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Trump vs. the NFL
Townhall.com ^ | September 27, 2017 | Brent Bozell

Posted on 09/27/2017 9:58:53 AM PDT by Kaslin

The national media remain obsessed over President Trump's tweets, especially when they can be interpreted as racially inflammatory. Liberal sports journalists spent the summer hoping and wondering when the original national anthem kneeler, Colin Kaepernick, was going to get another quarterback job in the NFL. It never happened, so some (predictably) saw Racist America at work, punishing Kaepernick for his courageous stance (or kneel).

President Trump apparently lost patience with this nonsense and tweeted: "If a player wants the privilege of making millions of dollars in the NFL, or other leagues, he or she should not be allowed to disrespect ... our Great American Flag (or Country) and should stand for the National Anthem. If not, you're fired. Find something else to do!"

Ka-boom. The left heard echoes of racism and censorship, as well as flag-waving patriotism, actions they always find distasteful and exploitative. The media leapt all over the controversy, which spurred cowardly NFL teams to make even stauncher displays of contempt for the flag. So they knelt, or arrogantly sat, or showboated by not coming out at all.

Fans everywhere responded by burning their jerseys in disgust.

This is nothing but counterproductive for the NFL. Showy protests during the national anthem dishonor the military and insult this country and all who live here. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, who would have disciplined Kaepernick for wearing green cleats, punted, as did the owners. The NFL wouldn't even let Dallas add a helmet sticker to honor police officers after five were shot dead at a Black Lives Matter protest.

Kaepernick started this fight, insisting, "I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color." He was oppressed to the tune of $39 million over the last three years of his career. Millions of his supposed oppressors were not.

But the media made it sound like Trump started this feud. "Insulter in chief," announced ABC's Martha Raddatz on "This Week." Trump was "attacking freedom of speech and star athletes." Raddatz cited a new ABC News/Washington Post poll showing "66 percent of all Americans, including nearly 4 in 10 conservatives think Trump has done more to divide the country than unite it. Instead of bringing the country together, he has proved to be a provocateur."

Black Lives Matter rioters and their athletic supporters are somehow never the provocateurs. Tactics like burning down buildings and throwing rocks and urine-filled bottles at the police aren't questioned. They're dismissed with journalistic weasel words like "the protests were largely peaceful."

Blame President Trump. It's always President Trump. President Obama was presumed to be a uniter, which is to say the media projected him as one. The polls said he wasn't. Three years ago, the same ABC News/Washington Post poll found 55 percent found Obama to be divisive, and 38 percent disagreed. ABC News buried that poll in a dumpster.

Instead they spun. They always spin for Obama. Washington Post political reporter Aaron Blake made excuses for the first black president: "Of course, saying Obama is divisive isn't quite the same as blaming him for failing to unite the country. Some might see Obama as divisive just by the nature of who he is and/or think he didn't stand much of a chance to unite a very polarized country."

The liberal media are shameless hypocrites when they polarize the country and then complain the country is polarized. They have honored Kaepernick as some kind of "star-spangled" patriot and pushed his radical racial agenda. They have pressured the NFL and every other televised sports league to take liberal stands on everything from race to gun control to imposing transgender bathrooms.

And when those leagues inevitably see their ratings drop, the media will try to claim this loss of popularity has nothing to do with politics ... just as they do about their own ever-declining "news" ratings.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial
KEYWORDS: anthem; brentbozell; demsnfl; donaldtrump; football; media; msmnfl; nfl; nflwaronfans; sports; trumpnflprotest
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1 posted on 09/27/2017 9:58:53 AM PDT by Kaslin
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To: Kaslin
"Trump vs. the NFL"

As advertisers voice their opinions, another "winner".

2 posted on 09/27/2017 10:03:16 AM PDT by loveliberty2
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To: Kaslin

Actually, it’s the NFL vs America.


