Book Review: Piety and Power

Pence by Tom Lobianco

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Who is Mike Pence?

Liberals may wonder if he is a shady Dick Cheney type character running the show behind the scenes. Readers of Wolff's Fire and Fury may wonder if Pence fits in at all, since he was a non-character in the book about Bannon, JarVanka, and the GOP's influence on Trump.

The answer is he's probably just a regular Vice President. This would be a nice companion piece to Fire and Fury if you were so inclined. Like that book, it is very readable, and can be read quickly. The benefit to this book is that LoBianco has been following Pence for years, and it also doesn't suffer from being a rush publishing job like Wolff's.

The two words in the title define Pence. I get from LoBianco that Pence's religious conviction is real. While it seems the most vocal about their religious beliefs almost certainly seem the most to be caught in scandal, Pence seems legit. Pence may even be likeable. One wonders if he had taken a different route that he might grow into the role of beloved political icon like Bob Dole.

The other part is as important, if not overriding. Pence is ambitious, and his ultimate goal is the White House. I think Pence at times, chose the path of inaction to not chance risking that road. In some ways, I think his reputation as a homophobe is a direct result of him trying to be all things to all people, and what ensued from that decision.

Pence is as unlikely as a success story (surely Mitch Daniels had better chances) but he's played it well. Surely, some his choices that seem like he was hanging back, served him better than appearing ambitious. Indeed, the highpoint is when Pence is named VP- sort of the ultimate "I am not going to do anything one way or the other and Let God handle it".

Although I don't know everyone will be excited to read about Pence. This is a solid book. It is very readable, and though Conservatives will be bound to attack it, it is quite evenhanded. For politicos, the inside look at Indiana politics is as good as it gets for books like this. There are plenty of insightful (and sometimes early) cameos like Donald Trump, Newt Gingrich, Chris Christie, Rush Limbaugh, John Boehner and many more.

After the excitement of the Veepstakes, Pence might be the most important running mate selection in some time. As the book wraps up, the two sides of Pence come into direct competition. Even then, Pence must not rock the boat to jeopardize what may be next for him. It may be depressing to Dems and NeverTrumpers, but that seems to be where he has landed, and if you have been paying attention the whole time, not surprising.

Recommended to all readers of political non-fiction.



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