# Pence refuses to wear face mask while visiting Mayo Clinic **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 29, 2020, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pence-refuses-to-wear-face-mask-while-visiting-mayo-clinic/852844 "2020-04-29T21:42:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2020, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pence-refuses-to-wear-face-mask-while-visiting-mayo-clinic/852844/1 "2020-04-29T21:42:45Z")
Vice-President Mike Pence refused to wear a face mask while visiting the Mayo Clinic on Tuesday. [https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/495107-pence-defends-not-wearing-face-mask-during-mayo-clinic-visit](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/495107-pence-defends-not-wearing-face-mask-during-mayo-clinic-visit) > [@](#): > > “As Vice President of the United States I’m tested for the coronavirus on a regular basis, and everyone who is around me is tested for the coronavirus,” Pence told reporters traveling with him. > > “And since I don’t have the coronavirus, I thought it’d be a good opportunity for me to be here, to be able to speak to these researchers, these incredible health care personnel, and look them in the eye and say thank you,” he added. Well, three things, Mr. Vice-President. 1. Coronavirus testing is not 100% reliable. False negatives are possible, as well as false positives. 2. The virus can incubate in the body for a period of time before symptoms become apparent. 3. You’re the Vice-President, for crying out loud! You’re supposed to lead by example, as well as that orange buffoon you work for. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2020, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pence-refuses-to-wear-face-mask-while-visiting-mayo-clinic/852844/2 "2020-04-29T21:46:26Z")
Well, most masks still let you look someone in the eye. And I realize it would have been hard, but the Mayo shouldn’t have let him in - they have a mask rule, it should be enforced for everyone. It would have made a good story - you see it in movies sometimes, where the private stands his ground and refuses to admit the general who doesn’t have the proper ID or whatnot. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2020, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pence-refuses-to-wear-face-mask-while-visiting-mayo-clinic/852844/3 "2020-04-29T21:49:37Z")
This could be the break the Biden campaign was waiting for! ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2020, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pence-refuses-to-wear-face-mask-while-visiting-mayo-clinic/852844/4 "2020-04-29T21:54:12Z")
Fuck Mike Pence. ---
**Author:** ![Skypist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skypist/32/169_2.png) [@Skypist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skypist)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2020, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pence-refuses-to-wear-face-mask-while-visiting-mayo-clinic/852844/5 "2020-04-29T21:55:31Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Vice-President Mike Pence refused to wear a face mask while visiting the Mayo Clinic on Tuesday. > > [https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/495107-pence-defends-not-wearing-face-mask-during-mayo-clinic-visit](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/495107-pence-defends-not-wearing-face-mask-during-mayo-clinic-visit) > > Well, three things, Mr. Vice-President. > > 1. Coronavirus testing is not 100% reliable. False negatives are possible, as well as false positives. > > 2. The virus can incubate in the body for a period of time before symptoms become apparent. > > 3. You’re the Vice-President, for crying out loud! You’re supposed to lead by example, as well as that orange buffoon you work for. That’s because nobody in this administration ever intended to “lead,” only take. This is all meant to enrich them and enable them to grab never ending power. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2020, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pence-refuses-to-wear-face-mask-while-visiting-mayo-clinic/852844/6 "2020-04-29T22:10:30Z")
I feel a moral certainty that this action on the part of the VP was as ordered from on high, so as not to create any optics that would disgruntle the base. Photos of the VP wearing a mask in this situation would look WEAK and UNMANLY. 45 and his top minion, especially, must be seen to be facing down this fake-news non-threatening flu-like bit of piffle and not giving in to the FEAR frantically being generated by the lame-stream media and the Democrats. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2020, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pence-refuses-to-wear-face-mask-while-visiting-mayo-clinic/852844/7 "2020-04-29T22:56:52Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > Well, most masks still let you look someone in the eye. > > And I realize it would have been hard, but the Mayo shouldn’t have let him in - they have a mask rule, it should be enforced for everyone. This. T’would have done my heart good to see a shot of him standing outside a locked door. > [@Folacin](#): > > It would have made a good story - you see it in movies sometimes, where the private stands his ground and refuses to admit the general who doesn’t have the proper ID or whatnot. …and shoots the general dead when the officer fails to halt. ---
