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NBC Sports: U.S. Flag at Baseball Games Too Political
Newsbusters.org ^ | April 16, 2017 | Jay Maxson

Posted on 04/16/2017 4:40:10 PM PDT by Kaslin

Everything is political to the overly sensitive mind of today’s leftist. When the Atlanta Braves unfurled a gigantic flag for the playing of the national anthem, it prompted an ultra sensitive member of the partisan media and his Twitter followers to express a whole host of ridiculous claims.

In a Twitter post this weekend, NBC baseball writer Craig Calcaterra complained that the presentation of Old Glory evoked overly political tones. He and his like-minded comrades used the occasion to attack the flag, the military, President Trump, conservatives and the singing of God Bless America:

Will you keep politics out of sports, please? We like sports to be politics-free.”

That was the first shot fired in what became a lively Twitter free-for-all between conservative patriots and hate America snowflakes. He also blogged about it here, stating the government had paid pro sports teams for the opportunity to promote patriotism and recruitment (of the people who will protect our freedom). He said his Tweet was an attempt to troll the “stick to sports” crowd. He said flag waving is a political strategy.

“How is the flag political? Matthew Weymar Tweeted to Calcaterra. The NBC writer responded that maybe a flag “in and of itself isn’t always political. A two-acre flag with a military flyover is saying something very specific, however.” Chris McAllister asked Calcaterra what an American flag for Democrats looks like?” Touche!

Rick Krahn commented, “I think there was a time when love for country wasn’t considered political. And a lot of people would like to return to that time.”

Calcaterra said it’s not so easy doing that: “Getting there requires people to accept that those who question our leaders and do not support all military ventures can still be patriots.”

Krahn told Calcaterra that those who oppose “often do so by cutting down country or those who serve it.” Joseph Daher added, “You can disagree with the leaders and still support the soldiers, marines, sailors and airmen who died under that flag.”

Calcaterra countered, “And you can support them in ways other than flying a two-acre flag, yet we routinely fail to.” He attached a photo of veterans protesting at a VA hospital along with the link to a story in The Nation about a lack of VA resources for vets. Daher called him out by asking: “Baseball shouldn’t have a flag because the VA is in shambles?”

Additionally, Calcaterra said “if you criticize their (sports teams’) use of the military you’re called unpatriotic.” And by not standing for the singing of God Bless America, Calcaterra dialed up his inner snowflake and said the reactions around him made him feel bad.

Mark Simon hit the NBC lib right between the eyes: “This is a left-wing screed. It is not about patriotism, rather what offends your politics.” Ryan Kantor explained to Calcaterra how his complaints are viewed: “You should applaud apolitical patriotism or everyone will mistake your criticisms for anti-American rhetoric.” Cameron Darnell argued, “People die for our rights in this country, so yeah we’re gonna layout the flag. We’re also gonna have a military.”

Calcaterra said, “Wrapping oneself in the flag is a common means of achieving political ends.” That may be true for the rainbow flag.

Calcaterra complained that his criticisms “in this realm will always, always be considered anti-American regardless of what else I say.” Without citing examples, he added: “Conspicuous patriotism is often used as a cudgel to silence/shame those who question our leaders.”

Using that logic, Krahn schooled Calcaterra by saying it was unfair to label criticisms of Obama as racism. “Cuts both ways.”

Additional Tweets further demonstrated the Hate America mentality. Mark Rittle wrote, “I’d like to attend sporting events without romanticizing the war machine.” And Shawn Drotar griped that at the average NFL game “jingoism comes with the ticket.”

What are we left to assume from Calcaterra’s remarks? For one, if we removed everything that offends leftists in the public square, it would be a bland, barren scene. Secondly, many in the partisan media are perfectly fine with organizations pushing far Left politics in our faces. Like withdrawing sports events due to religious freedom laws and with LGBT promotions at their games.

As Gary Deaton tweeted to Calcaterra, “stick to sports.”


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial
KEYWORDS: liberalmedia; media; mlb; msm; nbc; oldglory; sports
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To: BenLurkin

Just today......
Read the comments at the article, seems to be a trend.
http://www.courant.com/sports/hc-jacobs-column-joed-talkshow-0416-hartford-talk-show-ends-for-joe-20170415-column.html#nt=oft12aH-1la1


21 posted on 04/16/2017 4:57:52 PM PDT by CGASMIA68
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To: caver

LOL...


