It all began with a children’s book focused on a day in the life of Vice President Mike Pence, through the eyes of his pet rabbit, Marlon Bundo.
The book, Marlon Bundo’s Day in the Life of the Vice President, was written by Pence’s daughter, Charlotte, and illustrated by his wife, Karen. The proceeds from its sale go to charity.
But, of course, since the book is focused on the vice president, comedian and television host John Oliver needed to rain on their parade. Or worse.
On his HBO program, “Last Week Tonight,” Oliver spent a bulk of his show criticizing and lampooning Pence over his socially conservative views, particularly on gay rights and same-sex marriage. Near the end of the segment, Oliver announced he’s releasing a parody children’s book to compete with Charlotte and Karen Pence’s book. However, in Oliver’s book, the protagonist, Marlon Bundo, is gay and falls in love with another male rabbit. Mike Pence, of course, is portrayed as the antagonist who is trying to prevent the gay rabbit couple from getting married.
With Oliver’s platform, the parody book, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Presents a Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo, shot up to No. 1 on Amazon, knocking off both Pence’s book and the upcoming James Comey memoir off the top spot.
Rather than express any frustration, Charlotte Pence handled the trolling with class.
“I mean, I think you know, imitation is the most sincere form of flattery in a way,” Charlotte told Fox Business’ Maria Bartiromo in an interview on Tuesday morning. “But also, in all seriousness, his book is contributing to charities that I think we can all get behind. We have two books giving to charities that are about bunnies, so I’m all for it, really.”
.@charlipence on @iamjohnoliver‘s parody book on the second family’s pet bunny: “His book is contributing to charities that I think we can all get behind… I’m all for it.” pic.twitter.com/hEWn4sX95H
— FOX Business (@FoxBusiness) March 20, 2018
Pence’s book is donating a portion of the proceeds to the anti-human trafficking non-profit A21, while Oliver’s book is sending all of their proceeds to the Trevor Project, an LGBTQ suicide prevention non-profit, and AIDS United.
While Charlotte Pence approached Oliver’s attempts at trolling the second family with maturity and class that we rarely see in this day and age, her publisher, Regnery Publishing, wasn’t hopping around.
In a statement to CNN, a Regnery spokesperson said, “It’s unfortunate that anyone would feel the need to ridicule an educational children’s book and turn it into something controversial and partisan. Our and Mrs. and Charlotte Pence’s goal is — and will continue to be — to educate young readers about the important role of the vice president, as well as to highlight the charities to which portions of the book proceeds will be donated.”
Whether or not you support President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, or any member of his administration and their policies, Charlotte Pence is out there setting a bipartisan example of how to respond to criticism and comedians trolling your family.
