U.S. VP Pence leaves NFL game after players kneel during anthem

[webfact]

U.S. VP Pence leaves NFL game after players kneel during anthem

 

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence is joined by his wife, Karen, as he speaks in Las Vegas City Hall following a Unity Prayer Walk in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S., October 7, 2017. REUTERS/Las Vegas Sun/Steve Marcus

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Vice President Mike Pence walked out of a National Football League game on Sunday in his home state of Indiana after some players knelt during the national anthem, a form of demonstration that began last year as a symbolic protest about police violence against racial minorities.

 

"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," Pence said in a statement issued by the White House.

 

President Donald Trump has criticized players sharply for the protests and pressed the NFL to ban them.

 

The right to participate in such a protest is protected by the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment.

 

Critics of players kneeling at the pre-game playing of the national anthem, including Trump, object to any protest, regardless of its merits, during a ceremony meant to honor the U.S. flag and military veterans.

 

Pence, who has gone out of his way to demonstrate loyalty to Trump, said in his statement it was important to rally around the flag and things that unite the country.

 

"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," Pence said. "I stand with President Trump, I stand with our soldiers, and I will always stand for our Flag and our National Anthem."

 

(Reporting by Doina Chiacu and Jeff Mason; editing by Grant McCool)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-10-09

[Samui Bodoh]

The right to free speech and protest is arguably the basis for the entire American experiment. Yet, there are people who argue that if you exercise those rights, you are damaging the country.

 

Black is white. Up is down. Wet is dry.

 

What has happened to the USA? 

 

It is a terrible thing to watch a country voluntarily set itself on a path of decline.

 

[ezzra]

23 minutes ago, webfact said:

symbolic protest about police violence against racial minorities.

The day that these "racial minorities" mainly blacks, will start respect the

law and order of the land they kneeling on and not make the police the 

targets of their hate and loathing, this act will start to have meaning...

[tonray]

Pence is an even bigger phony than Trump. At least Trump does not hide behind self-righteous religious ideology. If Pence had any real principles he would not lied time and again to cover Trump's own lies. Another poser who wears a nice suit but has no real core....can't wait to get rid of both of these parasites, sucking the life out of American democracy

[Credo]

Thank you for leaving.   The country would be a much better place without you.   

 

If you care about your country, leave the Administration.   

 

[amvet]

55 minutes ago, Samui Bodoh said:

The right to free speech and protest is arguably the basis for the entire American experiment. Yet, there are people who argue that if you exercise those rights, you are damaging the country.

 

Black is white. Up is down. Wet is dry.

 

What has happened to the USA? 

 

It is a terrible thing to watch a country voluntarily set itself on a path of decline.

 

Free speech works both ways.  Football players can say they don't like the USA and VP USA can say he does not like what the footballers are saying. 

[Boon Mee]

Excellent move on VPN Pence's part. No support for those who disrespect the flag or the Police. 

[chrisinth]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Critics of players kneeling at the pre-game playing of the national anthem, including Trump, object to any protest, regardless of its merits, during a ceremony meant to honor the U.S. flag and military veterans.

 

if the ceremony is only to honor the US flag and military veterans, why is it played at NFL matches?

 

To nitpick reasons why the national anthem is played is childish and wars on words are not the way to sort out the problems that have started this protest in the first place. There is a problem, it has been pointed out to the administration and has not been acted on except for criticism of those protesting, those that are protected by the first amendment.

 

IMO, mention of military veterans in instances like this, in an issue regarding the police, is disrespectful in itself.

 

Views from a non-American.

[Boon Mee]

Just now, chrisinth said:

 

if the ceremony is only to honor the US flag and military veterans, why is it played at NFL matches?

 

To nitpick reasons why the national anthem is played is childish and wars on words are not the way to sort out the problems that have started this protest in the first place. There is a problem, it has been pointed out to the administration and has not been acted on except for criticism of those protesting, those that are protected by the first amendment.

 

IMO, mention of military veterans in instances like this, in an issue regarding the police, is disrespectful in itself.

 

Views from a non-American.

The National Anthem is played at all sporting event in the US...

 

Re the Police - this BS all got started due to a player (Kapernick) disrespecting members of the law enforcement

[Credo]

13 minutes ago, Boon Mee said:

Excellent move on VPN Pence's part. No support for those who disrespect the flag or the Police. 

He was asked by the Trump to go and then leave if anyone kneeled.   

 

It was an expensive stunt paid for by the US taxpayer.   

[Boon Mee]

Just now, Credo said:

He was asked by the Trump to go and then leave if anyone kneeled.   

 

It was an expensive stunt paid for by the US taxpayer.   

What expense?

You reckon VP Pence was comped the tickets?

Right move on his and Trump's part...

[Credo]

12 minutes ago, Boon Mee said:

What expense?

You reckon VP Pence was comped the tickets?

Right move on his and Trump's part...

What expense?    The same expense that you bored us all to pieces with every time that Obama went anywhere.   

 

This nonsensical stunt costs money and it's only a stunt, and the VP is silly enough to actually go along with it.   

 

No wonder the administration can't get anything done.   

[Boon Mee]

Just now, Credo said:

What expense?    The same expense that you bored us all to pieces with every time that Obama went anywhere.   

 

This nonsensical stunt costs money and it's only a stunt, and the VP is silly enough to actually go along with it.   

 

No wonder the administration can't get anything done.   

Pence is an Indiana native and went to the game to show support for his team.

 

Instead he sees these silly people posturing and he rightfully refused to be silent in the face of this blatant disrespect.

 

The NFL is dying fast...

