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Why Mike Pence's daughter bought a book about a bunny that makes fun of her father

Charlotte Pence bought a new book by comedian John Oliver about her family's bunny, Marlon Bundo, that also makes fun of her father.
Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Vice President Mike Pence and his wife Karen Pence let children pet their family rabbit 'Marlon Bundo' during an event with military families in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building May 9, 2017 in Washington, DC.

There is a new book about Marlon Bundo, the nation's First Bunny, written by Karen and Charlotte Pence.

And then there is a second book, written by comedian John Oliver, about the rabbit that lampoons Vice President Mike Pence and his stance on LGBT rights.

And Pence's daughter confirmed Wednesday that she bought the other book, the one that makes fun of her father.

In an interview with The Hill's In the Know, Charlotte Pence said she had just bought "A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo," because proceeds from its sale benefit good causes.

“I have bought his book,” said the co-author of the other book, “Marlon Bundo’s Day in the Life of the Vice President." “(Oliver's) giving proceeds of the book to charity, and we’re also giving proceeds of our book to charity, so I really think that we can all get behind it.”

Oliver revealed Sunday night on his show, "Last Week Tonight," that he had written the book and it was on sale at Amazon.com. (Coincidentally, Oliver's book has since sold out as well as taken over the No. 1 spot on the Amazon best-seller list, elbowing aside former FBI Director James Comey's yet-to-be-published, tell-all tome about the Trump administration, "A Higher Loyalty: Truths, Lies and Leadership.")

But Oliver's book, a story about a boy bunny who falls in love with another boy bunny, came out a day before the Pence family's book was to be published.

And there are other significant differences.

In the Pence family's book, titled “Marlon Bundo’s Day in the Life of the Vice President," the rabbit does things that the vice president might do: consult with the president in the Oval Office, admire a portrait by a Hoosier artist hanging in the vice president's office, read a biblical verse at the end of a busy day.

But in Oliver's book, Marlon Bundo enlists the help of his friends to marry his true love, after a stink bug that bears a resemblance to Mike Pence tells him that boy bunnies can't marry other boy bunnies. Oliver's book is billed as a tale about same-sex marriage, tolerance and the democratic process.

Oliver's book lampoons the vice president's antagonistic relationship with the gay and lesbian community, because of Pence's stance on various issues, from his time as a congressman to his tenure as Indiana's governor to his stint as vice president.

Oliver had said during his show, before making the announcement about his book, that he was troubled by what he described as Pence's anti-abortion and anti-LGBTQ stances and by the fact that Pence is the one person President Donald Trump can't fire.

But Charlotte Pence astutely pointed out that both books about her family's pet rabbit share an important distinction in common: Proceeds from sales will benefit charities.

In the case of Oliver's book, profits will benefit LGBT advocacy group The Trevor Project and health organization AIDS United.

But the Pence family book will help good causes, too. Charlotte said a portion of the proceeds from their book — which was illustrated by Karen Pence — will go to Tracy’s Kids, which provides young cancer patients with art therapy (a key initiative of Karen's as the nation's second lady). Charlotte, one of the Pence's three children, also said she'll donate some of the money from sales to A21, an anti-human-trafficking nonprofit.

Through her example and words, Charlotte Pence might just inspire others in a bitterly divided political climate and country.

“It doesn’t have to be divisive,” said the 24-year-old of the two books. “I think that everybody can come together over Marlon.”

IndyStar reporter Justin Mack contributed to this story.

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