Mnuchin: NFL players 'can do free speech on their own time'
Source: Politico
By KEVIN ROBILLARD 09/24/2017 10:06 AM EDT
Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin backed President Donald Trump's days of attacks on NFL players, saying athletes "can do free speech on their own time."
Since a Friday rally in Alabama, Trump has suggested players who have knelt during the national anthem in order to protest racism and police brutality should be kicked out of the league. Most players who have participated in the protests are black.
"I think what the president is saying is that the owners should have a rule that players should have to stand in respect for the national anthem," Mnuchin said on ABC's "This Week." "This isn't about Democrats, it's not about Republicans, it's not about race, it's not about free speech. They can do free speech on their own time. That this is about respect for the military and first responders in the country."
Mnuchin made similar remarks Sunday on CNN's "State of the Union."
more
http://thehill.com/policy/finance/352126-mnuchin-on-if-there-will-be-no-absolute-tax-cut-for-upper-class-it-was-never-a
Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2017/09/24/nfl-players-mnuchin-trump-free-speech-243065
truthisfreedom
(23,169 posts)Zubmit! Zubmit! No thinking on your own!
They're doubling down on divisiveness. Completely tone-deaf.
Scarsdale
(9,426 posts)He was using taxpayer money to fly government jets for the eclipse and his honeymoon. If he is SO patriotic, why is he depleting the treasury? He will have to pay for his NEXT honeymoon, since this is his 4th wife, he has a habit of serial marriages. With a face like that, he is lucky he is rich. Like tRump, only gold diggers are flocking around him.
PSPS
(13,644 posts)oberliner
(58,724 posts)Just a thought.
SweetieD
(1,660 posts)PubliusEnigma
(1,583 posts)Control-Z
(15,682 posts)the people's dime.
rlegro
(338 posts)Free speech is sometimes inconvenient. It's simply out of bounds, though, for government officials, elected or appointed, to instruct private businesses how to manage the free expression of their employees, at the workplace or anywhere else. Remember, too, that it's Republicans who have insisted for years that the government has no right to regulate broadcasters, even though they enjoy the use of the public airwaves. This spoilied rich guy and Trump kneeler has much to learn.
KY_EnviroGuy
(14,501 posts)tRump's entire team has no concept of the term "public servant". They're all privileged elitist spoiled brats.
Yupster
(14,308 posts)When you're at work it's up to the boss to set the rules on things like protesting, not the government.
If I put up protest banners in my workplace, I'd be told to take them down and would be fired if I didn't . I think that's probably true of most jobs.
The last thing a company wants is to get in the middle of a political argument.
So it's really none of the government's business.
Zoonart
(11,916 posts)The birth of unions resulted from protest on company time. This is uniion busting pure and simple.
Aristus
(66,530 posts)to express his outrage and grief?
Julian Englis
(2,309 posts)18 U.S. Code § 227 - Wrongfully influencing a private entitys employment decisions by a Member of Congress or an officer or employee of the legislative or executive branch
(a) Whoever, being a covered government person, with the intent to influence, solely on the basis of partisan political affiliation, an employment decision or employment practice of any private entity
(1) takes or withholds, or offers or threatens to take or withhold, an official act, or
(2) influences, or offers or threatens to influence, the official act of another,
shall be fined under this title or imprisoned for not more than 15 years, or both, and may be disqualified from holding any office of honor, trust, or profit under the United States.
(b) In this section, the term covered government person means
(1) a Senator or Representative in, or a Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress;
(2) an employee of either House of Congress; or
(3) the President, Vice President, an employee of the United States Postal Service or the Postal Regulatory Commission, or any other executive branch employee (as such term is defined under section 2105 of title 5, United States Code).
(Added Pub. L. 11081, title I, § 102(a), Sept. 14, 2007, 121 Stat. 739; amended Pub. L. 112105, § 18(a), Apr. 4, 2012, 126 Stat. 304.)
LOCK THEM UP!!!
Control-Z
(15,682 posts)most important point. Is it the normalization of the trump maggot that allows us to skip over U.S. law? When was it ever legal for a supposed president to tell a private organization to fire someone?
bettyellen
(47,209 posts)And get her fired. That got lost in the "grab her" story.
onenote
(42,847 posts)Read the statute:
First, it requires that the intent to influence an employment decision or employment action solely on the basis of "partisan political affiliation" -- Trump didn't single out Democrats -- and kneeling (or supporting those who do) doesn't in and of itself make you a Democrat.
Second, the law, plainly, applies where the attempt to influence an employment decision is effectuated by taking or withholding (or threatening to take or withhold) an "official act", or to influence or offer or threaten to influence another to take or withhold an "official act" -- again, Trump didn't do that here.
In 2007, US Senator Barack Obama publicly suggested that CBS Radio had not gone far enough when it merely suspended, rather than fire, Don Imus for his racist rants. Obama's comments were lawful. The difference is that his were appropriate while Trump's were wildly abhorrent.
