# Trump Magically Turns NFL Games Into Anti-Trump Rallies **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 24, 2017, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-magically-turns-nfl-games-into-anti-trump-rallies/797216 "2017-09-24T20:34:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 24
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2017, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-magically-turns-nfl-games-into-anti-trump-rallies/797216/461 "2017-09-29T13:32:19Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > **I want people to stand during the playing of the anthem, yes.** I also want people to be polite, well-groomed, well-mannered, smart, considerate, etc. etc. Does that mean I don’t think they have the right not to be any of those things? Or that I want to “stop” people from being rude, slovenly, obnoxious, stupid, selfish, etc? Enforced loyalty is no loyalty at all. That whole free speech thing is awful hard to wrap that authoritarian mind around, isn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2017, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-magically-turns-nfl-games-into-anti-trump-rallies/797216/462 "2017-09-29T13:34:24Z")
> [@HeweyLogan](#): > > Wait a minute… I thought it was the far left who were against free speech (per running coach’s post) but here you’re blaming the right. Which one is it? It’s both. And I said “the Radical Left”, you lying sack of shit. ---
**Author:** ![Okrahoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90db22/32.png) [@Okrahoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Okrahoma)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2017, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-magically-turns-nfl-games-into-anti-trump-rallies/797216/463 "2017-09-29T13:46:34Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > That whole free speech thing is awful hard to wrap that authoritarian mind around, isn’t it? Let’s see how your liberal mind wraps. Should Mozilla CEO Brendan Eich have been forced out of his position for supporting California Prop 8? That whole “free speech thing” - does that apply? When the CEO of Grubhub sent a letter to his employees suggesting that those who voted for Trump should leave the company - does that apply? What about that Google engineer fired recently for the memo he sent that was not “politically correct” - does that apply? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2017, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-magically-turns-nfl-games-into-anti-trump-rallies/797216/464 "2017-09-29T14:14:32Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > Let’s see how your liberal mind wraps. > > Should Mozilla CEO Brendan Eich have been forced out of his position for supporting California Prop 8? That whole “free speech thing” - does that apply? When the CEO of Grubhub sent a letter to his employees suggesting that those who voted for Trump should leave the company - does that apply? What about that Google engineer fired recently for the memo he sent that was not “politically correct” - does that apply? The Mozilla CEO was using his company position to deny rights to the public. As usual, you mischaracterize the GrubHub email. > [@](#): > > In that original email to employees, Maloney had written: “While demeaning, insulting and ridiculing minorities, immigrants and the physically/mentally disabled worked for Mr. Trump,\*\* I want to be clear that his behavior - and these views, have no place at Grubhub.\*\* Had he worked here, many of his comments would have resulted in his immediate termination.” No one is being told to quit. Google fired him for “advancing harmful gender stereotypes”. That’s going against company policy. Just in case you didn’t know, free speech doesn’t exist in the corporate world. ETA: With Trump calling for the firing of protesting players, that brings in the government demanding that speech be limited. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2017, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-magically-turns-nfl-games-into-anti-trump-rallies/797216/465 "2017-09-29T14:21:40Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > [man kneeling during taps at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier](https://americanmilitarynews.com/2017/09/picture-of-man-kneeling-during-taps-at-tomb-of-the-unknown-soldier-is-sparking-outrage-following-nfl-protests/) > > So - disrespectful? Or was he “genuflecting”? This is actually pretty damn awesome. Not the actual kneeling guy, I don’t care about that, but your reaction to it. It’s impossible to tell who this is, why they did it, how long ago it was done, or even if was actually at taps, and yet, the right wing outrage machine is hysterically foaming at the mouth and screaming in spittle flecked impotent rage at this image. Personally, I am of the opinion that it was actually a right wing troll who kneeled for the photo to rile up his peers, but no matter who it was, or whatever the reason, it’s one random person. One random person acting in a way of which you disapprove gets you this worked up into a frothy lather, it’s hilarious. What I expect to start seeing now is libruls actually start trolling on twitter. Find things to kneel in front of, and post a pic of them kneeling in front of it. Wait till the right wing outrage machine goes into overdrive. I mean, conservative fucks thought it was funny to troll liberals by violating people’s civil rights, throwing out racial and misogynist slurs, and then roll around laughing as the libruls got all offended by the actual harm that they were committing or threatening upon their fellow citizens and human beings. That we can work them up into a magnitude more offensive rage simply by using the freedoms that are symbolized by the flag is utter insanity, but I have to admit, I kinda like it. I’m not one for schadenfreude or revenge or anything like that, but tweaking someone based on their hatred and intolerance of a diversity of opinion doesn’t really hurt them, and if they’d be willing to commit one second and two brain cells to it, they’d realize just how fucking stupid they are being reacting this way to such things. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2017, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-magically-turns-nfl-games-into-anti-trump-rallies/797216/466 "2017-09-29T14:23:36Z")
No, it elects them. ---