[mamypoko]

53 minutes ago, amvet said:

Free speech works both ways.  Football players can say they don't like the USA and VP USA can say he does not like what the footballers are saying. 

The football players can say they don't like the country, but that is not what they are saying.

[Boon Mee]

1 minute ago, mamypoko said:

The football players can say they don't like the country, but that is not what they are saying.

These multi-millionaire morons don't really know what they are 'protesting'

 

Like the denizens of Mom's Basement - the sjw's who don't know either. 

[boomerangutang]

52 minutes ago, amvet said:

Free speech works both ways.  Football players can say they don't like the USA and VP USA can say he does not like what the footballers are saying. 

Except players aren't saying they don't like the USA.  They're peacefully protesting for 2 minutes against racial problems.  Trump, Pence and all the other dangerous dufuses in the WH are hammering wedges to exacerbate divisions among Americans, and their sledgehammers are made from lies.  Trump and his cohorts are doing more damage to the USA than any other entity in history.

 

41 minutes ago, Boon Mee said:

Excellent move on VPN Pence's part. No support for those who disrespect the flag or the Police. 

Except none of the players are disrespecting the flag or police or frog breeding or mayonaise. 

Pence has as much wisdom as a bar of perfumed soap.  He's a danger to America.

[wayned]

44 minutes ago, Boon Mee said:

No support for those who disrespect the flag or the Police.

But you respect someone who comes from a rich family that got a note from his doctor so that he didn't have to serve in the military and possibly go to Vietnam because he had sore feet!

[Boon Mee]

Just now, boomerangutang said:

Except players aren't saying they don't like the USA.  They're peacefully protesting for 2 minutes against racial problems.  Trump, Pence and all the other dangerous dufuses in the WH are hammering wedges to exacerbate divisions among Americans, and their sledgehammers are made from lies.  Trump and his cohorts are doing more damage to the USA than any other entity in history.

 

Except none of the players are disrespecting the flag or police or frog breeding or mayonaise. 

Pence has as much wisdom as a bar of perfumed soap.  He's a danger to America.

Politics should have nothing to do with sports - full stop.

 

Racial Problems?

 

That's the bit we like about the Obama Era - all the Racial Healing...

[hansnl]

1 hour ago, tonray said:

Pence is an even bigger phony than Trump. At least Trump does not hide behind self-righteous religious ideology. If Pence had any real principles he would not lied time and again to cover Trump's own lies. Another poser who wears a nice suit but has no real core....can't wait to get rid of both of these parasites, sucking the life out of American democracy

I am afraid you really don't see it, do you.

It were the last eight years damaging democracy, inside and outside the US.

And making the world a much more dangerous place.

[bushwacker]

Hmm ... I bet all of the fans hung their heads and started to cry as Pence left the stadium.  How can we enjoy our game now that the VP has left?  What I see is a way to force the Pres and VP to leave any gathering by merely dropping to a knee! 

 

And another thing ... why is it disrespectful?  In the rest of the world, dropping to the knee for royalty etc.  is a sign of respect, fealty  and allegiance.  Why is it different in their country.  Maybe the people in authority should view it as the people saying 200 years of beating up and taking advantage of the minorities must stop and please do something as the other avenues open to protest are not working.

 

Maybe the VP should take some action to stop the inequality instead of walking out in a huff.  Just saying ....

[Scott]

Off-topic post removed.  

[Boon Mee]

5 minutes ago, bushwacker said:

Maybe the VP should take some action to stop the inequality instead of walking out in a huff.  Just saying ....

What inequality? 

[stevenl]

1 hour ago, Boon Mee said:

Pence is an Indiana native and went to the game to show support for his team.

 

Instead he sees these silly people posturing and he rightfully refused to be silent in the face of this blatant disrespect.

 

The NFL is dying fast...

Yes, first time he went there in how many years?

[stevenl]

1 hour ago, Boon Mee said:

Politics should have nothing to do with sports - full stop.

 

Racial Problems?

 

That's the bit we like about the Obama Era - all the Racial Healing...

So stop playing the national anthem before the games.

[RichinThailand]

1 hour ago, Boon Mee said:

Excellent move on VPN Pence's part. No support for those who disrespect the flag or the Police. 

There is NO disrespect for the flag!!  That is made up by Trump himself.   This is protest of all the Blacks being killed by the police in the USA without cause and then no prosecution.

[Boon Mee]

Just now, stevenl said:

Yes, first time he went there in how many years?

It doesn't matter what the Trump Administration does, the Deep State will continue to attempt to derail for the next 7 years...

[Boon Mee]

1 minute ago, stevenl said:

So stop playing the national anthem before the games.

Naw, that's a tradition so steeped in American culture you might as well be dreaming of abolishing the second amendment too...

[RichinThailand]

Now the truth has come out...Trump told puppydog Pence to leave if anyone took a knee, knowing full well that the 49er's were going to do exactly that!  The press pool was told to stay in the van as there might be an early departure!  This entire "thing" was a political stunt perpetrated by TRUMP.

 

He seems to think that the Presidency of the United States is another Reality Show.  The trouble is, it is REAL and Trump may well lead to the deaths of many South Koreans if allowed to continue!  It is time to IMPEACH!

[Boon Mee]

Just now, RichinThailand said:

 and Trump may well lead to the deaths of many South Koreans if allowed to continue! 

Uh...better check with Kim Rocket Man who is the threat here bud...

[Pib]

Pence had this planned....that is, he knew some players would kneel and then he would walk out to get plenty of press attention.  All planned....all political. 

 

Pence is not as big of dirt-bag as Trump (which would be an impossible feat to achieve), but Pence is still a BIG dirt-bag...and he's a long time swamp dweller.