Eliot Rosewater
(31,150 posts)Just like a liberal, thinking the rules apply to everybody
I'ts
O
K
If
You
Are
Rethug
AllaN01Bear
(18,827 posts)mahatmakanejeeves
(57,756 posts)He's a political appointee, in which position he does not enjoy the job protections that a GS-something has.
onenote
(42,847 posts)But as explained the elements of a 227!viilation don't exist here.
Bengus81
(6,939 posts)groundloop
(11,537 posts)SunSeeker
(51,811 posts)And taking a knee does not disrupt the national anthem in any way.
Those players are still working for and earning their money, unlike you, you taxpayer-dollar-thieving, 98-year-old-widow-foreclosing criminal.
Bradical79
(4,490 posts)If owners don't like it, they can fire these guys at any time, then The NFLPA can go on strike if they don't like that, and so on. It's a lot more difficult to tell a bunch of highly skilled millionaires what to do without significantly hurting your business. They're the product. Some loser in Congress giving his hot take doesn't mean a damn thing.
Hell, this all may have blown over with Kaepernick looking like an eccentric outsider if Republican politicians could have kept their mouths shut. Trump calling them names, and demanding a boycott and firing probably is the best possible scenario for Kaepernick. He's getting more support since then than he ever did before.
DRoseDARs
(6,810 posts)muriel_volestrangler
(101,414 posts)The national anthem is about the nation, not particular members of it. Now, it happens that this dispute is about one part of the "first responders", ie the police, having some members who are violent or murderous to black Americans. The problem is those members are not living up to the standards of the nation that they ought to. And Trump and his regime are happy with the violence and deaths.
Mnuchin doesn't get to hide behind "the military and first responders".
ChubbyStar
(3,191 posts)In a nutshell! What a disingenuous and foul smelling excuse. He is a smarmy fuck.
LastLiberal in PalmSprings
(12,603 posts)mahatmakanejeeves
(57,756 posts)spent flying him to see the eclipse would have gone a long way toward buying firefighting equipment.
Guns versus butter.
petronius
(26,613 posts)'"first responders" into the military fold. Police et al. are not military, and it's dangerous to act as if they are - no matter how much RWers want to militarize our law enforcement and pretend that it's all the same.
And you're right, there's a whole 'nother issue there of making "military" the focus and meaning of patriotism and our national symbols. Which is more jingoism than patriotism...
ProfessorGAC
(65,427 posts)In the verse we use for the anthem, not once is a soldier mentioned. Yeah, it's about the bombardment of a fort, but the guys in that fort who were bombed all night are not even mentioned once. Then, at the very end, we get the "home of the brave" line. But, those "brave" could be everybody or anybody. Key doesn't mention the soldiers.
Also, i'm sick of the notion that we have our freedoms because of military sacrifice. There hasn't been a war in my lifetime that protected my freedoms. (Ok, maybe the freedom to buy gas that isn't $6 a gallon.)
People need to read the Declaration. In there, it says rights in inalienable. That means they aren't granted by anybody, rather they just exist. I don't need Mnuchin to remind me of anything, and i don't rely on weasels like him to protect rights.
He's a willfully ignorant fool, no matter what level of education he obtained.
Ilsa
(61,717 posts)willing to implement jingoism to suit their requirements to use our kids as cannon fodder.
Retrograde
(10,184 posts)since September of 2001.
Solly Mack
(90,802 posts)DeminPennswoods
(15,299 posts)and quit using my tax money to chauffer him and wifey around for eclipse-viewing and honeymoon vacation.
TNNurse
(6,933 posts)Does Mnuchin think they work for him?????
handmade34
(22,759 posts)and everybody else in the Trump Administration is a f#&king idiot and they all need to go
onenote
(42,847 posts)They fought to defend the rights guaranteed to us under the Constitution, including the right to free speech.
In other words, they fought to defend the right of any and all Americans -- including football players -- to engage in expressive, symbolic conduct.
Mnuchin is a moron.
Cold War Spook
(1,279 posts)Support and defend The Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.
NCjack
(10,279 posts)Eyeball_Kid
(7,440 posts)And one of the most punchable faces in all of DC.
smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)I saw this disgusting little segment on Sunday while it was happening and I just wanted to smack that smirk right off his ugly face.
beachbum bob
(10,437 posts)families...so its pretty funny to hear this bullshit
Jarqui
(10,131 posts)What about "respect is earned, not given" ? Or respect can be lost when so many unarmed black people are gunned down by police without consequences.
Don't we want people standing for the anthem and flag because that is what is in their hearts?
Don't we want people reacting to something that is not right when something is going on that is not in their heart?
I'd much rather a stadium half standing and half kneeling over one completely standing when half would rather be kneeling because the former is honest and real. I'll take that every time.
