has been.

Are his kids black or am I missing something?

— Jake Rizzo (@JakeTheSnakeWWF) June 29, 2023

Whitest guy who rode his whiteness to infamy, what are your thoughts?

— 🌻Democracy Enthusiast🌻 (@TerriIsSickOfU) June 29, 2023

What exactly does Mike Pence paying for his 3 privileged white kids to go to college have to do with knowing anything about affirmative action?

— 💙 Liberal 💙 is a compliment! (@LadyBlueInCA) June 29, 2023

It's interesting because this statement shows Pence doesn't understand affirmative action at all, or why it's needed.

— una oruguita (@btat) June 29, 2023

I'm glad you think 50 years of weak sauce "equality" measures reversed 350 years of slavery and Jim Crow. 🤡🤡🤡

— Bert (@RW_Bert) June 29, 2023

As the father of 3 white college graduates I can clearly say affirmative action is no longer necessary. pic.twitter.com/MkvtYqFX46

— Matt (@maddmatty03) June 29, 2023

Mansplaining that racism is over.

— Jim Gray (The former Chief) (@JimGraytweetz) June 29, 2023

Noted expert on current status of Black America.🙄

— Nestor McDade (@TechMgrDC) June 29, 2023

"I can tell you, as the father of 3 college graduates, those days are long over."

Sounds about white.

— Elisabeth N (@elisabeth1518) June 29, 2023

breaking: children of rich white politician had no issue getting into college.

— baseballismyhappyplace (@Floor_model) June 29, 2023

Says. the guy whose family has never been discriminted against or socially challenged his whole life. Talk about being blind to his own privilege.

— christina m. brooks (@runewarrior) June 29, 2023