Washington - Obama: Tough Call On Letting A Son Play Football |
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FILE- In this April 23, 2012 file photo, President Obama strikes the Heisman pose after he awarded the Commander-in-Chief Trophy to the Air Force Academy football team at the White House in Washington. I'm a big football fan, but I have to tell you, if I had a son, I'd have to think long and hard before I let him play football, President Barack Obama tells The New Republic. In an interview in the magazines Feb. 11 issue, Obama says he worries more about college players than he does about those in the NFL. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, File)Washington - President Barack Obama is a big football fan with two daughters, but if he had a son, he says he’d “have to think long and hard” before letting him play because of the physical toll the game takes.
“I think that those of us who love the sport are going to have to wrestle with the fact that it will probably change gradually to try to reduce some of the violence,” Obama tells The New Republic.
“In some cases, that may make it a little bit less exciting, but it will be a whole lot better for the players, and those of us who are fans maybe won’t have to examine our consciences quite as much.”
In an interview in the magazine’s Feb. 11 issue, Obama said he worries more about college players than he does about those in the NFL.
“The NFL players have a union, they’re grown men, they can make some of these decisions on their own, and most of them are well-compensated for the violence they do to their bodies,” Obama said. “You read some of these stories about college players who undergo some of these same problems with concussions and so forth and then have nothing to fall back on. That’s something that I’d like to see the NCAA think about.”
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello responded Sunday, “We have no higher priority than player health and safety at all levels of the game.”
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Read Comments (18) — Post Yours »
1
Jan 27, 2013 at 06:46 PM georgewashingtonbridge Says:Report as Inappropriate
Every day, this man thinks of new ways to attack American values.
2
Jan 27, 2013 at 06:59 PM Secular Says:Report as Inappropriate
What this man gets away with is unbelievable !!
What's worse, the media give him a pass - all the time.
"Washington - President Barack Obama is a big football fan with two daughters, but if he had a son, he says he’d “have to think long and hard” before letting him play because of the physical toll the game takes."..
.. So for some reason, he feels no compunction about his girls NOT playing football that, he thinks, may take a physical toll on boys, but he has no qualms about sending his daughters to the front lines.
Again, It is dogma that girls don't play football, and not part of the NFL, Yet for some reason the President feels a need to compromise the military and moral by having women serve in the front lines.
It's not about women carrying guns or being promoted, It's about lowering the standards to allow a predetermined ratio of women in certain units. Just as there are calls to have 50 women senators or 200+ congresswomen. Or the absolute necessity to have a woman president, regardless of qualifications.
Hypocrisy!
3
Jan 27, 2013 at 08:32 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
sexism. women can compete with men in the army which protects our nation but playing football only if he had a son....
4
Jan 27, 2013 at 08:39 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ sexism. women can compete with men in the army which protects our nation but playing football only if he had a son.... ”
Most football leagues (high school and beyond) don't let girls play, so it's not sexism on Obama's part.
5
Jan 27, 2013 at 09:45 PM yaakov doe Says:Report as Inappropriate
I assume if you ask a shaila as if one could play college or professional football a rav would voice an opinion similiar to Obama's. Evidence is mounting that there's long term damage, but the pros are well compensated for that eventuality.
6
Jan 27, 2013 at 11:15 PM Eli Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ Every day, this man thinks of new ways to attack American values. ”
So voicing concern about the mounting evidence of football's negative longterm effects on players is to "attack American values"? Boy, you Obama haters get more desperate and nutty by the day. The GOP will never recapture the White House as long as fruitcake views like yours represent the party's mainstream.
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Jan 28, 2013 at 12:03 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
He is right, but really the fact is that football is a culture and we are not ready to realign our future in a way that is not as appealing or uncomfortable for the fan base. And of course today we know the risks.
8
Jan 28, 2013 at 02:50 AM Yawvous Says:Report as Inappropriate
Why all the hype about football? Would we be hearing the same repercussions if his son would think about boxing as a career? And doesn't everyone understand that there are health risks in playing football? Isn't a scholastic career just as profitable and less hazardous?
