Henderson: Yes, Tony Dungy posed with Trump, but that's no crime

This story is about Tony Dungy's recent visit to the White House as part of his outreach to help some of society's most vulnerable people.Normally, this would be a tender account of people trying to make a difference where it is most needed. These are not normal times, though.Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Derrick Brooks was on that trip. Attorney General Pam Bondi also joined them for what Dungy called "brainstorming" with cabinet members Ben Carson and Betsy DeVos."We talked about what we could contribute to the process," Dungy told me. "We talked about who we could team up with. It was all positive."That's when the president of the United States invited the visitors to the Oval Office to say hello. Dungy doesn't recall saying much beyond, "Pleased to meet you Mr. President," or something like that.While they were there, the White House photographer snapped a group picture and posted it on the web. Things soon got really weird.I guess some people decided that since Dungy had committed the high crime of being civil and respectful to a president they don't like, they had to take a stand. They took it out on the Family First organization Dungy represents."To my surprise, people started writing or called into Family First and said they wanted to pull their support because I took a picture with the president," Dungy said. "It baffled me."My response is that as an American and a Christian, I have to respect the office whether I agree with their campaign or what they did in the office. I don't want to say it opened my eyes, but I took the trip up there to see if we could help young people and it turned into something like this."And just what is Family First?Let's check its website."Family First is a non-profit organization that provides parenting, marriage, and relationship resources that help people love their family well, and gives them greater hope for the future."Yes, Family First believes strongly in traditional marriage and biblical principles. You won't see its leaders on a float for Pride Day. A lot of people disagree with that, but a lot of people don't.Either way, c'mon. This is Tony Dungy we're talking about. Can't we ever take politics out of the equation?This is a man who actively participates in prison ministries. He works to help young African-American males avoid the traps that can ruin their lives.Maybe that explains why so many politicians want to be around him. This was the fifth president Dungy has met — after Bill Clinton, Bush I & II, and Barack Obama.It was his second invitation to the Oval Office. President George W. Bush welcomed him there after Dungy's Indianapolis Colts won the Super Bowl.I don't know if he voted for Trump (I didn't ask). If he did, so what? With him, it's not about the politics. It's about what he believes is right.What happened in this case is not a liberal or conservative thing. We have become a nation that can't find common ground because we're so filled with hatred for anyone who thinks differently.New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie was excoriated by Republicans for hugging Obama when the president brought disaster relief to his state after Superstorm Sandy.In 2009, then-Gov. Charlie Crist was almost run out of Florida by Republicans for exchanging a quick bro hug with Obama after introducing him at a speech in Fort Myers.The virulent reaction to both those gestures was over-the-top silly, but that was political theater and I guess we expect that. But my goodness, folks, this is Tony Dungy, and all he was doing was trying to help.It was just a picture.Get a grip.

Henderson: Yes, Tony Dungy posed with Trump, but that's no crime

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