The LuLac Edition #3353, November 19th, 2016

SO MR. PENCE, HOW WAS THE PLAY????

Vice President Elect Mike Pence (Photo:FlickR)

Mike Pence went to the theater the other night to see “Hamilton”. Most people who have seen it think it is great. After the performance, Pence who was both alternately cheered and booed on the way in got a bit of a lecture. Now there are some who think it was not appropriate because after all the guy was just going to the play. I get that. But any public figure at any time can get an earful.
There was one of the Ray Conniff singers giving it to Richard Nixon at a State Dinner in 1972. The singers filed in and a woman has an anti war banner that matches her dress. An account from the Washington Post tells it this way: Ray Conniff hears a voice but can't make out the words. He climbs onstage, moves toward it. "You go to church on Sundays and pray to Jesus Christ," the singer says. "If Jesus Christ were here tonight, you would not dare to drop another bomb." Conniff reaches out to take her banner away. Her grip tightens and she pulls it back. "Bless the Berrigans and bless Daniel Ellsberg," she says as Conniff retreats. The banner is folded now, as are the singer's hands. She takes a deep breath. Silence. The bassist hits two nervous notes. Conniff raises his arms. "One, two, three, four," he counts, and the band begins to play. "Ma," sing the eight women. They are staring straight ahead. Doo, doo, sing the eight men. They are bobbing up and down. "He's making eyes at me! Ma -- Doo, doo -- He's awfully nice to me! Ma, he's almost breakin' my heart. I'm beside him. Mercy! Let his conscience guide him . . . "
Then there was Eartha Kitt lashing out at LBJ's wife in 1968 at a White House Luncheon of Women Doers during the Vietnam War. Both of these incidents happened in the White House!!!!! Pence's visit was a public forum.
Donald Trump’s morning Tweet that his Vice President was disrespected is pretty rich coming from a guy who vilified his opponents, belittled them and called for bans on people of color and an entire religion.
One of the stars of the play, Brandon Victor Dixon addressed Pence as the Veep elect was walking out of the theater. With the cast standing, he read from a paper telling the newly minted member of the Executive team “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. Again, we truly thank you for seeing this show, this wonderful American story told by a diverse group of men and women of different colors, creeds and orientations.
Trump said that Pence was harassed. Really? Look if he thinks that’s harassment, he has no idea what’s ahead in terms of how this country works. Trump and by his acquiesce, Mike Pence, have given people of color a reason to be scared and concerned. The little message from Dixon is covered by the First Amendment. It was a truthful expression of a belief that one American had.Plus no one called Pence an offensive name or made fun of him in a disparaging way like Trump did in the 2016 campaign.
These guys better get used to it because as Trump said hundreds of times during his campaign, “When I’m attacked, I’ll fight back”.
Given the rhetoric of the campaign and the appointment of White Supremacist promoter Steve Bannon earlier this week, Brandon Victor Dixon just followed the Trump/Pence ticket’s lead.

MEDIA MATTERS

GOOD LUCK DAWN

Our good friend from WBRE/WYOU TV Dawn Miller is pursuing a position at another station. Dawn and I first started working together on the old WYOU TV Interactive News. We wish her well in her new position. We have no doubt she’ll knock them dead.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

The Christmas season got off in earnest today with two big parades in LuLac land. In Scranton this morning thousands attended the Santa Parade. Later on in the afternoon, in Wilkes Barre Santa made a visit that thrilled kids of all ages.

Who are those three elves in shades? None other then Nancy Kman, John Webster and Karel Zubris. 

Here's WILK's News team of Paula Deignan-Reynolds and l.A. Tarone at the Wilkes Barre parade.  L.A. is also on 6pm to 9pm Monday thru Friday. Both were in full holiday regalia.   However there is no truth to the rumor that after the parade, L.A. was asked to pass the basket at a 430pm Mass in Nanticoke because of that bright red usher's blazer he was sporting! 

(Photos: Karel Zubris)