3 posted on 09/27/2017 10:04:44 AM PDT by abb ("News reporting is too important to be left to the journalists." Walter Abbott (1950 -))
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To: Kaslin

Like many others, I’ve just cancelled my NFL Ticket with Directv. Normally, one cannot cancel after the season begins but DTV is allowing cancellations over the protests. I asked if they were getting many cancellations and was told that answering that question would cost the agent his job.


4 posted on 09/27/2017 10:06:39 AM PDT by DugwayDuke ("A man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest")
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To: loveliberty2

It’s just not a fair fight — Trump’s got them surrounded.

Well, he and millions upon milions of fans who pay these chumps’ salaries do.


5 posted on 09/27/2017 10:08:11 AM PDT by Bob (Damn, the democrats haven't been this upset since Republicans freed their slaves.)
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To: abb

the NATIONAL FECES LUNATICS verses real AMERICANS


6 posted on 09/27/2017 10:08:47 AM PDT by propdog57
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To: abb
Actually, it’s the NFL vs America.

BINGO!

7 posted on 09/27/2017 10:10:06 AM PDT by pgkdan (The Silent Majority Stands With TRUMP!)
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To: abb

bttt


8 posted on 09/27/2017 10:10:45 AM PDT by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is either satire or opinion. Or both.)
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To: Kaslin

Wouldn’t it be fun if Trump held a rally in the city of the most vilest or NFL kneelers at the same time as their game? I laugh just thinking about it! He could have the fly-overs, military bands, etc.


9 posted on 09/27/2017 10:12:11 AM PDT by ryderann
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To: BenLurkin

Trump: They have to change “or their business will go to hell.”


10 posted on 09/27/2017 10:12:39 AM PDT by abb ("News reporting is too important to be left to the journalists." Walter Abbott (1950 -))
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To: Kaslin
Worth repeating online message:
When my president lied to me and claimed 4 of my comrades were murdered because of a video insulting Muslims...I didn't take a knee.

When my president shipped pallets of cash to my sworn enemy...I didn't take a knee.

When my president failed to identify Muslims as terrorists and Islam as an enemy of the state...I didn't take a knee.

When my president claimed that a man who tried to kill another man who lawfully defended himself could be his son...I didn't take a knee.

When my president defended a thug who bum rushed law enforcement...I didn't take a knee.

When my president ordered businesses to spend unnecessary funds to appease a minority of people who need mental intervention far more than they need their own toilet...I didn't take a knee.

When my president ordered that words 'one nation under God' be removed from the pledge of allegiance...I didn't take a knee.

When my president lied to me and said I could keep my doctors and my premiums would go down...I didn't take a knee.

When my president spent my tax dollars in foreign lands to interfere in their elections...I didn't take a knee.

While my president sat by passively and enabled ISIS to emerge as a stronger force dedicated to spreading Islamic ideals by committing murder, rape and torture...I didn't take a knee.

When my president allowed dictators and murderers to violate his red lines and continue to murder women and children with chemical gas...I didn't take a knee.

When my president chastised law enforcement for their actions but ignored the violence in our streets...I didn't take a knee.

When my president identified the weather as the greatest threat to America's safety while Muslims worldwide are murdering innocent people...I didn't take a knee.

While my president's insistence that pacifism and reform in numerous areas of the globe would bring peace but instead led to the strengthening of those that seek to destroy us...I didn't take a knee.

When the election of my president broke barriers never thought possible in America ended up being the high point of his eight years in office...I didn't take a knee.

In all that time I never disrespected our Country, our Armed Forces and Veterans, or our Nation. I remained vigilant. And I got a new president...... #maga


11 posted on 09/27/2017 10:13:53 AM PDT by Stand Watch Listen (I stand for the flag...I kneel at the cross)
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To: Kaslin
Black Lives Matter rioters and their athletic supporters are somehow never the provocateurs. Tactics like burning down buildings and throwing rocks and urine-filled bottles at the police aren't questioned. They're dismissed with journalistic weasel words like "the protests were largely peaceful."

Odd how the haters in the MSM 'miss' so many obvious facts... like how many cops are murdered by black men...

