VP Mike Pence walks out of Colts game after players take knee for anthem, liberals hardest hit
On Sunday, Vice President Mike Pence decided to leave an NFL game between the Indianapolis Colts and the San Francisco 49ers after some two dozen players took a knee during the national anthem.
“I left today’s Colts game because @POTUS and I will not dignify any event that disrespects our soldiers, our Flag, or our National Anthem,” he said on Twitter.
I left today's Colts game because @POTUS and I will not dignify any event that disrespects our soldiers, our Flag, or our National Anthem.
— Vice President Mike Pence Archived (@VP45) October 8, 2017
Earlier, he expressed a desire to see the Colts play:
Will this presidential election be the most important in American history?
Looking forward to cheering for our @Colts & honoring the great career of #18 Peyton Manning at @LucasOilStadium today. Go Colts! pic.twitter.com/C3aCYUNpqG
— Vice President Mike Pence Archived (@VP45) October 8, 2017
He later posted a statement which read:
“I left today’s Colts game because President Trump and I will not dignify any event that disrespects our soldiers, our Flag, or our National Anthem. At a time when so many Americans are inspiring our nation with their courage, resolve, and resilience, now, more than ever, we should rally around our Flag and everything that unites us.”
“While everyone is entitled to their own opinions, I don’t think it’s too much to ask NFL players to respect the Flag and our National Anthem,” he added. “I stand with President Trump, I stand with our soldiers, and I will always stand for our Flag and National Anthem.”
I stand with @POTUS Trump, I stand with our soldiers, and I will always stand for our Flag and our National Anthem. pic.twitter.com/B0zP5M41MQ
— Vice President Mike Pence Archived (@VP45) October 8, 2017
According to the Washington Post, Pence’s actions were planned in advance with President Trump:
The plan had been for Vice President Mike Pence to attend the Indianapolis Colts game at which Peyton Manning’s number is to be retired, a gala celebration of the former Colts quarterback’s contributions to Pence’s home state.
The former governor of Indiana and his wife, wearing a Manning No. 18 jersey, left Lucas Oil Stadium after the national anthem, following instructions from President Trump after a number of San Francisco 49ers players took a knee during the anthem.
“I asked @VP Pence to leave stadium if any players kneeled,” Trump tweeted. I am proud of him and @SecondLady Karen.”
Many, including yours truly, supported Pence’s act and his support of the flag and the national anthem.
Liberals, on the other hand, were triggered by Pence’s decision to leave:
Translation: "I will not respect the first amendment and acknowledge the right to PEACEFUL, dignified protest"
— Amanda Deibert?️? (@amandadeibert) October 8, 2017
Actually, the First Amendment has nothing to do with this, but if we’re going that route, it seems this liberal doesn’t support Pence’s same rights to protest the protest.
You don't speak for all Americans. Nor for all veterans.
I'm glad you left the game. It exposes you to be the asshole divider you are.
— Pé (@4everNeverTrump) October 8, 2017
Translation: Waaahhh!
Buh-bye, @VP – you lying, hypocritical turd.
— Jon Cooper ?? (@joncoopertweets) October 8, 2017
https://twitter.com/kim/status/917085486086156288
So it’s racist and treasonous to not support liberals disrespecting the flag and the national anthem? Welcome to bizarro-world.
Given the President’s blatant disrespectful flouting of the Constitution, will you also walk out of the White House?
— Bill Prady (@billprady) October 8, 2017
Given the left’s constant calls to murder the president, will they leave the country? We doubt it…
The Washington Post added:
Pence’s decision also comes at a time when Kaepernick has reiterated that, should an NFL team sign him, he would now stand for the anthem. Kaepernick, the former quarterback for the 49ers, had said as much when he became a free agent in March, explaining he did not want his protest to detract from the positive change he believes has been created, ESPN reported then. He added that the national conversation that ensued last year, as well as the support he received from NFL and NBA players, among others, affirmed his message.
Although players have stressed that the demonstrations are not meant to disparage military members of the anthem, Pence’s decision to leave revives the story of players protesting social injustice and racial inequality this season.
Throughout this season, players have taken a knee. They have linked arms. Some have raised a defiant fist to the sky in the face of presidential directives to the owners of their teams to fire or suspend them. And as their season settles into the critical second quarter, they have sought to pivot toward taking positive action and refining their message.
Americans, however, have gotten the message, and they don’t like it one bit. As a result of players taking the knee, NFL football is no longer America’s favorite pastime, as Steven Ahle wrote earlier today.
Will they get the message, even with boycotts? Somehow, we doubt it.
Related:
- Shock Poll Shows NFL Football No Longer Favorite US Sport
- You Asked For It: Our NFL Sponsor and Advertiser Boycott List
- Seattle Seahawks and NFL: Stuck on Stupid
- Two High School Players Protest the Anthem But Never Saw This Coming
- ‘Take a Knee’ by Florida author takes Internet by storm
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