Pence: Wasserman-Schultz and I Are ‘Real’ Friends

Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) says he and Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) are “real” friends–not in the sense, Pence says, that politicians usually use the word.

“Debbie…is actually a real friend of mine, not just what we call up here a ‘good friend,'” Pence told MSNBC’s Chris Matthews yesterday.

Pence and Wasserman Schultz both appeared on MSNBC to debate the GOP’s advocacy for privatizing Social Security. The two took opposite stances, and Pence’s affirmation of their “real” friendship came as they disputed the implications of Wall Street’s crisis on the privatization argument.

“It is just unbelievable that Republicans, like my good friend, Mike, continue to cling to this privatization notion that–that sending every one of our future security benefits for Social Security into the private sector is the answer to all of our problem,” Wasserman Schltz said.

Pence confirmed their “real” friendship as he began to disagree with Wasserman Schultz.

“Look, we disagree on this. But I really — I don’t believe in government here. I think most Americans, given a choice between investing in America and investing in the federal government, which this week, with this bailout, it’s the federal government that has failed,” Pence said.

Lawmakers in Washginton frequently use the term “my good friend” to describe colleagues as a way of showing respect, even when they disagree heatedly on matters of policy.