Some people — mainly liberal U2 fans — aren’t reacting too well to a meeting held over the weekend between the band’s frontman, Bono, and U.S. Vice President Mike Pence.
The brief encounter unfolded on Saturday at the Munich Security Conference, where Bono thanked Pence for his support for President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a U.S. initiative that combats HIV-AIDS in Africa, the New York Daily News reported.
“Twice on the House floor you defended that. That’s how we know you, and we really appreciate that,” Bono said during the meeting in reference to Pence’s support for the measure in both 2003 and 2008.
Bono meets Vice President Mike Pence in Munich: "You're the second busiest man on earth." https://t.co/RgGAioQJyG pic.twitter.com/xB7ZFi1A4t
— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) February 18, 2017
The singer also quipped that Pence is “the second busiest man on Earth.”
For his part, Pence said he appreciated the chance to get together with Bono, recalling the performer’s past support of the measure. Pence added that Bono played an important role in ensuring the “historic accomplishment” moved forward.
“It was an extraordinary historic accomplishment and you played a leading role in carrying it forward,” Pence said.
Enjoyed chatting w/ Bono at @MunSecConf. Discussed prior effort to twice pass Africa AIDS assistance & future security in developing nations pic.twitter.com/LJcvF4mXid
— Vice President Pence (@VP) February 18, 2017
But while the two men exchanged pleasantries — something that’s rare among people who are perceived to be on opposing ideological sides (while Bono has criticized President Donald Trump in the past, he, like Pence, is a Christian) — not everyone was elated about their kind interaction.
Here are just some of the responses:
Bono praises Pence for fighting AIDS, when hundreds contracted HIV in Indiana due to his policies, and I need a moment.
— Liberal Librarian (@Lib_Librarian) February 19, 2017
Wow Bono & @U2start Its amazing you support HIV care in Africa w/Pence, the same man who is destroying health care in America. Very sad.
— Christopher Sawyer (@SawyerSommelier) February 20, 2017
@NYMag @vulture @U2 Bono – if you believe that, Bono, you have been conned. Pence causes AIDS in his own state! Check the news then respond
— GCJ (@HowesGrant) February 20, 2017
Bono praising Pence for supporting HIV meds in Africa ignores his responsibility for the explosion of HIV in Indiana through program cuts
— D Gilmore-Kavanagh (@DrDeclanK) February 18, 2017
@ItaOKelly Why Bono? Why?
— Ursula Curtin (@ursulacurtin) February 18, 2017
So, there you have it. You can see the entire reaction here. Claims about Pence “causing” HIV in Indiana are far more complex than were presented on social media. You can read what really happened here.
(H/T: TheBlaze)
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