**Author:** ![Briny\_Deep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/briny_deep/32/17188_2.png) [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2020, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pence-refuses-to-wear-face-mask-while-visiting-mayo-clinic/852844/8 "2020-04-29T23:03:02Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > Well, most masks still let you look someone in the eye. > > And I realize it would have been hard, but the Mayo shouldn’t have let him in - they have a mask rule, it should be enforced for everyone. > > It would have made a good story - you see it in movies sometimes, where the private stands his ground and refuses to admit the general who doesn’t have the proper ID or whatnot. Totally agree, they absolutely should not have let him in. But I bet they were afraid, even though they’re a private institution (I think), of what Trump might do to them. I know I’m afraid of him. Maybe it would have just been tweets like “DON’T LISTEN TO FAKE DEMOCRAT “HOSPITALS” LIKE THE THE GREASY MAYO CLINIC”, or maybe he could think of some much worse way to harm them. ---
**Author:** ![aurora\_maire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aurora_maire/32/328_2.png) [@aurora\_maire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aurora_maire)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2020, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pence-refuses-to-wear-face-mask-while-visiting-mayo-clinic/852844/9 "2020-04-29T23:15:33Z")
Not only is he not leading by example, this action screams of privilege. He doesn’t believe he should have to wear a mask because he is tested every few days and people around him are tested. Unlike the millions of his fellow citizens who can’t get a test even if they are in harm’s way. Taking time to consider the optics of these kind of situations is just another thing the administration totally fails at doing. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2020, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pence-refuses-to-wear-face-mask-while-visiting-mayo-clinic/852844/10 "2020-04-29T23:18:32Z")
But…but after what he paid to have his teeth bleached… ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2020, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pence-refuses-to-wear-face-mask-while-visiting-mayo-clinic/852844/11 "2020-04-29T23:24:07Z")
But, says he, “I get tested every week.” Yeah, stupid, but you’re being exposed RIGHT FUCKING NOW AND WILL POSSIBLY PASS IT ON TO EVERY POOR SHLUB YOU COME IN CONTACT WITH AFTER LEAVING THE HOSPITAL! ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2020, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pence-refuses-to-wear-face-mask-while-visiting-mayo-clinic/852844/12 "2020-04-29T23:41:33Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > But, says he, “I get tested every week.” Yeah, stupid, but you’re being exposed RIGHT FUCKING NOW AND WILL POSSIBLY PASS IT ON TO EVERY POOR SHLUB YOU COME IN CONTACT WITH AFTER LEAVING THE HOSPITAL! …including?..(a girl can dream, yah?) ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2020, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pence-refuses-to-wear-face-mask-while-visiting-mayo-clinic/852844/13 "2020-04-29T23:58:07Z")
He touches spaceships, too. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2020, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pence-refuses-to-wear-face-mask-while-visiting-mayo-clinic/852844/14 "2020-04-30T00:23:38Z")
My thought when I saw him and his arrogant response was the idiot probably thinks that God will protect him, so no need for the gear. I hope this bites him in the ass. ---
**Author:** ![ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chockfullofheadygoodness/32/511_2.png) [@ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2020, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pence-refuses-to-wear-face-mask-while-visiting-mayo-clinic/852844/15 "2020-04-30T00:32:14Z")
> [@Briny\_Deep](#): > > Totally agree, they absolutely should not have let him in. But I bet they were afraid, even though they’re a private institution (I think), of what Trump might do to them. > [@](#): > > Mayo Clinic receives about $634 million in research funding from the **government** , foundations, industry groups and benefactor gifts. “Nice research grants you got here. Be a shame if anything were to happen to them.” ---
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2020, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pence-refuses-to-wear-face-mask-while-visiting-mayo-clinic/852844/16 "2020-04-30T00:48:42Z")
The mask may have been touched by a woman. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2020, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pence-refuses-to-wear-face-mask-while-visiting-mayo-clinic/852844/17 "2020-04-30T01:54:12Z")
> [@Sunny\_Daze](#): > > My thought when I saw him and his arrogant response was the idiot probably thinks that God will protect him, so no need for the gear. > I hope this bites him in the ass. It would be an uplifting, life affirming thing if it bit him in his fucking lungs. ---
**Author:** ![rsat3acr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@rsat3acr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsat3acr)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2020, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pence-refuses-to-wear-face-mask-while-visiting-mayo-clinic/852844/18 "2020-04-30T02:17:21Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > Well, most masks still let you look someone in the eye. > > And I realize it would have been hard, but the Mayo shouldn’t have let him in - they have a mask rule, it should be enforced for everyone. > > It would have made a good story - you see it in movies sometimes, where the private stands his ground and refuses to admit the general who doesn’t have the proper ID or whatnot. well, yes and no. When I was a CPT in the Army I was in a situation with a 3 star general. I was right and he was wrong. He still won. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2020, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pence-refuses-to-wear-face-mask-while-visiting-mayo-clinic/852844/19 "2020-04-30T02:22:21Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > Fuck Mike Pence. I have a feeling even “Mother” wouldn’t want to do that any more. I couldn’t believe he was even allowed to do that by the Mayo Clinic officials. p.s. I halfway hope Biden picks Pete Buttigieg to be his Veep just to see the look on Pence’s face when he has to swear him in, knowing that Pete and Chasten, a married gay-man couple, will be moving into his old house. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2020, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pence-refuses-to-wear-face-mask-while-visiting-mayo-clinic/852844/20 "2020-04-30T02:25:59Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > He touches spaceships, too. Maybe the hospital should have had a sign that said “Do **not** wear a mask”. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pence-refuses-to-wear-face-mask-while-visiting-mayo-clinic/852844.md?page=2)