[Farm93]

The Mayo Clinic never should have allowed Pence in its building without a mask. Both parties look pathetic.

Disagree on the both parties part.   Mayo clinic does get a lot of money from the federal government, they were stuck since treating the VP poorly could have impacted their funding and government support in future research.

Imagine a different country.  If Shinzo Abe visited Sendai City Hospital, it would be a rather big honor for Sendai City Hospital.   It would be rather bad form to then embarrass the guest, and might cost the hospital politically and financially for years.   The guest he is visiting has already recovered from the disease in question, so best to just get it over with.

VP Pence, understanding that tension for the hospital, should have complied with the hospital policies if at all possible.   And since he is the head of the task force on the COVID19 pandemic he should have known why masks are important and why the image of him in a mask could save thousands of American lives.

As VP he knows his primary objective is to appeal to an audience of one.  VP Pence misjudged the best way to appeal to that audience of one.

[Farm93]

The Mayo Clinic never should have allowed Pence in its building without a mask. Both parties look pathetic.

Disagree on the both parties part.   Mayo clinic does get a lot of money from the federal government, they were stuck since treating the VP poorly could have impacted their funding and government support in future research.

Imagine a different country.  If Shinzo Abe visited Sendai City Hospital, it would be a rather big honor for Sendai City Hospital.   It would be rather bad form to then embarrass the guest, and might cost the hospital politically and financially for years.   The guest he is visiting has already recovered from the disease in question, so best to just get it over with.

VP Pence, understanding that tension for the hospital, should have complied with the hospital policies if at all possible.   And since he is the head of the task force on the COVID19 pandemic he should have known why masks are important and why the image of him in a mask could save thousands of American lives.

As VP he knows his primary objective is to appeal to an audience of one.  VP Pence misjudged the best way to appeal to that audience of one.