Pence NFL walk-off an expensive stunt

At an Oct. 8 NFL game, the White House pulled off a very expensive stunt. At the cost of more than $30,000 an hour, we taxpayers paid for the use of Air Force Two and we covered the massive security and logistical expenses - to fly VP Pence to the game just so he could walk off when some of the players knelt during the anthem.

You'd think with all their private jet-setting coming under scrutiny, the Trump administration would be more sensitive about wasting taxpayer money and greatly inconveniencing the real fans.

Interior Secretary Zinke says it is "BS" - the reported outrage of taxpayers regarding the payment of more than $12,000 to oil executives for a ride in their private plane from a donor function in Las Vegas to Zinke's home in Montana. Last month Zinke entertained at the National Petroleum Council with this comment, "Fracking is proof that God's got a good sense of humor and he loves us." What "us" was Zinke referring to - the oil and gas industry leaders he was addressing?

With the White House sabotage of the Affordable Care Act and the proposed GOP tax "reform" that will reduce taxes for the wealthy and get rid of that pesky inheritance tax the rich now pay and which will drastically cut funds to Medicaid and Medicare, many will not be able to afford health care.

Kneeling is a form of reverence. In their zeal to suppress our civil rights and promote divisiveness, does the White House and the complicit Republican Congress plan to make kneeling an unlawful act unless one is kneeling in Christian prayer? Wasting so much of our money on a petty, vindictive stunt is shameful. We need leaders who will unite us and pave a path for a successful life for all of us.

Jane Cox

Wheaton