Posted on 09/26/2017 4:19:30 PM PDT by abb
Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser says he is boycotting the New Orleans Saints after several players refused to stand during the national anthem on Sunday as part of a coordinated protest against social injustice and criticism from President Donald Trump about NFL activism.
Nungesser, a Republican who is the state's chief tourism promoter, said that he views the protests as "un-American" and offensive to the military.
"To know what that national anthem means to the veterans and their families ... If it hurts one of those families, it's not worth it," Nungesser said Tuesday by phone. He's currently in Germany promoting tourism. Later this week, he'll travel to London, where the Saints are scheduled to play the Miami Dolphins in Wembley Stadium on Sunday. Those getting state funds 'don't need to be political,' one lawmaker says as Saints incentives eyed Those getting state funds 'don't need to be political,' one lawmaker says as Saints incentives eyed
Some Louisiana legislators are pushing for a review of the incentives that the state gives t…
Nungesser was to join the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau for pre-game festivities featuring Cajun and Creole dishes and other Louisiana touches, according to a press release his office sent out earlier Tuesday. But he told The Advocate on Tuesday afternoon that he'll no longer attend the game and is instead focusing on other activities to promote direct flights to Louisiana and other tourism efforts.
The Saints are estimated to contribute millions to New Orleans' tourism economy each year.
Nungesser said he used to be a Saints season-ticket holder and still typically attends several games a season, but won't attend any more as long as players continue with taking part in "take a knee" protests against racism as the "Star Spangled Banner" is played before games this season. He said that players have other times at which they can protest that isn't offensive to the military.
"It's just not the right thing to do," he said of the protest movement that has drawn backlash from Trump and some other Republicans in Louisiana.
NFL players across the country have been kneeling, prompting Trump, during a rally Friday in Alabama, to suggest that team owners should fire any "son of a bitch" who "disrespects our flag." He also urged fans to "leave the stadium" if they see players engage in such protests.
That set off a larger league-wide protest over the weekend. Ten Saints players sat on the bench during the national anthem, and four others stood near the group in a show of support before the team's win at Carolina.
Gov. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat who is an Army veteran and graduate of West Point, has not commented on the fracas, but state legislators have weighed in on both sides.
State Rep. Kenny Havard, a St. Francisville Republican, on Monday called for the state to cut off the incentives the Saints receive under a 2009 deal, while Rep. Valarie Hodges, R-Denham Springs, requested that a legislative hearing be held to review the handouts.
“When you disrespect the flag, when you kneel, when you raise your fist to that flag, what you do to me is very hurtful,” Hodges told group of conservative business leaders at an East Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce luncheon, drawing cheers from the supportive crowd.
“If we don’t take a stand now, you think about what happened back in the ‘60s, when people said we’re offended by people praying and offended by that Bible, get it out of here," Hodges said. "And we didn’t say anything and we let them do it because we didn’t want to be called a bigot. We've got to push back on this because the next thing that’s going to happen, before you know it, they’ll say just get the flag out of here. Don’t sing the Star Spangled Banner.”
Attorney General Jeff Landry, a Republican, said he thinks it's a "great conversation" for state leaders to have.
"Why should the taxpayers subsidize with hundreds of millions of dollars a two billion dollar organization that allows the blatant disregard for our flag and our anthem?" he said.
Louisiana agreed in 2009 to cover $85 million in upgrades to the Superdome and enter into an ongoing lease of office space from Saints owner Tom Benson as part of a larger deal that runs through 2025. Under a previous agreement that expired in 2010, the team received $23.5 million in yearly cash incentives from the state with few strings attached.
Meanwhile, members of the Legislative Black Caucus have spoken out against the threats to Saints incentives as a response to player protests.
Nungesser said he has long felt strongly toward veterans' causes. He said he often paid for families to send care packages to soldiers stationed overseas when he lived in Belle Chase. He has a flag in his office that flew in Afghanistan that he received as a present after the Saints won the Super Bowl in 2010.
"I will not be attending," Nungesser said of future Saints games. "I just think it's wrong."
Mark Ballard of The Advocate Capitol news bureau contributed to this report.
Back in ‘15 when he was running, he visited our morning coffee club to politic. Got his pic.
https://lincolnparishnewsonline.wordpress.com/2015/06/16/nungesser-visits-jefferson-corner/
Nungesser Visits Jefferson Corner
Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser boycotts Saints over national anthem protests
New Orleans Faints...
Ping
Been boycotting all NFL games since the middle of last season
Of the twelve NFL teams that stood on Sunday while the opponents knelt, eleven won.
The only kneeling team that won against a standing team was the New England Patriots, who beat the Houston Texans by three points in a game that had no business being that close.
In the NFL, winning matters.
Teams that tear themselves apart with this protest nonsense are having a hard time winning. What team owner would not want to be on the side that wins 92% of the time?
STANDERS - 11
KNEELERS - 1
Scoreboard!!!
If the protest standing or kneeling, they are still losers.
Coach Sean Peyton said that Trump did not show wisdom by his comments. That from a man who was banished from the game for an entire year for cause.
Commentator Bobby Hebert was whining on his show yesterday about the divisiveness of what Trump said, forgetting the divisiveness of NFL thugs giving the middle finger to the entire nation.
Drew Brees also had some weasel words to offer.
“Of the twelve NFL teams that stood on Sunday while the opponents knelt, eleven won.”
May divine justice continue!
He ain’t comin, Aints
Keep up the good work. Maybe the crooked Guv will take his seat
Or one of those high IQ BLM protesters from Baton Rouge way back when . .
But, I thought the NFL had won because the ratings were up Monday night.
Great!
Great, the NO Saints (get it?) shouldn’t get any state support or any other teams. No taxpayer subsidiaries!!
Ok, I’m tired and going to bed but I found it fascinating that Edwards was actually in the military.
However, he supposedly was in Desert Storm but I can find NO supporting documentation right off the bat.
Can anyone find anything? What I’ve seen so far was that he was in the 25th and the 82d but I can find no particulars.
I heard he’s running for reelection rather than against Governor Ferret Face.
Who do you think will run and what are the chances of ousting that swine?
Jeff Landy (former congressman and current AG) will run. Probably a couple of legislators, also.
http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2017/09/jeff_landry_nfl_protests.html#incart_river_home_pop
Jeff Landry says Saints state funding should be questioned after protests
Updated on September 26, 2017 at 4:25 PM Posted on September 26, 2017 at 3:49 PM
By Julia O’Donoghue
julia_odonoghue@nola.com,
NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune
Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry wants the state to review the public funding, tax incentives and other benefits it gives to the New Orleans Saints following player protests during the national anthem Sunday (Sept. 24).
“Why should the taxpayers subsidize with hundreds of millions of dollars a two billion dollar organization that allows the blatant disregard for our flag and our anthem?” said Landry, a Republican and the state’s top lawyer, in a written statement Tuesday.
Two state lawmakers have already requested the state review public support for the Saints because they are upset about player protests before their game at Carolina. Landry said he supports their efforts, though it’s not clear state support could be pulled from the Saints even if it was the will of the Legislature.
No state subsidies for the NFL (Notable Felons Liberals). If liberal owners want a new stadium, pay for it out of your own F***in pocket, not my - or any Conservatives’ - pockets.
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