22 posted on 04/16/2017 4:59:12 PM PDT by JBW1949 (I'm really PC....PATRIOTICALLY CORRECT!!!!)
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To: Troublemaker

Looks like keith olbermam’s younger brother


23 posted on 04/16/2017 4:59:37 PM PDT by CheneyClone
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To: Kaslin

Why this poor guy is in need to a safe room, a pink blanket, and some music to suck his thumb by.

The flag and national anthem has been a part of the sport for a long long time.


24 posted on 04/16/2017 5:05:06 PM PDT by DoughtyOne (Happy days are here again!)
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To: ez

The Flag of the United States wasn’ t part of ‘’our’ polotics.....it represented everybody’s patriotism. That is until the Left became completely ANTI-AMERICAN. If they take the flag out of the sporting events, I am done with sports.


25 posted on 04/16/2017 5:08:52 PM PDT by originalbuckeye ("In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." - George Orwell)
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To: Kaslin

Politics out of schools first, you idiot


26 posted on 04/16/2017 5:11:28 PM PDT by goodnesswins (Say hello to President Trump)
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To: Kaslin

CS ungrateful bastards. Tell them to take a hike and kick them the hell out of the park.


27 posted on 04/16/2017 5:14:02 PM PDT by oldenuff35
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To: BenLurkin

Patriotism WAS NOT politics. But the Left has politicized EVERYTHING in our lives. You are either on their side our our side......church, school, law enforcement, ‘gender preference’. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. They need to shut up and let us live our lives the way we want. And the sports teams can conduct themselves any way they want. If we don’t like what a sports team does, we won’t watch on TV or pay for a ticket. If they don’t like what a sports team does, they want to shut it down. MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS, BUSYBODIES!


28 posted on 04/16/2017 5:14:47 PM PDT by originalbuckeye ("In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." - George Orwell)
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To: ez
colored by THEIR politics and not by out politics...

When the left wants their own symbols...


29 posted on 04/16/2017 5:18:55 PM PDT by C210N
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To: Kaslin

I had the privilege of performing the National Anthem at a Braves game once upon a time. It’s not political, it’s tradition. If you don’t like the tradition, don’t go to the game.


30 posted on 04/16/2017 5:23:16 PM PDT by real saxophonist ( YouTube + Twitter + Facebook = YouTwitFace.com)
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To: Troublemaker

Hey, Craig....stuff it.


31 posted on 04/16/2017 5:27:24 PM PDT by Shady (We WON the Battle, Now let's WIN THE WAR!!!!)
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To: Kaslin
it is a free country, still.

let the losers have their say.

the flag isn't leaving baseball or football anytime soon.

oddly, you have Colin Kaeperinick to thank for that.

32 posted on 04/16/2017 5:28:51 PM PDT by beebuster2000
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To: Kaslin
Tell that to Rick Monday


33 posted on 04/16/2017 5:29:47 PM PDT by dfwgator
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To: Troublemaker

So that is what doucebag looks like.


34 posted on 04/16/2017 5:32:01 PM PDT by Red in Blue PA (war is peace, freedom is slavery, ignorance is strength, obama loves America)
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To: Troublemaker

A snowflake by any other name.....


35 posted on 04/16/2017 5:36:24 PM PDT by Road Warrior ‘04 (Molon Labe! (Oathkeeper))
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To: Troublemaker
A necessary and sufficient response (as the mathematicians say):


36 posted on 04/16/2017 5:39:28 PM PDT by grey_whiskers (The opinions are solely those of the author and are subject to change without notice.)
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To: grey_whiskers

WEDGIE POWER!


37 posted on 04/16/2017 5:40:41 PM PDT by dfwgator
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To: Williams

Stop watching.
Stop listening.


38 posted on 04/16/2017 5:41:55 PM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks (Baseball players, gangsters and musicians are remembered. But journalists are forgotten.)
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To: Troublemaker

get this juvenile boy a safe space ... stat !


39 posted on 04/16/2017 5:43:58 PM PDT by redcatcherb412
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To: dfwgator

Semper Fi Rick Monday


40 posted on 04/16/2017 5:45:47 PM PDT by stylin19a (Terrorists - "just because you don't see them doesn't mean they aren't there")
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