# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2020, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pence-refuses-to-wear-face-mask-while-visiting-mayo-clinic/852844/41 "2020-04-30T21:25:54Z")
It not only was a literal example of someone who believes the rules don’t apply to them, it was also his own explanation. “The rules don’t apply to me because x,y,z.” ---
**Author:** ![Lamoral](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lamoral/32/16078_2.png) [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2020, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pence-refuses-to-wear-face-mask-while-visiting-mayo-clinic/852844/42 "2020-04-30T21:31:47Z")
> [@Cartooniverse](#): > > Mayo Clinic employees of any level or stripe who dare to tell Pence what to do would find themselves charged with all manner of “crimes”. Bullshit. Someone should have laid down the law. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2020, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pence-refuses-to-wear-face-mask-while-visiting-mayo-clinic/852844/43 "2020-05-01T01:37:58Z")
[Karen Pence claims VP didn’t know about the mask policy](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/karen-pence-mike-pence-mayo-clinic-mask-policy) Not only is she calling the Mayo Clinic a liar, but she’s also contradicting her husband. The excuse he gave was bad enough, but here she is compounding the badness by making him out to be some clueless schmuck who was somehow oblivious to all the people wearing masks–including his own team. I know she’s just standing by her man, but maybe she should sit her ass down somewhere and STFU. She’s not helping him at all. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2020, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pence-refuses-to-wear-face-mask-while-visiting-mayo-clinic/852844/44 "2020-05-01T02:49:20Z")
> [@Lamoral](#): > > Bullshit. > > Someone should have laid down the law. He did. His name is Donald Trump. There is no other law but his. Um…what country _are_ you living in?? ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2020, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pence-refuses-to-wear-face-mask-while-visiting-mayo-clinic/852844/45 "2020-05-01T02:52:35Z")
> [@Cartooniverse](#): > > He did. His name is Donald Trump. There is no other law but his. That’s right. The clown in the White House thinks “He who is gold makes the rules”. Of course he’s so stupid he doesn’t realize that gold is not orange. > [@](#): > > Um…what country _are_ you living in?? I’m living in China. And I can’t believe I’m saying this. Thankfully, I’m living in China, not America, right now. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2020, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pence-refuses-to-wear-face-mask-while-visiting-mayo-clinic/852844/46 "2020-05-01T04:20:20Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > Yeah, if the highest ranking person at the site wasn’t there, I would be very surprised. You don’t have a 1st level manager escorting high-level guests. This is going on a tangent, but when I was overseas in Korea, in 1976, a general came to visit our post. General Clark. General\* Mary\* Clark. The commander of our unit was a Col. Black, I don’t remember **his** first name. He didn’t like women in the service and made some excuse to be elsewhere, and have some other officer recieve her. He was too stupid to realize gender was not the issue, he was a colonel, and outranked by her. Couple of months later he was reassigned to some post at Ft. Hood. Not demoted, but his new position did not have near the prestige. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2020, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pence-refuses-to-wear-face-mask-while-visiting-mayo-clinic/852844/47 "2020-05-01T05:49:55Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > [Karen Pence claims VP didn’t know about the mask policy](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/karen-pence-mike-pence-mayo-clinic-mask-policy) > > Not only is she calling the Mayo Clinic a liar, but she’s also contradicting her husband. The excuse he gave was bad enough, but here she is compounding the badness by making him out to be some clueless schmuck who was somehow oblivious to all the people wearing masks–including his own team. I know she’s just standing by her man, but maybe she should sit her ass down somewhere and STFU. She’s not helping him at all. His excuse was pathetic. Pency is the head of the US coronovirus response, unless that’s boy wonder jared, and regardless both should be demonstrating best practices. And if the veep office is so incompetent they can’t even do a Mayo visit and adhere to protocol, then they should just shut down the office. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2020, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pence-refuses-to-wear-face-mask-while-visiting-mayo-clinic/852844/48 "2020-05-01T08:16:25Z")
> [@rsat3acr](#): > > Tough to wear a mask when your head is up Trump’s ass. That mask you see covering Pence’s face IS Trump’s ass. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2020, 9:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pence-refuses-to-wear-face-mask-while-visiting-mayo-clinic/852844/49 "2020-05-01T09:25:16Z")
Why are all you blue-necks complaining about Pence’s facial nakedness? Don’t you know it was just a sarcastic prank, to deliberately rile reporters? ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2020, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pence-refuses-to-wear-face-mask-while-visiting-mayo-clinic/852844/50 "2020-05-01T13:23:39Z")
