As South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg continues to suggest Vice President Mike Pence is a bigot for his belief in traditional marriage, the latter wonders what happened to their former friendly working relationship. The two worked together when Pence was governor of Indiana, suggesting Buttigieg was clearly aware of Pence's religious beliefs. Yet, since announcing his run for president, Buttigieg has suggested that Pence's quarrel with his lifestyle is not with him, but "with my Creator."
CNN's Dana Bash asked Pence about their disagreement in an interview at the southern border.
In an exclusive interview, Vice President Pence tells @DanaBashCNN that South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg's "quarrel is with the First Amendment. All of us in this country have the right to our religious beliefs. I'm a Bible-believing Christian." https://t.co/Po0M9nxq7N pic.twitter.com/8plApMNiHN
— CNN (@CNN) April 12, 2019
"We worked very closely together when I was governor and I considered him a friend," Pence said. "He knows I don't have a problem with him. I don't believe in discrimination against anybody. I treat everybody the way I want to be treated."
Critics were ready to troll Pence last month when the openly gay prime minister of Ireland arrived at the White House with his partner. Instead, shockingly, the vice president politely greeted them with the same respect he shows any head of state.
Breaking: Pence treats Irish PM and partner like he does anyone else—and later at 9:00, we continue to try and make a boogeyman out of Pence. https://t.co/BbJjVEZj79
— ???? (@not_mapk) March 19, 2019
When Bash continued to press him on whether he agreed with Buttigieg that God made him gay and he didn't "choose" it, Pence said the mayor's "quarrel" is with the First Amendment.
"All of us in this country have the right to our religious beliefs," the vice president said. "I'm a Bible-believing Christian."