A few quick thoughts on today's luncheon at Strongbows Inn in Valparaiso today. Congressman Mike Pence was invited by the Porter County Republicans to speak and help raise money for local elections. He was introduced by Valparaiso Mayor Jon Costas with the quote: "we need change not just for ourselves, but for our children and grandchildren ..."
Attendance was high, probably higher than organizers expected, since I saw extra tables being set up even as lunch was being served.
Perhaps the statements that Congressman Pence made that will make the papers were his comments on the 9-11 site and the possibility of a mosque being built there. Although acknowledging that local officials have the decision making authority and responsibility and therefore Congress has no role, he said (paraphrase) a cultural center celebrating Muslim heritage and philosophy is no more appropriate at the site of the World Trade Center 9-11 attacks than a similar Japanese cultural center at the site of the Pearl Harbor attacks in Hawaii.
He even said that this is the first time he has commented on the controversy. Thanks for picking Valparaiso for the place to go public Mike!
More later, and links tomorrow to news reports, the cynic in me thinks the reports will be twisted just a bit. All the other comments were focused on retaking Congress and the Indiana House, with a groundswell of grassroots effort all over Indiana, including Porter County.