Toadying minion was [finally shamed into wearing one](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/about-face-pence-wears-mask-during-visit-indiana-plant-following-n1196571). ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2020, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pence-refuses-to-wear-face-mask-while-visiting-mayo-clinic/852844/51 "2020-05-01T13:28:52Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > [Karen Pence claims VP didn’t know about the mask policy](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/karen-pence-mike-pence-mayo-clinic-mask-policy) > > Not only is she calling the Mayo Clinic a liar, but she’s also contradicting her husband. The excuse he gave was bad enough, but here she is compounding the badness by making him out to be some clueless schmuck who was somehow oblivious to all the people wearing masks–including his own team. I know she’s just standing by her man, but maybe she should sit her ass down somewhere and STFU. She’s not helping him at all. Yeah, that’s even worse. I mean, If I step into a room and everyone there’s wearing masks, my first thought will be that maybe I should be wearing a mask, too. Pence, though, is so disconnected from other human beings (or maybe just from “commoners”) that it supposedly never even occurred to him. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2020, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pence-refuses-to-wear-face-mask-while-visiting-mayo-clinic/852844/52 "2020-05-01T15:09:54Z")
Shame on the Mayo Clinic. They know better. ---
**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:** [May 1, 2020, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pence-refuses-to-wear-face-mask-while-visiting-mayo-clinic/852844/53 "2020-05-01T15:33:50Z")
Now let’s see if his boss can back up his words. Trump will be visiting Arizona next week and says he has “no problem” with wearing a face mask. ---
**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:** [May 1, 2020, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pence-refuses-to-wear-face-mask-while-visiting-mayo-clinic/852844/54 "2020-05-01T15:49:07Z")
> [@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. Well, dude does have a very special relationship with Jesus. Gawd, I never thought I say this, but he is WORSE than Dan Quayle. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2020, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pence-refuses-to-wear-face-mask-while-visiting-mayo-clinic/852844/55 "2020-05-01T15:58:38Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > Toadying minion was [finally shamed into wearing one](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/about-face-pence-wears-mask-during-visit-indiana-plant-following-n1196571). Ouch. I kinda understand now why he didn’t want to wear one. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2020, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pence-refuses-to-wear-face-mask-while-visiting-mayo-clinic/852844/56 "2020-05-01T16:44:05Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Shame on the Mayo Clinic. They know better. To my eternal irritation, there have been a number of opportunities for institutions to send a clear and direct message to this administration about their lack of respect of norms and rules. None have so far. The excuse is always that they do not wish to “politicize” X or Y. But you fucking well politicized it by inviting the official to your lab/institute/school/whatever. So fuck off with that excuse of not wanting to politicize. Mayo Clinic would have sent the clearest message of all about the importance of following scientific/medical guidelines and they fucking pissed it away. And while I’ve got a head of steam, Fauci (whom I’ve met and worked for at NIAID) needs to stop saying so-and-so “…is a bit optimistic…”, or, “…it’s a bit too soon…”. Fucking say what you think, Tony. You won’t get fired and nobody will think any less of you if you did. For fuck sake, somebody just show a fucking spine when it matters! Just FUCK. ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2020, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pence-refuses-to-wear-face-mask-while-visiting-mayo-clinic/852844/57 "2020-05-01T17:21:22Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Now let’s see if his boss can back up his words. Trump will be visiting Arizona next week and says he has “no problem” with wearing a face mask. Was he wearing a face mask when he said that? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Bredin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@John\_Bredin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Bredin)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2020, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pence-refuses-to-wear-face-mask-while-visiting-mayo-clinic/852844/58 "2020-05-01T20:06:17Z")
Pence is simply a belated member of the [Anti-](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/29/coronavirus-pandemic-1918-protests-california)[Mask](https://time.com/5830265/1918-flu-reopening-coronavirus/) [League.](https://www.forbes.com/sites/kionasmith/2020/04/29/protesting-during-a-pandemic-isnt-new-meet-the-anti-mask-league/#486e5da12f94)😉 ---
**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:** [May 4, 2020, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pence-refuses-to-wear-face-mask-while-visiting-mayo-clinic/852844/59 "2020-05-04T04:42:16Z")
Kinda sorta backtracking now, in a “[town hall](https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/05/03/849856919/pence-i-should-have-worn-a-mask-when-visiting-the-mayo-clinic?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=nprblogscoronavirusliveupdates)” sort of interview today. > [@NPR](#): > > On Sunday, during a Fox News Channel town hall alongside President Trump, Pence reiterated that he is tested often and does not have COVID-19. > > “I didn’t think it was necessary, but I should have worn a mask at the Mayo Clinic,” Pence added. Better than nothing? Maybe. He did say it on Fox, so that’s something. ---
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2020, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pence-refuses-to-wear-face-mask-while-visiting-mayo-clinic/852844/60 "2020-05-04T10:22:24Z")
This is why Pence is incrementally better than Trump. He is not a complete moron. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pence-refuses-to-wear-face-mask-while-visiting-mayo-clinic/852844.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pence-refuses-to-wear-face-mask-while-visiting-mayo-clinic/852844.md?page=4)