45 advocates forced ritual in NFL...

[Brian37]

Well, why not? After all this NFL "issue" that the President is so incensed about is nothing other than a change in topic.

God forbid we should be talking about unimportant stuff like the ongoing Mueller investigation, the continuing repeal-and-replace debacle, Trump's apparent lack of concern that 3 million Americans are in dire straits in Puerto Rico (while others in Texas and Florida struggle to put their lives back together), the upcoming "tax reform" debacle, his adolescent twitter scrum with an unstable, nuclear-armed despot, our deteriorating standing in the world on multiple fronts, the utter lack of leadership in the White House, etc., etc.

Yeah, professional athletes exercising their First Amendment rights on the job, with their team owners' blessings, is the real problem around here.

So what's your point...a politician can only talk about the biggest current issue, or maybe the top 5? This is a pathetic argument.

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This is about the man who holds the highest office in the land using that office as a platform to punch down on his own personal grudges (It is well known he has a grudge against the NFL), and also uses it to suggest that America should curtail this form of peaceful protest.  THAT is 100% wrong, no defense.  I notice no one is actually trying to defend it, they just keep deflecting instead to the players, fans, etc. 

So, care to address the real issue at hand?

So NFL players have the right to free speech, but Trump doesn't...????

You need to understand the difference between the rights of a private citizen, and the free speech AND ROLE of a politician holding office. In office your role is that of diplomat and your RESPONSIBILITY is to seek overlap and compromise, that is called leadership. 45 is not being responsible in his role. 

If Obama had called NHL players or NASCAR drivers "sons of bitches" would you find that presidential?

Trump's rights are not being violated by telling him it is not only NOT WISE but irresponsible to act like Jerry Springer.

He wasn't promoting patriotism, he was using vilification dog whistle code to throw red meat at his far right hyper nationalist base.

Would you like me to review all the groups and individuals he has vilified over 5 years?


Free speech refers to the population, and while politicians do have that right as well, they have a bigger responsibility to keeping the peace and building bridges. 

45 does not give one fuck whom he steps on or hurts. He is not a leader, he is a circus ringmaster.