CNN’s King questions taxpayers funding Karen Pence’s security while teaching

CNN anchor John King asked on Friday if it matters that taxpayer dollars are being used to pay for Karen Pence’s housing and Secret Service protection if the vice president’s wife is teaching at a private school that seeks to exclude LGBTQ students and staff members.

{mosads}”Does it matter all taxpayers pay for her housing? All taxpayers pay for her Secret Service protection? It’s not her fault she needs protection, this is the world we live in. But all taxpayers subsidize her life. Does it matter?” asked King, who anchors “Inside Politics.”

“So you mean does her First Amendment freedoms get somehow curtailed because taxpayers pay for her accommodations and security? I don’t know that a lot of people would sign on to that,” SiriusXM reporter and White House Correspondents Association president Oliver Knox said.

Karen Pence’s teaching at Immanuel Christian School in Northern Virginia has come under scrutiny because of its policies excluding gay students and staff. 

This sends a terrible message to students.

Do we want to live in a country with leaders who are willing to disavow LGBTQ youth? https://t.co/XZ8ar5uunm

— ACLU (@ACLU) January 16, 2019

Those applying for positions at the school are required to agree that marriage can be only between a man and a woman.

“I am excited to be back in the classroom and doing what I love to do, which is to teach art to elementary students,” Pence said in a statement. “I have missed teaching art, and it’s great to return to the school where I taught art for 12 years.”

Vice President Pence also defended his wife, stating they’re “used to the criticism” over their religious beliefs.

Some conservatives took to Twitter to object to King’s question.

THIS IS THE LEFT.

If you don’t echo their radical leftist ideology, they want to shut you up.

Karen Pence is a Christian? Well, she shouldn’t be allowed to be, since her Secret Service protection is paid for by the taxpayer, according to CNN.

Seriously, this is insane. https://t.co/mNAVhCXsGC

— Liz Wheeler (@Liz_Wheeler) January 18, 2019

“Christian schools, as private organizations, have a right to have their views, BUT…”

— Elizabeth Harrington (@LizWFB) January 18, 2019

What exactly is CNN’s John King suggesting with this ‘moronic question’ about Karen Pence? https://t.co/Nu6pRsXjJx

— Morning Answer (@MorningAnswer) January 18, 2019

This is horrifying and dangerous. https://t.co/i2y5MxNTAr

— Inez Stepman (@InezFeltscher) January 18, 2019

What, what is he even suggesting https://t.co/3coP809Dkh

— Allahpundit (@allahpundit) January 18, 2019

CNN’s John King just suggested Karen Pence shouldn’t have taxpayers paying for security protection because she works at a Christian school pic.twitter.com/mNGgeFcwXv

— Jon Nicosia (@NewsPolitics) January 18, 2019