12 posted on 09/27/2017 10:15:55 AM PDT by GOPJ (What's next? Burning the US Flag on the sideline of professional sports games?! freeper AzJoe)
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To: Liz
Tactics like burning down buildings and throwing rocks and urine-filled bottles at the police aren't questioned. They're dismissed with journalistic weasel words like "the protests were largely peaceful."

Odd how the haters in the MSM 'miss' so many obvious facts... like how many cops are murdered by black men...

13 posted on 09/27/2017 10:16:36 AM PDT by GOPJ (What's next? Burning the US Flag on the sideline of professional sports games?! freeper AzJoe)
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To: Kaslin

People are tired of seeing their values, religion, heritage and even their very being mocked and disparaged by the MSM,,the entertainment industry and celebrities. This insult to their flag and all it represents by NFL players, the corporate entity and the owners was not to be tolerated despite the immense popularity of the sport. The NFL and some of its storied franchises have been damaged. They have been exposed to have no honor. Tomlin, Goodel and their ilk are not competent or decent people. If they were, they would have either stopped the insults to America or they would have resigned.


14 posted on 09/27/2017 10:17:33 AM PDT by allendale (.)
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To: abb

Exactly!


15 posted on 09/27/2017 10:18:37 AM PDT by fortheDeclaration (Pr 14:34 Righteousness exalteth a nation:but sin is a reproach to any people)
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To: Kaslin

Before last week, if the NFL or an owner wanted to, this could have happened
* player kneels
* owner fires player
* player’s lawyer challenges (1st amendment ...)
* owner shows contracts, league rules,...
* no legal issue exists, not a 1st amendment violation

After last week the same situation would result in
* Trump (government) says “fire that SOB if he kneels”
* player kneels
* owner fires
* player challenges (1st amendment ...)
* owner shows contracts, league rules,...
* player says “government demanded the firing”
* legal issue. owner stuck in the middle
Owners cannot fire anyone now without a HUGE mess.

After watching the last 2 years of tweeting and speaking, Trump is either the luckiest SOB in the history of the world, or he has a GREAT understanding of what his statements will lead to. It’s more likely than not that Trump understood (or had an instinct) that his statements would lead to results like
1) Stop owners from firing anyone (no simple/quick resolution left since it IS a 1st amendment issue now)
2) Fire up his base
3) Get liberals to spout off all sorts of stupidity (from his base point of view)
4) Reduce trust in the medias as they spout off more stupidity.
5) Because of point (1) liberals will be arguing against the US flag into 2018 (election year with liberals literally running against the US flag)

He probably tweets off instinct, not thinking through all of the possibilities, but he as an instinct that leads to these types of results rather than “his campaign is doomed this time” results.


16 posted on 09/27/2017 10:32:08 AM PDT by LostPassword
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To: fortheDeclaration

These NFL bullies need to drop to their knees to thank God for that Flag and the men and women who defend that flag and all it stands for. Yes two knees in thanks for one nation, under God, with liberty and justice for all.


17 posted on 09/27/2017 10:35:38 AM PDT by cotton (one way, one truth, the life.)
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To: Kaslin

The problem here is not connecting the dots to the democrats who created racial divisuon when Obama through the abuse of his office and the “Bully Pulpit” began creating “victims” out of blacks engaged in criminal activities who were not just resisting legal arrest but responding by attacking legal authority and endangering their lives .

Until this get exposed along with its political purposes which was creating racial division and a impeachable proof barrier as the continung political discourse which has been expanded to include “white guilt” will continue.

When blame the cops for cold blooded killings started by Obama’s it was through his use of the Bully Pulpit. It began with his comments during the Zimmerman trial. Those inspired at least 10* deadly assaults ending in death of any non black who wandered near or in “hoods” controlled by members cf black ganags. One such noteable case is that of Christopher Lane an Australian murdered by Crypts while visiting Duncan Oklahoma.*(I think the figure is more like 20 racially inspired murders)

Obama was never held accountable for his inflamatory remarks. And because he wasn’t he contunued hammering away creating a wider racial division targeting police authority which resulted in cops being targeted and murdered in cold blood.

