It appears as if VP Pence attended the Colts/49ers game, with the knowledge (possibly the intention) that he would be walking out to express his dissatisfaction with NFL players kneeling during the anthem. Based on reporting, it seems as if President Trump asked him to leave if any players kneeled, and the press corps that attended with the VP was asked to remain outside, because there might be an early departure.
Knowing that it was almost a 100% surety that some players would take a knee, it sure seems like this was an orchestrated stunt.
Aside from the cost associated with moving the VP around to a major public event like this, and however you view the protests themselves, it sure seems like this was a petty move and a lost opportunity. Instead of saying that he wouldn't dignify an event that disrespects our "soldiers, our Flag, or our National Anthem," he could have brought attention to the vast majority who chose to stand for the anthem. If there are 100 people at an event, and 95 of them stand for the anthem, I'm not sure why those 5 people who knelt are somehow considered to have ruined the event. He missed a chance to show leadership, make a statement about the true importance of the anthem, the flag, and what they symbolize, and to pull attention in a positive direction.
Oh, and if I were the VP's staff, I'd advise him to capitalize "Soldiers," especially if he's going to nonsensically capitalize the words "flag" and "anthem."
Slowguy
(insert pithy phrase here...)
Knowing that it was almost a 100% surety that some players would take a knee, it sure seems like this was an orchestrated stunt.
Aside from the cost associated with moving the VP around to a major public event like this, and however you view the protests themselves, it sure seems like this was a petty move and a lost opportunity. Instead of saying that he wouldn't dignify an event that disrespects our "soldiers, our Flag, or our National Anthem," he could have brought attention to the vast majority who chose to stand for the anthem. If there are 100 people at an event, and 95 of them stand for the anthem, I'm not sure why those 5 people who knelt are somehow considered to have ruined the event. He missed a chance to show leadership, make a statement about the true importance of the anthem, the flag, and what they symbolize, and to pull attention in a positive direction.
Oh, and if I were the VP's staff, I'd advise him to capitalize "Soldiers," especially if he's going to nonsensically capitalize the words "flag" and "anthem."
Slowguy
(insert pithy phrase here...)