The Pence Walkout: Will Someone Tell The NFL They're Fighting A Losing War

Vice President Mike Pence walked out during a football game because not all the players stood for the national anthem. The Indianapolis Colts played the San Francisco 49ers. Was this expected—the kneeling? Yes. Was it a PR stunt, as 49ers safety Eric Reid said? Maybe—but who cares? We’re treating this as if the NFL and the Trump administration are on equal footing. That’s not the case. The Trump White House is on the right side of this; the polling shows it. The fans’ reactions have shown it. The NFL owners know it. Since Trump weighed in on the anthem protests during games, there have been spikes in refund requests from ticket holders, sales have dropped, and approval has sunk. It’s playing a part in the torpedoing of NFL ratings this season. Colin Kaepernick, who was a quarterback for the 49ers, and his antics are viewed as unpatriotic by 72 percent of Americans. It’s not about the issues. It’s not about free speech. Everyone knows these players have that right, but if this was meant to induce some awareness on police brutality or race relations, that’s lost. The fans, the American people, see one thing: players disrespecting the flag and our troops—those who are veterans and others who are still in uniform. We’re still fighting a war in Afghanistan if you’re still wondering if this is unseemly, which it is.