THIS IS NEVER BROUGHT OUT WHEN THE NFL ACTION GETS DISCUSSED...


18 posted on 09/27/2017 10:38:28 AM PDT by mosesdapoet (Mosesdapoet aka L.J.Keslin)
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To: Kaslin

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2017/09/25/this-is-what-real-locker-room-talk-is-the-nfls-joe-lockhart-levels-a-shot-at-trump/?utm_term=.c3b8a0946e5b

‘This is what real locker room talk is’: The NFL’s Joe Lockhart levels a shot at Trump

Joe Lockhart, the NFL’s executive vice president of communications, wasn’t messing around Monday.

A former White House press secretary under President Clinton, Lockhart used surgical precision in leveling a shot at President Trump

Lockhart was a strategist in the Clinton White House during the Monica Lewinsky scandal

Lockhart’s comment shows that sports and politics in the Trump era aren’t going to be untangled anytime soon and, frankly, that’s probably partly why he was hired.

Lockhart, a former TV producer and the son of journalists, joined the NFL in the winter of 2016, replacing Paul Hicks as the league’s vice president of communications. (Hicks is the father of Hope Hicks, Trump’s communications director.) Clearly, he knows just what message he wants to send.

He also happens to have rented his home in Washington DC to a certain former president named Barack Obama.


19 posted on 09/27/2017 10:40:23 AM PDT by tired&retired (Blessings)
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To: mosesdapoet
When blame the cops for cold blooded killings started by Obama’s it was through his use of the Bully Pulpit. It began with his comments during the Zimmerman trial. Those inspired at least 10* deadly assaults ending in death of any non black who wandered near or in “hoods” controlled by members cf black ganags. One such noteable case is that of Christopher Lane an Australian murdered by Crypts while visiting Duncan Oklahoma.*(I think the figure is more like 20 racially inspired murders)

Obama was never held accountable for his inflamatory remarks. And because he wasn’t he contunued hammering away creating a wider racial division targeting police authority which resulted in cops being targeted and murdered in cold blood.

THIS IS NEVER BROUGHT OUT WHEN THE NFL ACTION GETS DISCUSSED...


Worth repeating online message:

When my president lied to me and claimed 4 of my comrades were murdered because of a video insulting Muslims...I didn't take a knee.

When my president shipped pallets of cash to my sworn enemy...I didn't take a knee.

When my president failed to identify Muslims as terrorists and Islam as an enemy of the state...I didn't take a knee.

When my president claimed that a man who tried to kill another man who lawfully defended himself could be his son...I didn't take a knee.

When my president defended a thug who bum rushed law enforcement...I didn't take a knee.

When my president ordered businesses to spend unnecessary funds to appease a minority of people who need mental intervention far more than they need their own toilet...I didn't take a knee.

When my president ordered that words 'one nation under God' be removed from the pledge of allegiance...I didn't take a knee.

When my president lied to me and said I could keep my doctors and my premiums would go down...I didn't take a knee.

When my president spent my tax dollars in foreign lands to interfere in their elections...I didn't take a knee.

While my president sat by passively and enabled ISIS to emerge as a stronger force dedicated to spreading Islamic ideals by committing murder, rape and torture...I didn't take a knee.

When my president allowed dictators and murderers to violate his red lines and continue to murder women and children with chemical gas...I didn't take a knee.

When my president chastised law enforcement for their actions but ignored the violence in our streets...I didn't take a knee.

When my president identified the weather as the greatest threat to America's safety while Muslims worldwide are murdering innocent people...I didn't take a knee.

While my president's insistence that pacifism and reform in numerous areas of the globe would bring peace but instead led to the strengthening of those that seek to destroy us...I didn't take a knee.

When the election of my president broke barriers never thought possible in America ended up being the high point of his eight years in office...I didn't take a knee.

In all that time I never disrespected our Country, our Armed Forces and Veterans, or our Nation. I remained vigilant. And I got a new president...... #maga


20 posted on 09/27/2017 10:47:36 AM PDT by Stand Watch Listen (I stand for the flag...I kneel at the cross)
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