Thread: Bruins' Tim Thomas skips White House/Obama event honoring the 2011 Stanley Cup Champs

Of course he has the right to refuse an invitation, but what a waste. What are the chances of him accomplishing something else in life that would warrant an invitation to the White House? Maybe he's banking on winning the cup again this year and Obama losing a re-election, considering the competition in both contests I'm sure he'll be in the same situation next year and boy won't that be awkward.

Originally Posted by mmmcammy

Instead, he made it about politics when it didn't have to be about politics.

that's true (despite Tim's claims that this protest isn't about politics), but by not going he also made it about himself too. He knew damn well that his lame protest would get him press, both good and bad, all over the media and especially the web. He likely thought this move would gain creedence to his beliefs and bring attention to his views. Guess what, I don't give a damn what your politics are Tim.


So instead of celebrating his "Teams" victory, he made himself the focus of the news. Nice team playing there Tim.

I'm not surprised, but am still disappointed.
The modern state of politics has grown so damn nasty that people seem to forget we are all in this democratic experiment together.
Disagreeing with a man and his principles is one thing, but to publicly shame and show disregard because you disagree slightly with what he is doing is sad.
I don't think our current President is doing much different than his predecessor or the man he ran for office against.
It has become such a distracting and polarizing issue in order to keep us from noticing that the basic agenda of the office changes so very little whether a D or an R follows the President's name.

Then again, maybe Thomas agrees with me and just doesn't want to hang with anyone of political office above the local level because of sheer disdain for the current situation, regardless of the only two parties allowed to participate?
/mini-rant

Here is Thomas' release on the topic.

Thomas has issued the following statement: "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 [ sic ] 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."

Sounds to me like he does agree with me. . . cool.
p.s. Eff beck and all the people telling us how to feel about political topics.

Originally Posted by Noble Savage

Disagreeing with a man and his principles is one thing, but to publicly shame and show disregard because you disagree slightly with what he is doing is sad.
I

He's a fan of Beck... I doubt it's slightly.

Originally Posted by Chartrand

.

Well...it IS his right to decline, of course, just like it's our right to call him out for it if we so choose. You're not being asked to throw on an Obama t-shirt and hat and work for his campaign.

Except, in a way, that's exactly what he's being asked to do.

Let's face it, this is purely PR for the sitting President, no matter who it is.

If Thomas is as conservative in his views as he appears to be, then why should he let Obama bask in his reflective glory? Why should he be forced to contribute to the Obama Re-Election Campaign, even if it's in the tiniest way imaginable?

Originally Posted by FishMonger

He's a fan of Beck... I doubt it's slightly.

He has the right to do whatever it is he wants. Good for him.

However, his Twitter statement just isn't genuine if he truly is a Beck fan.

jom

Originally Posted by Gator Mike

Except, in a way, that's exactly what he's being asked to do.

That is a pretty substantial logical leap. Would you be willing to repeat for me that simply being present at the event, a face in the crowd and nothing more, is equal to actively and outwardly campaigning for the president?

Originally Posted by Chartrand

That is a pretty substantial logical leap. Would you be willing to repeat for me that simply being present at the event, a face in the crowd and nothing more, is equal to actively and outwardly campaigning for the president?

Except Timmy wouldn't have been just a face in the crowd. He'd have been front and center. Obama might have even tried to joke around with him.

Why let Obama score points with Bruins fans if you don't have to?

Except Timmy wouldn't have been just a face in the crowd. He'd have been front and center

I'd think that if he really wanted to.....taking McQuaid's spot somewhere in the back wouldn't have been a tall task.




I'd like to think of it this way:



As you fall nearer to right that would be closer to being a fanboy of the Commander-in-Chief. Somewhere along the line there comes a point where making a "political statement" comes off more like douchebaggery than anything, and that's where I put my threshold. Left of the red line? Give me a break, suck it up. Right of the red line? They're probably asking too much of you....go ahead and make your statement. Somewhere toward the far right on that scale would be "paint a grinning Obama on your mask" and deciding to sit that one out wouldn't be so petty.



But yeah....he might as well have literally punched Vancouver in the dick so I'd like to think of him as infallible too.



























































WTF did I just draw?