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Jan 28, 2013 at 08:15 AM Secular Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ Most football leagues (high school and beyond) don't let girls play, so it's not sexism on Obama's part. ”
Exactly, and up until last week the military didn't let girls play (on the front lines) either...
10
Jan 28, 2013 at 09:03 AM PaulinSaudi Says:Report as Inappropriate
It is only a matter of time. American-rules football is doomed. The next nail in the coffin will be this summer's trial in Philadelphia.
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Jan 28, 2013 at 10:23 AM Clarification Says:Report as Inappropriate
Regarding the various comments about equality in the military (which I support), among men and women, I was wondering if something could be clarified? Why does the government only require males to register for Selective Service, and not females? Somehow, there is a dichotomy here; if there is to be true equality in the armed forces, then both males and females should be required to register for Selective Service. Otherwise, the Selective Service System should be abolished, as it has not required conscription in forty years.
12
Jan 28, 2013 at 10:31 AM Shimon Says:Report as Inappropriate
No, Mr. President. The REALLY tough call was your reelection!
13
Jan 28, 2013 at 12:05 PM Anon Ibid Opcit Says:Report as Inappropriate
He's absolutely right. Football is incredibly physically damaging. It causes thousands of brain and spine injuries every year. If Chemistry were as dangerous as football, Science classes would be outlawed.
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Jan 28, 2013 at 04:33 PM marcia Says:Report as Inappropriate
The guy has no guts when he needs to stand up as a leader for our country and he's equally "squeamish" when it comes to sports! So is it okay for his daughters to play soccer or field hockey or do the secret service do that for them? Please...give me a break, the chess club, debate team and philosophy are all wonderful parts of education, stop trying to "bubble" your child to the point of suffocation! Too much or too little of anything is no good..moderation and SAYCHEL helps!
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Jan 28, 2013 at 04:39 PM marcia Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ Regarding the various comments about equality in the military (which I support), among men and women, I was wondering if something could be clarified? Why does the government only require males to register for Selective Service, and not females? Somehow, there is a dichotomy here; if there is to be true equality in the armed forces, then both males and females should be required to register for Selective Service. Otherwise, the Selective Service System should be abolished, as it has not required conscription in forty years. ”
Totally agree, as long as women want to have the same jobs with equal pay and are capable of doing the EXACT same thing as their male counterpart, then I concur. But, they are not capable, and there lies the difference. A male and female of the same height/weight are not the same...the male can physically do more. As for I.Q...the woman far surpasses the man!
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Jan 28, 2013 at 05:51 PM Anon Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ Exactly, and up until last week the military didn't let girls play (on the front lines) either... ”
You're doubling down on your lack of understanding. The fact is that women have been in combat situations for decades. They come under fire, fight back, are maimed, taken captive and killed. They are not, however, compensated or recognized for this. In addition, there are numerous jobs that women have been precluded from taking that are classified as combat jobs. This has prevented many women from advancing in the military. In addition, the new regulations provide that the military gets to determine the qualifications for each position. If a woman does not meet those qualifications, she cannot have the job. If she can meet the qualifications and the military agrees, who are you to disagree?
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Jan 28, 2013 at 07:40 PM monalisa Says:Report as Inappropriate
Didn't he say if he had a son, he'd look like Trayvon Marton? Inside AND out, Mr. Great Divider??
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Jan 30, 2013 at 03:48 AM bewhiskered Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ Didn't he say if he had a son, he'd look like Trayvon Marton? Inside AND out, Mr. Great Divider?? ”
"Didn't he say if he had a son, he'd look like Trayvon Marton?"
And, here is yet another 'brilliant' remark from the feral racist that you are! Come on! Where are your guts? You're dying to use the big 'N' word, but are too much of a coward to do so! Not that you're able to face reality, but President Obama beat the living daylights out of your pathetic GOP/Baggers (KKK) twice, who are the biggest losers in American society today! It's only the most ignorant, uneducated, illiterate, knuckle dragging, mentally deficient, white trailer park trash that hate the President because of his skin color. It's little wonder that the likes of you are incapable of posting anything but your own mindless bigotry!