Fly On Pence Is 'The Mark Of The Devil,’ Steve Schmidt Says

[Ubiquitous]

Former Republican campaign strategist Steve Schmidt claimed the fly
that spent two minutes on Vice President Mike Pence’s head during
Wednesday’s vice presidential debate was a biblical symbol of evil.

“I don’t think it’s ever a good sign when a fly lands on your head for
two minutes,” Schmidt told MSNBC host Ari Melber. “That’s a sign all
through history of sin, and historically, biblically—it’s only safe to
say this, Ari, after midnight—but a fly, he who commands the fly is
always been seen historically as the mark of the devil.”

Melber laughed in response, saying, “Now, as a journalist, now I have
to ask for the record if you’re joking, because the fly could have
landed on anyone.”

“Yes, but it didn’t. It landed on Mike Pence, and it says something,”
Schmidt added, suggesting that the fly was a “karmic” symbol of
President Donald Trump’s “cratering” campaign.

WATCH:

Steve Schmidt says the fly landing on Pence is a "sign
historically of sin" and the "mark of the devil," prompting
Ari Melber to ask if he's joking.

Schmidt: "It landed on Mike Pence. And it says something…karmic
about the status of the campaign as it implodes."
pic.twitter.com/mFcXavEWxt
https://twitter.com/i/status/1314069929671487489

— Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona) October 8, 2020

Schmidt was perhaps referencing the biblical name Beelzebub, another
name for Satan that translates from the Hebrew as “Lord of the Flies.”

The Biden campaign has already sold out of fly swatters commemorating
the incident. The fly on Pence was not the first time such an insect
featured during a political debate. During the second presidential
debate between Trump and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in
2016, a fly made headlines when it landed on Clinton’s forehead.

Swats away flies and lies. Get yours today:
https://t.co/ehsECKfDPO pic.twitter.com/oVLHHmq85c

— Team Joe (Text JOE to 30330) (@TeamJoe) October 8, 2020

Schmidt, a member of The Lincoln Project who was once the spokesman of
the National Republican Congressional Committee and the deputy
assistant to President George W. Bush, renounced the Republican Party
in 2018 because of Trump. In an extensive Twitter thread, he explained
his belief that the GOP had become “corrupt, indecent and immoral” and
that it was “filled with feckless cowards who disgrace and dishonor the
legacies of the party’s greatest leaders.”

“I have spent much of my life working in GOP politics. I have always
believed that both parties were two of the most important institutions
to the advancement of human freedom and dignity in the history of the
world. Today the GOP has become a danger to our democracy and values,”
he added.

During an interview with Fox News host Tucker Carlson in August, former
vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin blasted Schmidt as “a piece of
work” and accused him and Nicolle Wallace of being “wolves in sheep’s
clothing” who sabotaged her 2008 campaign with the late Sen. John
McCain (R-AZ). “You know, those of us who were kind of victims of what
they’re capable of, it’s kind of vindication for us. It’s like, ‘See,
told you so! They were never on our team to begin with.'”

“Ok. I can’t help it,” Schmidt responded. “It has been 12 years since
[Nicolle Wallace] and I had to deal with her paranoia, pathological
lying, profound ignorance, brittleness, and insanity. We had to deal
with her for 70 days. It has been amazing to watch her soar and prove
all her critics wrong[.]”

--
You know you were crushed in a debate when your post-debate talking
point is about a fly.