There is a big problem and those kneeling are standing up for what is right.!
bitterross
(4,066 posts)For people who say they believe the government should stay out of private business matters they sure have a lot of opinions for what private business owners should do.
KY_EnviroGuy
(14,501 posts)the officers or board of any corporation or their compensation. Unforgivable GOP sin!
AllaN01Bear
(18,827 posts)esp: the first amendment.
longship
(40,416 posts)Mnuchin has a face that deserves to be pnuched!
JustABozoOnThisBus
(23,384 posts)Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances, as long as the people do it on their own time.
disalitervisum
(470 posts)keithbvadu2
(37,050 posts)Did the right wingers whine that Tim Tebow should pray on his 'personal time' rather than game time?
As Tim made sure he was seen praying in public.
Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin
(108,485 posts)sarisataka
(18,926 posts)The colorguard on to nfl fields I don't recall the announcer asking anyone to stand for me. It was about the flag I carried.
Back then no one knelt but it wouldn't have bothered me more than the people who sat. They had their reasons that were not my business and the flag I carried represents the nation and laws that say they are free to do as they wish.
Anyone who stood up for me had it wrong
obamanut2012
(26,188 posts)What the hell is that Fascist shit?!
delisen
(6,050 posts)for the military and first responders.
He doesn't understand what our country is about.
What an authoritarian. Where did he go to school?
KY_EnviroGuy
(14,501 posts)Why the hell is a major news organization asking the US Treasury Secretary about another government official's off the wall comments at a political rally?
They should be nailing this guy's ass to the wall over upcoming budget issues, not this sort of populist, sensationalized bullshit.
Zambero
(8,981 posts)Not the one who decides who gets to exercise their first amendment rights and when. Good God, authoritarianism SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!
Denis 11
(280 posts)Phony b@$t&+d
TwinkieHoHo
(5 posts)Employers do have a right to dictate within reason there employees conduct while on the the clock.
Dress code,
Language,
Etc
One major one is you don't piss off customers for no good reason.
But its up to the NFL and owners to decide wether or not they will let their players do what they are doing in regards to the Anthem.
If allowing the players to do the knee doesn't affect the bottom line, it will remain I suppose. If it does, expect a change.
Its all about the money afterall.
Personally, I hate politics of all stripes in sports and entertainment. Entertainment is supposed to be entertaining, an escape from all the bullshit going on in the world. Cant we have one refuge?
Eliot Rosewater
(31,150 posts)lives, mostly white str8t folks, most every other living soul has to deal with politics whether they are buying socks or a house or dealing with their job.
TwinkieHoHo
(5 posts)That being the case, why would you want it in your entertainment as well...
Sometime a cigar (football) is just a cigar (football)
uppityperson
(115,681 posts)look up to, or may have some power to help others, show solidarity is a good thing.
TwinkieHoHo
(5 posts)Don't need or want to have it in their face 24/7
Eliot Rosewater
(31,150 posts)Response to Eliot Rosewater (Reply #60)
Name removed Message auto-removed
canetoad
(17,217 posts)Is a strange place to expound these views?
Eliot Rosewater
(31,150 posts)whenever it suits you.
Response to Eliot Rosewater (Reply #71)
Name removed Message auto-removed
mcar
(42,474 posts)You mean the place where people are forced to be patriotic? To show devotion to their dear leader? That North Korea?
uppityperson
(115,681 posts)uppityperson
(115,681 posts)some choosing not to stand not ok?
mcar
(42,474 posts)uppityperson
(115,681 posts)tenderfoot
(8,443 posts)this being a political site and all.
LanternWaste
(37,748 posts)Last edited Mon Sep 25, 2017, 11:47 AM - Edit history (1)
Does your sentiment apply equally to the anthem, itself a political statement being forced in your face, being played every time as well as you being forced to hear a silent protest?
If not, what is the precise and relevant difference between having the anthem played as opposed to your current complaint?
Warpy
(111,466 posts)Oh, how I wish people paid attention to this piece of shit. At least they're paying attention to the great god football. Maybe some of them will start to realize the world aint quite like Pox told them it is.
rooboy
(9,446 posts)He thinks that love is a transaction - I pay you money, you pretend to love whatever I think you should.
It's almost certainly the same deal he has going with his wife.
WinstonSmith00
(228 posts)No freedom of speech at work. Well it is their time they are just offering that time and talent for compensation. When I go to work it is my time that i am giving. Nobody can take my time i can only give it. And nobody should take an individuals freedom of speech not even the owner class.
truthisfreedom
(23,169 posts)"Commander in Chief" does not include the NFL.
RhodeIslandOne
(5,042 posts)Seriously?
unblock
(52,503 posts)blueinredohio
(6,797 posts)itcfish
(1,828 posts)own flights with your own money