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The Spectacle Blog
Boston Bruins goalie Tim Thomas made waves when he skipped the White House ceremony yesterday honoring the 2010-2011 Stanley Cup champions. Thomas made the following statement to explain his absence:
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
Bruins President (and former Bruins legend) Cam Neely released a statement on behalf of the Bruins which said in part, “We are disappointed that Tim chose not to join us, and his views certainly do not reflect those of the Jacobs family or the Bruins organization.”
The absence of Thomas was significant for two reasons. First, Thomas is no bit player. He won the Conn Smythe Trophy which is essentially the equivalent of being Stanley Cup MVP. Second, the NHL is largely populated by Canadians, Russians and Eastern Europeans and Scandinavians. In fact, of the 690 players currently on NHL rosters, only 162 were born in the United States. Despite the fact that 23 of the 30 NHL teams are based in the United States, only 23% of the players are American. The New York Islanders and Buffalo Sabres have the most Americans on their roster with nine apiece while the Phoenix Coyotes, the Florida Panthers, and yes, the Bruins have only two Americans on each of their rosters. Tonight, the Bruins face the Washington Capitals (which is as much as any reason why the Bruins visited the White House yesterday) and they only have three Americans on their roster.
Not surprisingly, Thomas is being criticized in some quarters and even been absurdly accused of hating our troops. Yet Red Sox principal owner John Henry along with former Red Sox GM Theo Epstein, both of whom supported and campaigned for John Kerry in the 2004 election, were excused without fanfare for not attending a White House ceremony with President Bush when the Sox won their second World Series in 2007.
It is worth noting that Thomas said “this was not about politics or party.” O.K., let’s suppose the Bruins repeat as Stanley Cup champions in June (certainly a possibility) and President Obama is defeated by one of the Republicans hopefuls in November (also a distinct possibility.) If Thomas were to decline to attend a ceremony presided by a Republican President I doubt we would hear a negative word from liberal circles. In fact, I suspect they would praise him for his consistency, if not his courage.
View all comments (19) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by Aaron Goldstein
http://spectator.org/blog/2012/01/24/thoughts-on-tim-thomas
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Dan Phillips| 1.24.12 @ 1:44PM
He sounds like a Ron Paul supporter to me.
Occam's Tool| 1.24.12 @ 1:57PM
Sounds more like a Newt Gingrich supporter---he wants to support a guy who actually did things, not just prance around "like a Kansas City faggot."
JimH| 1.24.12 @ 2:15PM
To continue with Blazing Saddles references; A man who did things? He can certainly use his tongue better than a twenty dollar whore.
Dan Phillips| 1.24.12 @ 2:47PM
Newt "Alivin Toffler is my homeboy" Gingrich supports the "Constitution and the Founding Fathers' vision?" You're kidding, right?
Clint| 1.24.12 @ 2:02PM
Tim Thomas Is A Glenn Beck Supporter And Beck Was Skinnin' The Bark Off The Pillsbury DoughBoy Today.
The Tea Party Heads To A Brokered Convention.
Bob K.| 1.24.12 @ 2:15PM
I sounds to me like he is a typical American who is fed up with the gross inflation of our Federal Bureaucracy which has it's tentacles in all aspects of our life and I am glad he stated his objection to it in the way that he did.
Too damn bad if the White House is pissed off.
Too damn bad if those enablers in that Irish Paper disagree with him. Nobody complains about them bitching about the English!
Too damn bad if the enablers in the media are upset! Tough Shit, I say.
Too damn bad if a few people here are upset because they disagree with who he might be supporting for president! It's a matter of Freedom of Speech in case anybody forgot.
Too damn bad there aren't a hell of a lot more people like him!
SpiralArchitect| 1.24.12 @ 4:57PM
Plenty of typical Americans still praise Zero, his 'accomplishments' & his agenda.
Be careful.
junkyard infidel| 1.24.12 @ 2:22PM
tim thomas is a stanley cup champion, mvp, and patriotic american ! the cup got tainted when lil' barry hussein put his greasy kenyan monkey paws on it after the penguins won it in '09 ! too bad orpik didn't put an elbow to lil' barry's purple lips when he touched it !
martin j smith| 1.24.12 @ 2:25PM
It sounds like he is an American voter who has an opinion and courage of his convictions-good for him.
C Bowen | 1.24.12 @ 4:05PM
The whole sports team, pro or amateur, to the White House should be done away with as it is unbecoming for the Executive. There are only two Americans on the Bruins, Thomas being one of them, so its understandable the remainder of the team doesn't t spend much time thinking about the odd custom.
So do away with that, and flying to every Natural Disaster for a photo op--that should go too.
ncatty| 1.24.12 @ 4:13PM
Let's go a step further and have the State of the Union address read by a congressional clerk like it was in the early days.
C Bowen | 1.24.12 @ 4:52PM
Yes!-or put it on at say 10 AM on a Saturday at least.
Wally| 1.24.12 @ 4:18PM
God Bless Tim Thomas. He's now my second favorite goalie- after the Flower- and the only Bruin I do not hate.
Indy| 1.24.12 @ 4:35PM
I have always liked Tim Thomas, not only a great goalie but a man of principles.
Tony La Rusa did not attend the WH photo op after the Cardinals won the World Series, he had retired...interesting he didn't adjust his schedule to attend Pujols also missed it, he's no longer with the team.
http://lonelyconservative.com/.....izona-law/
Will Stevens| 1.24.12 @ 4:53PM
Just another photo-op for Barry. Good for Tim Thomas.
I imagine when some staff aide told Obama that the Stanley Cup winning Bruins were outside he probably said something like...." Gee, I didn't know UCLA had a hockey team"
SpiralArchitect| 1.24.12 @ 4:59PM
Shall we put tarifs on non Americans (USA) looking to play in the NHL now...
Go Wings!
Ed| 1.24.12 @ 5:00PM
Do the Irish bend their knees for kings? I thought they were proud and independent, not government lackeys. Good grief, that may be the stupidest column I have ever read. Americans aren't the subordinates of the President.
Ed| 1.24.12 @ 5:21PM
Tried to march past the President without saluting? Why in God's name would he have an obligation to salute anyone?
Larry| 1.25.12 @ 3:59AM
Good for Tim Thomas! He is now my favorite NHL goalie. Lol! Not really, but he is a great American for standing up Barack the Usurper at the White House.