On Sunday, Indiana Governor and Vice President-elect Mike Pence addressed the controversy surrounding an incident at the Broadway play Hamilton for the first time and made his boss look like a fool.
The incident took place on Friday night when Pence and his family went to see the critically-acclaimed Broadway hip-hop musical Hamilton.
After the show, cast member Brandon Victor Dixon addressed the future vice president by making a polite and respectful plea that he and Trump safeguard constitutional rights. Dixon said:
“Vice President-elect Pence we welcome you and we truly thank you for joining us here at Hamilton, an American Musical. We really do. We sir, we are the diverse America who are alarmed and anxious that your new administration will not protect us, our planet, our children, our parents or defend us and uphold our inalienable rights, sir. But we truly hope that this show has inspired you to uphold our American values and to work on behalf of all of us. All of us. We truly thank you for sharing in this show, this wonderful American story told by a diverse group of men, women of different colors, creeds and orientations and we truly hope that you heard our message sir, because you all represent all of us.”
And of course, President-elect Donald Trump was way too busy with working on filling appointments and getting his transition team on track to worry about such trivial matters.
Just kidding.
Our wonderful future V.P. Mike Pence was harassed last night at the theater by the cast of Hamilton, cameras blazing.This should not happen!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 19, 2016
The Theater must always be a safe and special place.The cast of Hamilton was very rude last night to a very good man, Mike Pence. Apologize!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 19, 2016
Wow, Trump more or less described the theater a “safe space” for his Vice President not to worry about answering to the people most concerned about what the Trump administration’s policies will mean for their future.
Yes, the second highest public official in America should have a safe space away from public scrutiny.
Trump also had some choice words about the quality and talent of Hamilton’s production.
The cast and producers of Hamilton, which I hear is highly overrated, should immediately apologize to Mike Pence for their terrible behavior
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 20, 2016
And this one, Trump (or someone managing his Twitter account) erased shortly after it was sent.
Trump posted this 3rd tweet attacking "Hamilton," then deleted it fast. Rare move by him. Spokeswoman not saying why. pic.twitter.com/qfXODdakPu
— Patrick Healy (@patrickhealynyt) November 20, 2016
As for Gov. Pence’s reaction to this brouhaha? Well, let’s just say it couldn’t have been any more different than Trump’s whiny Twitter tantrum. Here’s what Pence told Fox News‘ Mike Wallace when asked about the situation.
Via Politicususa:
“PENCE: Well, first off, my daughter and I and her cousins really enjoyed the show. ‘Hamilton’ is just an incredible production, incredibly talented people. And it was a real joy to be there.
You know, when we arrived, we heard — we heard a few boos, we heard some cheers. And I nudged my kids and reminded them that’s what freedom sounds like.
And — but at the end, you know, I did hear what was said from the stage, and I can tell you, I wasn’t offended by what was said. I’ll leave to others whether that was the appropriate venue to say it.
But I do want to say that the basic element, the center of that message is one that I want to address. That is, I know this is a very disappointing time for people that did not see their candidate win in this national election. I know this is a very anxious time for some people.
And I just want to reassure people that what President-elect Donald Trump said on election night, he absolutely meant from the bottom of his heart. He is preparing to be the president of all of the people of the United States of America.”
And here’s what Pence had to say about an “apology” when asked by Wallace.
“WALLACE: And just to button Hamilton-gate up, do you want or expect an apology?
PENCE: Well, as I said, I would just — I would leave that to others, whether that was the appropriate venue for that. But, you know, I will tell you, Chris, if you haven’t seen the show, go to see it. It is a great, great show.
You know, I’m a real history buff. So I — my daughter and I and her cousins really enjoyed it.”
It’s really hard not to give Pence credit for being the adult in the room, but then again, his boss is Donald Trump, so it’s really a great accomplishment.
Featured image via YouTube
