Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy, a Democrat, had some harsh words in response to presumptive Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s choice for vice president.
Trump announced via Twitter on Friday morning that he has selected Indiana Governor Mike Pence as his running mate.
Soon after the announcement, a Twitter account for Malloy, which the state Democratic Party manages, Tweeted criticism of the choice.
“With his pick of Mike Pence, Donald Trump is doubling down on the hatred and bigotry that has defined his campaign,” Malloy said in his first Tweet.
The 57-year-old Pence faced sharp criticism last year after signing a controversial "religious freedom" bill that many believed would allow for discrimination against the LGBT community. Following widespread condemnation, Pence agreed to amend the law to clarify its intent.
"I know what it's like to be on the wrong end of ugly divisiveness and to deal with people who want to punish others just because they're different,” the statement the Democratic Party sent out from Malloy. “I grew up with severe disabilities. I couldn't tie a shoe or button a shirt until I was ten. Many people called me 'mentally retarded' because they didn't know how to treat those disabilities. I had to dictate my writing to get through college and law school, and was the first person to take the bar exam in several states orally based on my learning disability. I spent most of my young life being pushed around by bullies like Donald Trump and Mike Pence who want to punish people for their differences. Luckily for me, there were people like my mother who saw my potential and helped me become who I am today.”
Pence pulled ahead as a frontrunner for Team Trump after meeting with the candidate one of the billionaire’s golf courses in New Jersey. After the meeting, Trump tweeted that he was “very impressed” with Pence.
Pence’s only statement on Twitter is that he’s honored to join the Trump team.
Pence served as a congressman for 12 years and says he is a champion of smaller government and claims credit for the largest state tax cuts in Indiana history, but he also won federal approval for Obamacare Medicaid expansion with added provisions that conservatives liked.
