Vice President Mike Pence scored a first when he took a motorcade to a speech on Michigan's picturesque Mackinac Island, drawing criti...
Vice President Mike Pence scored a first when he took a motorcade to a speech on Michigan's picturesque Mackinac Island, drawing criticism on social media from, among others, Democratic Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib.
Pence took an eight-vehicle motorcade to the island's Grand Hotel for a speech to the Republican Leadership Conference Saturday.
He flew to Michigan, took a helicopter to the small island airport and transferred to vehicles brought by boat the night before.
Vice President Mike Pence leaves the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island Saturday in an eight-vehicle motorcade — the island’s first ever.
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The image above shows an eight-car motorcade carrying Vice President Mike Pence driving on Mackinac Island in Michigan on Saturday
Pence (seen in Washington, DC last week) was in Michigan to address a group of Republicans
The Detroit Free Press says it was the first ever motorcade on the island, which has prohibited vehicles since 1898 except for snowmobiles, emergency and service vehicles.
Julia Pulver, a Democratic state Senate candidate in 2018, criticized the motorcade on Twitter, calling it a 'huge transgression.'
When President Gerald Ford visited the island in 1975, he traveled by horse-drawn carriage.
'Banned for a century people, and here comes the Trump Administration trampling all over it, like they do the U.S. Constitution,' Tlaib tweeted on Sunday.
'This video of the cars driving on our beautiful #MackinacIsland makes my stomach turn.'
Julia Pulver, a registered nurse from Michigan, tweeted: ‘For those not from MI, you should understand what a huge transgression this is.
Mackinac Island is a historic tourist site that banned cars more than 120 years ago. Locals get around on horse-drawn carriage, bicycle, or by foot. The undated image above shows a horse-drawn carriage on West Bluff Road at Mackinac Island
‘Our #MackinacIsland has been a car free haven forever, a piece of history frozen in time.
‘Tell anyone from MI @VP just drove not 1 but 8 CARS on this island & watch their blood boil.’
Another Twitter user wrote: ‘Mike’s just keeping with this administration’s theme, trampling over everything and everyone and breaking every norm, rule, and law in their path.
‘They even go out of their way to be douche bags.’
Another angry Michigander tweeted: ‘This is not a first ever in a good way.
'Banned for a century people, and here comes the Trump Administration trampling all over it, like they do the U.S. Constitution,' House Rep. Rashida Tlaib tweeted on Sunday. 'This video of the cars driving on our beautiful #MackinacIsland makes my stomach turn.'
Julia Pulver, a registered nurse from Michigan, tweeted: ‘For those not from MI, you should understand what a huge transgression this is. Our #MackinacIsland has been a car free haven forever, a piece of history frozen in time.'
Another Twitter user wrote: ‘Mike’s just keeping with this administration’s theme, trampling over everything and everyone and breaking every norm, rule, and law in their path. They even go out of their way to be douche bags.’
Another angry Michigander tweeted: ‘This is not a first ever in a good way. This is the @VP thumbing his nose at the sacred traditions of a state!'
Robynn James tweeted: ‘They have to ruin everything. Every. Last. Good. Thing. In. America.'
‘Justify it. Any of you. All you #ComplicitGOP people suck,’ tweeted an angry social media user
A Twitter user who goes by the name Bev wrote: ‘You sir have lost my vote forever!'
A Twitter user who goes by the name Brenda tweeted: ‘Motor vehicles have been banned from #MackinacIsland since 1898. Generations of Michiganders respect the tradition and walk or take a horse drawn carriage around the tiny island. Shocked to see not one but EIGHT cars drive thru.'
‘This is the @VP thumbing his nose at the sacred traditions of a state!
‘True Michigan people will not be pleased. They will see it for what it is…’
A Twitter user who goes by the name Brenda tweeted: ‘Motor vehicles have been banned from #MackinacIsland since 1898.
‘Generations of Michiganders respect the tradition and walk or take a horse drawn carriage around the tiny island.
‘Shocked to see not one but EIGHT cars drive thru.’
Another Twitter user wrote: ‘Justify it. 5 U.S. presidents, Harry Truman, John F. Kennedy, Gerald Ford, George H.W. Bush, and Bill Clinton all came to Mackinac Island. None brought a motorcade.
‘Justify it. Any of you. All you #ComplicitGOP people suck.’
A Twitter user who goes by the name Bev wrote: ‘You sir have lost my vote forever!
‘Disrespecting the tradition of no motor vehicles on #MackinacIsland by bringing a entourage of an 8 vehicle motorcade!’
Robynn James tweeted: ‘They have to ruin everything. Every. Last. Good. Thing. In. America.
‘#MackinacIsland not having cars is part of our #Michigan heritage.
‘Veep just took a dump on the pride of all Michiganders.’
But supporters of Pence noted security is much tighter now.
Mackinac Island is a small piece of territory that measures just 3.8 square miles.
With a year-round population of just under 500, it is said to draw some 1 million tourists - most of whom are families from the Midwest - every year.
Shepler’s Mackinac Island Ferry, the company that transported Pence's eight-car motorcade to the island, said on social media that it was proud to have done so
The image above shows the ferry carrying one of the SUVs of the motorcade onto the island
'Regardless of your political views, your voting history, or your choice in fudge flavor, we hope you’ll understand the logistical intricacies involved in securing our leaders while visiting,' the company said
The island is known for its abundance of fudge, with more than a dozen stores selling the tasty treat.
Not all local Michiganders were unhappy with Pence.
'The idea of cars on Mackinac Island makes me wince,' Michigan-based journalist Alicia Rancilio tweeted.
'But I do recognize security issues like this may require them.'
Shepler’s Mackinac Island Ferry, the company that transported Pence's eight-car motorcade to the island, said on social media that it was proud to have done so.
'It was our honor to transport the VP’s emergency vehicles to Mackinac Island this weekend,' Shepler’s posted on its Facebook page.
'Regardless of your political views, your voting history, or your choice in fudge flavor, we hope you’ll understand the logistical intricacies involved in securing our leaders while visiting.
'We were happy to be selected for this important transport.'
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