I've been thinking about writing another diary, but nothing has been coming off as very sincere or worthy. But then I saw this article
This isn't about the Rays supporting Obama or Obama congratulating the Rays, it's about the stupidity of the comments written below the article.
UPDATED: Apparently it's not just in comments. John McCain has something to say about Obama's supposed flip-flop.
For anyone who's not following, the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Chicago White Sox and the Boston Red Sox to get to the World Series. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Milwaukee Brewers and the Los Angeles Dodgers to make their way there.
At a rally on Monday, Barack Obama was introduced by and stood with seven members of the Rays at a rally at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa. The Rays are a scrappy young team who literally went from worst to first in a season after ten years of being the doormats of the American League East. The team, the manager and the front office deserve every ounce of congratulations for doing just that. On their improbably season, Obama had this to say:
"I've said from the beginning that I am a unity candidate, bringing people together. So when you see a White Sox fan showing love to the Rays, and the Rays showing some love back, you know we’re on to something right here."
He continued saying this:
"I was going to cut my hair in a Mohawk in solidarity, but my political advisors said they weren’t sure how that was going to play with swing voters. But I’m proud, I congratulate them, it is going to be an outstanding series and we are all looking forward to it. I was telling the guys that’s one of the things I enjoy doing, you know when I finally get home after a long day of campaigning, is turning on and hopefully I can catch the last few innings of the game. Or at least catch it on Sports Center, so they are making everybody proud and I know that they are making Tampa proud."
Now, people love their sports. They love their teams. And to be honest, the are very few fans out there as rabid as Philly fans. A four-sport city, Philadelphia has been championship starved since the early eighties. They're hungry and ready for a World Series victory, but this comment is so ripe with stupidity that it must be pointed out:
You can take this to the bank! Obama just lost at least 100,000 votes in Philly for hanging out with their World Series opponents! We're rabid fans here in Philly and you immediately become the enemy when you hang out with our opponents.
I'm sure this will be all over the morning sports talk shows here in Philly and Obama is going to get raked over the coals.
Let me quote Amy Poehler and Seth Meyers here: Really? Really??
Rooting around on philly.com, I did come across a couple of notes about Obama's supposed "flip-flop":
A little while ago in Tampa, Obama said the following, according to a helpful transcript provided by the folks at the Republican National Committee, clearly hoping to foment trouble: "I’ve said from the beginning that I am a unity candidate, bringing people together. So when you see a White Sox Fan showing love to the Rays. And the Rays showing some love back – you know we are on to something right here."
But last weekend, Obama proclaimed his love for the Phillies when he was in town. "I am a White Sox fan, but since the White Sox are out of it, I'll root for the Phillies now," he said. (Campaign manager David Plouffe, a Wilmington native, is a huge Fightin's Phan.)
To be fair, Obama might not be flip-flopping, according to a close parsing of his statements. He said he was "showing love" to the Rays, not, repeat not rooting for them.
Comments were also listed below this article, including the following insight from tdoc:
yup. my vote hinges on who obama will be rooting for in the series.
At the time this diary was published, it is still unclear whether this was snark or sincere.
Quite possibly the most interesting tidbit in all of these is how quickly the comments turn from sports to politics. Comments ranging from a simple, "How is this relevant?" to this gem from Tami on the original article linked above:
Obama is a liar. How come he can criticize McCain yet if McCain criticized him, he cries to the media. I don't care where in MA you are from and who cares if you like the Red Sox, go back if Boston is so great-and take Obama with you!!! I am saddened that this team I support would endorse Obama. Spread the wealth-you think David Price wants his salary going to someone in the minor leagues. Obama is scary he has a radical past, radical friends and he's a liar. Biden has already said we will be attacked if Obama becomes President. Also, why does the press delve so much into Sarah Palin and rip her to shreds, yet hardly anything is reported about Obama and Biden. Once you research these dummies, you'll see the truth. Go get your education, get a job, and buy things you can AFFORD.
Incidentally, the player she mentions, David Price got an education, attending Vanderbilt University for three years. Additionally, the kid just got the final out of the ALCS and is going to the World Series with the team that drafted him a little over a year ago. I doubt he's worried much about Obama's policies giving his money to minor leaguers, especially since he was in the minors leagues not too long ago and knows what it's like.
I could go on and on, but I'll cut it off here. Enjoy the World Series everyone. Be sure to check out pre-game shows on MLB.com to see some of my fine b-roll producing skills all throughout the World Series.