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Republican Hatred for Obamacare Undermined by Republican Hatred for Soccer
New York Magazine ^ | Jonathan Chait

Posted on 09/12/2013 12:07:55 PM PDT by nickcarraway

D.C. United, a Major League Soccer team, is going to be helping to publicize Obamacare's new exchange. Wait, you may be asking — how can this be happening? Earlier this summer, the Obama administration, attempting to copy a Massachusetts campaign to use the Red Sox to publicize Romneycare, floated a plan to enlist the National Football League to raise awareness of the new health care exchanges. In response, Republican leaders sent a threatening letter to the NFL warning it to stay out. And, for good measure, it sent the same letter to all the other major leagues: Major League Baseball, National Basketball Association, National Hockey League, Professional Golf Association, and NASCAR.

Except (and I certainly didn't notice this at the time) the list of leagues the Republicans threatened does not include Major League Soccer — reflecting either the Republicans' failure to realize that Major League Soccer exists, or a principled refusal to recognize soccer as a legitimate sport. I didn't think it was possible to find a way to make Republicans hate soccer more than they already do, but it associating it with Obamacare may just do it.


TOPICS: Health/Medicine; Society; Sports
KEYWORDS: abortion; deathpanels; jonathanchait; newyorkmagazine; obamacare; randsconcerntrolls; romneycare; soccer; zerocare
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To: altsehastiin
The level of play in MLS is miles above where it was, even 10 years ago.

Although I agree with your statement, the MLS level of play is still 10 years behind other international professional league levels.

In addition, the other international leagues are more of a fast paced, passing, strategic level that makes the game at least some what "exciting" to watch; where as the lazy, slow, nil-nil pace of MLS is simply NOT going to excite your average American sports enthusiast.

I think most Americans would rather watch mens beach volleyball over MLS. I might even suggest that fat naked men playing badminton could get more TV audience than most MLS teams - although I could be slightly exaggerating on the last example.
41 posted on 09/12/2013 1:07:03 PM PDT by ExTxMarine (PRAYER: It's the only HOPE for real CHANGE in America!)
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To: AEMILIUS PAULUS
Check out your "leftists."


42 posted on 09/12/2013 1:07:59 PM PDT by 1rudeboy
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To: ExTxMarine

I do agree MLS is the Bud Light of soccer.


43 posted on 09/12/2013 1:09:11 PM PDT by 1rudeboy
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To: Southern Partisan

Aaargh! I just checked FSC and got some brainless sitcom. Terrible time to lose FSC, with the EPL season just starting. I guess they figure they can’t compete with College Game Day. Hopefully it’ll come back after the BCS Championship in Jan 2014.


44 posted on 09/12/2013 1:09:13 PM PDT by Ax
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To: Southern Partisan

I vote Republican, (see my profile), and I am passionate about football aka soccer. The EPL, Bundesliga, Liga MX, MLS, La Liga, and of course our national teams. Have been for years. Can’t get enough. The loss of Fox Soccer Channel is a real bummer.
Southern Partisan, aka “Mas Futbol”


I am very conservative, very patriotic...but follow soccer. Really been following WC 2014 qualifying on line...especially watching the “Minnows”...real underdogs in sports....big US Natl team supporter....Went to many WC ‘94 matches in USA

Absolutely awesome with Dos y Cero performace the other nite. Mexico seems to be letting everyone leave, including their soccer players! I enjoy watching the USA clobber these Third World narco states

I would probably get kicked out of a USA-Mexico soccer match....the “Thats all right, Thats OK, you’ll be mowing my yard someday” chant would probably make the NAFTAites quite whiny


45 posted on 09/12/2013 1:16:08 PM PDT by SeminoleCounty (You cannot be conservative while supporting the bankruptcy of your nation)
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To: 1rudeboy

I never said that one could not like a sport as a sport. All your picture demomstrates is that Ameicans are still patriotic and resent Mexicans booing the American soccer team in America. I did say one cannot be an Internationalist and Patriot at the same time as it is a logical contradiction. That was never addressed. I did say those that are seeking to impose the sport on America are leftists hoping its widespread acceptance will replace any sport of American origin and as such became an integral part of the culture. That was never addressed. Soccer is not the most important assault on America; the most important is the assault on our Christian religious heritage, the assault our individualist economic system,the assault on our Republican form of government and the assault on any belief that America is an exceptional nation.


46 posted on 09/12/2013 1:23:10 PM PDT by AEMILIUS PAULUS (It is a shame that when these people give a riot)
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To: AEMILIUS PAULUS
I did say one cannot be an Internationalist and Patriot at the same time as it is a logical contradiction.

Precisely your logical failure that I'm addressing: one can cheer for the U.S. national team to perform well on the international stage without falling into the intellectual tarpit that soccer is "leftist," or any other such nonsense.

