You don't have to respect the man, but you do have to respect the office.
Earlier today I heard on ESPN Sportscenter that a member of the Boston Bruins chose not to attend the championship recognition at the White House with President Barack Obama because "I guess he is a Republican."
That comment made me sick. It also made me hope the ESPN anchor was just joking. Turns out the anchorman was making an editorial comment, but it was a comment clearly developed from reading the player's comments about why he didn't attend.
Here are the comments as quoted from the ESPN website (I've included a link to the story if you want to read it all:)
Goaltender Tim Thomas, one of only two Americans on the team, decided not to join his teammates.
Thomas posted the following statement on his Facebook page at 6 p.m. ET:
"I believe the Federal government has grown out of control, threatening the Rights, Liberties, and Property of the People.
This is being done at the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial level. This is in direct opposition to the Constitution and the Founding Fathers vision for the Federal government.
Because I believe this, today I exercised my right as a Free Citizen, and did not visit the White House. This was not about politics or party, as in my opinion both parties are responsible for the situation we are in as a country. This was about a choice I had to make as an INDIVIDUAL.
This is the only public statement I will be making on this topic. TT"
While I agree with many of the things Thomas had to say, AND while I agree with his right to choose whether he participated, in my opinion his choice was wrong.
The Bruins won the Stanley Cup as a team. Meeting the President in the White House is a team activity and skipping it is not a slight to the President or the government - it's a slight to his teammates.
I don't like many of the policies or government programs developed and/or supported by President Obama. But give me the opportunity to meet the President in the White House and I would go in a heartbeat. There is no question President Obama is an historic figure in our nation's history and I could never pass up the chance to meet someone who is a part of American history.
From my perspective, this is an act of selfishness on the player's part and disrespect for the President - the office, not the man - and the rest of his teammates. If Thomas wants to protest the growth of government, there are many other opportunities to share that protest. This was not the time or place.
http://espn.go.com/boston/nhl/story/_/id/7493826/barack-obama-honors-stanley-cup-champion-boston-bruins-tim-thomas-no-show