**Author:** ![Okrahoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90db22/32.png) [@Okrahoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Okrahoma)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2017, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-magically-turns-nfl-games-into-anti-trump-rallies/797216/467 "2017-09-29T14:24:33Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > The Mozilla CEO was using his company position to deny rights to the public. > As usual, you mischaracterize the GrubHub email. > > No one is being told to quit. What does “If you do not agree with this statement then please reply to this email with your resignation because you have no place here.” mean? > [@](#): > > Just in case you didn’t know, free speech doesn’t exist in the corporate world. Is NFL “corporate world”? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2017, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-magically-turns-nfl-games-into-anti-trump-rallies/797216/468 "2017-09-29T14:32:59Z")
NFL is corporate world. The President telling the NFL what to do, however, is an attempt at dictatorship. ---
**Author:** ![Okrahoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90db22/32.png) [@Okrahoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Okrahoma)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2017, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-magically-turns-nfl-games-into-anti-trump-rallies/797216/469 "2017-09-29T14:35:19Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > NFL is corporate world. The President telling the NFL what to do, however, is an attempt at dictatorship. LOL. President has no right to criticize NFL. Free speech doesn’t apply to Presidents I guess. It’s dictatorship!!!11!!! ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2017, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-magically-turns-nfl-games-into-anti-trump-rallies/797216/470 "2017-09-29T14:36:23Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > What does “If you do not agree with this statement then please reply to this email with your resignation because you have no place here.” mean? > Is NFL “corporate world”? That you’re expected to hold to the values of the company while on the clock. Same as in every company. Do you think Trump is more tolerant of dissent? I’m not familiar with the NFL’s structure. In their offices, most likely. With the teams and players, don’t they have some form of contract that covers what is or is not “punishable”? ---
**Author:** ![Okrahoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90db22/32.png) [@Okrahoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Okrahoma)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2017, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-magically-turns-nfl-games-into-anti-trump-rallies/797216/471 "2017-09-29T14:39:33Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > That you’re expected to hold to the values of the company while on the clock. Same as in every company. Same as in the NFL. > [@](#): > > I’m not familiar with the NFL’s structure. In their offices, most likely. With the teams and players, don’t they have some form of contract that covers what is or is not “punishable”? [http://static.nfl.com/static/content/public/photo/2017/08/11/0ap3000000828506.pdf](http://static.nfl.com/static/content/public/photo/2017/08/11/0ap3000000828506.pdf) “Everyone who is part of the league must refrain from “conduct detrimental to the integrity of and public confidence in” the NFL. This includes owners, coaches, players, other team employees, game officials,” So yes, it is “punishable” if there is a will to punish. If that happened, would that be against “free speech”? Be consistent. ---
**Author:** ![Okrahoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90db22/32.png) [@Okrahoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Okrahoma)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2017, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-magically-turns-nfl-games-into-anti-trump-rallies/797216/472 "2017-09-29T14:47:37Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > That you’re expected to hold to the values of the company while on the clock. He was not talking about “while on the clock”. That is, he was not talking about expressing political views at work. He was talking about **holding** these political views. “I want to be clear that this behavior - and these views, have no place at Grubhub. Had he [Trump] worked here, many of his comments would have resulted in his immediate termination.” So - he says that anyone expressing those views at work would have been terminated and that has been the policy already. So why write the email? Because he’s adding that if you disagree with him on these views, you should resign. Just for holding those views. Of course, after the backlash, the CEO backtracked. But his email stands for itself. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2017, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-magically-turns-nfl-games-into-anti-trump-rallies/797216/473 "2017-09-29T14:48:04Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > NFL is corporate world. The President telling the NFL what to do, however, is an attempt at dictatorship. That’s an extreme interpretation. If the President attempted to enforce it, I’d agree. The President just criticizing the NFL is merely him voicing an opinion. > [@Okrahoma](#): > > LOL. President has no right to criticize NFL. Free speech doesn’t apply to Presidents I guess. It’s dictatorship!!!11!!! President Trump can say what he wants, no matter how stupid it makes him look. [Even if he’s previously expressed the view that Presidents shouldn’t be wasting time criticizing the NFL when there are more important issues to focus on.](https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/387565483303923712) ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2017, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-magically-turns-nfl-games-into-anti-trump-rallies/797216/474 "2017-09-29T14:52:24Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > Same as in the NFL. > > [http://static.nfl.com/static/content/public/photo/2017/08/11/0ap3000000828506.pdf](http://static.nfl.com/static/content/public/photo/2017/08/11/0ap3000000828506.pdf) > > “Everyone who is part of the league must refrain from “conduct detrimental to the integrity of and public confidence in” the NFL. This > includes owners, coaches, players, other team employees, game officials,” > > So yes, it is “punishable” if there is a will to punish. If that happened, would that be against “free speech”? Be consistent. Let’s quote the part you left out. > [@](#): > > Conduct by anyone in the league that is illegal, violent, > dangerous, or irresponsible, puts innocent victims > at risk, damages the reputation of others in the game, and **undercuts public respect and support for the NFL**. That’s the only part that might apply and only drooling morons (like you and the Big Orange) would blame the NFL itself for players protesting. Again, with Trump calling for the players to be fired, (which is also a breach of their contract) that brings in the government demanding speech be curtailed. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2017, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-magically-turns-nfl-games-into-anti-trump-rallies/797216/475 "2017-09-29T14:56:18Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > No, standing for the anthem is saying don’t involve the national anthem in your political differences. Whatever your political view is, you’re still an American, and that’s your anthem. That is why you’re standing for it. > > Using the anthem in order to air your grievances is disgusting to a lot of people. A LOT of people. A lot more than you think. People outside the leftist echo chamber, mostly. Sell that shit to Trump and all your Deplorable assholes. I’m not standing anymore. They wanted to politicize it, well congratulations, it’s politicized. And I don’t need that "bone spur having draft dodging doesn’t pay his taxes selling out to Putin " son of a bitch telling THIS former Army guy how to respect the flag or veterans or any other fucking thing. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2017, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-magically-turns-nfl-games-into-anti-trump-rallies/797216/476 "2017-09-29T15:03:10Z")
> [@Evil\_Economist](#): > > Remind me–you were the one yapping about freedom of speech when it was **the Nazis** protesting, right? Apparently your devotion to free speech only reaches _this_ far (imagine someone reaching his right hand out, palm down) Yup, I think you called it just about right. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2017, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-magically-turns-nfl-games-into-anti-trump-rallies/797216/477 "2017-09-29T15:04:31Z")
> [@Evil\_Economist](#): > > That’s not the litmus test you applied when you were accusing others of opposing free speech. You know, back when you cared about free speech. You know,\*\* when it was Nazis\*\* doing it. Right again. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2017, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-magically-turns-nfl-games-into-anti-trump-rallies/797216/478 "2017-09-29T15:12:51Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > “Everyone who is part of the league must refrain from “conduct detrimental to the integrity of and public confidence in” the NFL. This > includes owners, coaches, players, other team employees, game officials,” I’m part of the public, and the players who have taken part in this protest have improved _my_ confidence in the league. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2017, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-magically-turns-nfl-games-into-anti-trump-rallies/797216/479 "2017-09-29T15:14:22Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > It’s amazing how anti-freedom of speech these Trumpheads become when dear leader orders the populace to do something. > > You guys don’t seem to get that you are the Enemy, in teh same way that North Korea is the enemy. You are arguing for a dictatorship. We have to fight you to keep our country free. Rather than not be patriotic, we’re the ones who actually adhere to the values that flag stands for, while you rewrite “respect” to mean “does this ritual I like.” > > We will overcome. We will stop you. We will make sure that your lying and cheating and lack of any actual morality will not win. We will save our country from you who choose to defile it. > > You are the Enemy. And America has never backed down from its enemies. I’m just waiting (and hoping) for Meuller to send to whole fucking bunch of them to federal prison forever. I hope the Deplorables try to revolt like they keep promising. That way MORE can go to federal prison. ---
**Author:** ![Okrahoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90db22/32.png) [@Okrahoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Okrahoma)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2017, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-magically-turns-nfl-games-into-anti-trump-rallies/797216/480 "2017-09-29T15:15:53Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I’m part of the public, and the players who have taken part in this protest have improved _my_ confidence in the league. Of course. 'cuz you’re the only one whose opinion matters. Judging by the fact that, as I said in the post before, Packers, Bears, Steelers, Patriots etc. are now going to all stand for the anthem, the opinion of quite a few members of the public who canceled their DirectTV subscriptions, burned their season tickets and NFL paraphernalia etc. matters to NFL quite a bit. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-magically-turns-nfl-games-into-anti-trump-rallies/797216.md?page=23) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-magically-turns-nfl-games-into-anti-trump-rallies/797216.md?page=25)