VP Mike Pence flew from Las Vegas to Indianapolis to watch a football game but left in a huff when a couple of players took a knee during the playing of the anthem. He then got right back on his plane and flew to LA.
Aside from the fact that Pence should have known the protest would happen and could have avoided the drama by not going there...
Aside from the fact that the pool reporters traveling with him were instructed to stay in the van because "he might be leaving early" (as reported by the pool), so they knew something was up...
Aside from the fact that Trump himself later tweeted that he instructed Pence to do exactly what he did (which amounts to nothing more than a reality show publicity stunt)...
What do you suppose the cost to the American taxpayer was for:
-two cross-country flights for the VP, his staff, and the press pool
-securing an entire NFL stadium for the VP's visit ahead of time
-all the security required during his visit including to and from the airport as well as the traffic control and the disruption it caused to the people of Indianapolis
All that for a short and choreographed visit just to make a point for Trump?? Estimates I've seen of the cost are upwards of $200K - this only a week after a cabinet member was forced to resign for wasting taxpayer money through the inappropriate use of charter and government flights, and others (Mnuchin, Zinke) are being investigated for the same thing.
This administration is crying poor, trying to slash the budget to eliminate programs and benefits, but has NO problem spending your money to suit their own personal needs. In the past 9 months, the Secret Service has spent $137K of YOUR money to rent golf carts at Trump golf clubs in order to protect him - money that goes right into his pockets, and the sad part is that it's all legal:
http://tinyurl.com/ybu8tha6
America, wake up! The swamp is not being drained, it's just being restocked with hungrier animals. Trump is laughing at us for being the rubes we are. What other President spent 25% of his time in office playing golf and made money while he was doing it? |
