Vice President Mike Pence had a moving bipartisan moment with the young children of a Democratic senator on Thursday.
During the ceremonial swearing-in for newly elected and re-elected senators, Pence greeted the sons of Connecticut Democrat Chris Murphy by offering praise of their father.
“You [sic] shoildnknow how much I respect your father and the work he does,” Pence said, as reported by George Colli, a investigative report for WTNH, a Connecticut affiliate of ABC.
During the family greeting, Pence acknowledged that he and Murphy served together “for a little bit” in the House of Representatives.
Here is more from the ceremonial swearing in for @ChrisMurphyCT. It is the family greeting @VP prior to taking oath. @WTNH pic.twitter.com/ww9wHJ6cVz
— George Colli (@GeorgeColli) January 3, 2019
The display on the first day of the 116th Congress was a rare moment of civility between parties. Pence and Murphy have traded barbs over the years.
For instance, in 2017 Murphy criticized Pence after he walked out of an Indianapolis Colts football game, dubbing it a “multi million dollar political stunt paid for by taxpayers.”
The pair have also sparred on Twitter over healthcare.