Furthermore, MLS soccer (of which I am not a fan), is not some leftist conspiracy to take away your belief in God.

47 posted on 09/12/2013 1:31:58 PM PDT by 1rudeboy
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To: 1rudeboy

I think one of the MAIN differences in soccer, when compared to other teams sports, is the LACK of lots of one-on-one competition during the game. For example:

In baseball, you have pitcher vs. batter.
In football, you have linemen vs linemen and defensive backs vs receivers and ball carrier vs tackler, etc...
In basketball, you have player vs player.

In most MLS soccer games, you have very limited player on player time (it is mostly passing and setting up for passing) - they seem to lay back and wait for a bad pass or a quick opening.

That is why I like international leagues and WC games, you see much more man-on-man pressure challenges and that makes the game more exciting - at least for me. In the other leagues, you see real talent vs talent instead of passing after passing after passing.


48 posted on 09/12/2013 1:36:07 PM PDT by ExTxMarine (PRAYER: It's the only HOPE for real CHANGE in America!)
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To: ExTxMarine

I love the Barclay’s Premier League, the MLS is unwatchable.


49 posted on 09/12/2013 1:39:04 PM PDT by dfwgator
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To: Ax

Nope, EPL is now on NBC Sports Network. 640 on U-Verse and online if your carrier is included.


50 posted on 09/12/2013 1:39:47 PM PDT by Southern Partisan (In NYC you can be fined for spitting on the subway. You can, however, throw-up for free.)
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To: nickcarraway

What soccer, or football, because it is played with foots and not with armpits and crotches like that other corporate sport, what soccer lacks for the Republicans is what they call ‘compassionate conservatism’, that is white guilt and Affirmative Action without Affirmative Action which they hate, but instead just rewards for muscles, weight and toughness, and less for sophisticated footwork that the real football requires.


51 posted on 09/12/2013 1:41:25 PM PDT by Revolting cat! (Bad things are wrong! Ice cream is delicious!)
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To: Ax

With NBCSports, if you subscribe to a provider, like Verizon FIOS, you can get every single Premier League Game live on your computer. It’s great!


52 posted on 09/12/2013 1:41:36 PM PDT by dfwgator
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To: 1rudeboy
Furthermore, MLS soccer (of which I am not a fan), is not some leftist conspiracy to take away your belief in God.

I'm not sure ... All those hours waiting for something to happen can do that to people ...

53 posted on 09/12/2013 1:42:01 PM PDT by x
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To: wastedyears
Hockey and soccer are probably the most demanding sports in the world.

If you want to make that comparison then allow soccer full body contact including checking, blocking and tackling without those pesky yellow flags.......

54 posted on 09/12/2013 1:43:23 PM PDT by Hot Tabasco (')
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To: x

You mean, like church?


55 posted on 09/12/2013 1:43:32 PM PDT by 1rudeboy
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To: 1rudeboy

I enjoy soccer to a degree; my sons both play and it is fun to watch them.


56 posted on 09/12/2013 1:51:01 PM PDT by Arkansas Toothpick
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To: nickcarraway
I played soccer in the early 70's. Before there were "soccer moms". Played in a power house soccer town.Excellent youth program then. Was a fullback(defenseman). I had a powerful kick. 100 lbs at 13, I could kick the ball close to 45 yards lefty(my natural foot). Right foot kick was about 5 yards shorter.

Thought the game was fun and never played in HS.

I thought I was too small to make the big team, My fault.

57 posted on 09/12/2013 2:04:22 PM PDT by dancusa (Molon Labe)
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To: AU72

I think soccer is boring as hell but the complaints that you see about 2 to 1, 3 to 1, etc, don’t hold water. 3 to 1 is the exact same as a 21 to 7 game in real football.


58 posted on 09/12/2013 2:32:57 PM PDT by conservaterian (Time for a CONSERVATIVE party, but noooo, if we do that the libs will win !)
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To: conservaterian
How many 3-1 soccer matches do you see, though?

1-0, 1-1, even 0-0 are more common.

59 posted on 09/12/2013 2:40:27 PM PDT by x
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To: conservaterian
I think soccer is boring as hell but the complaints that you see about 2 to 1, 3 to 1, etc, don’t hold water. 3 to 1 is the exact same as a 21 to 7 game in real football.

That is why I think it is more about the one on one competition that makes Americans really disconnected from this sport - not really the score.

And, in MOST football games, you will see close plays going down the field with lots of one-on-one action. Compare that to soccer where there are six to ten passes in the middle of the field (no real give and take, just lots of ball movement), a quick, wildly missed shot on goal and then back to the of-little-value six to ten passes, etc...

Again, this is just my observation, my feelings and those of a few people with whom I have discussed soccer.
60 posted on 09/12/2013 2:56:19 PM PDT by ExTxMarine (PRAYER: It's the only HOPE for real CHANGE in America!)
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