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

Originally Posted by VCRW

Nice grandstanding cheap shot, TT. Hope you hear from Shanahan's office about this offence to the team, the league and to hockey. The Bruins won as a team and should always stand as a team.

Seriously?

He's not allowed to make a political statement? First Amendment?

Originally Posted by jammer06

At it's core it was simply an invitation and I'm really glad he has the opportunity to decline. In other countries its certainly not open to question.

Well said.

You go Tim Thomas!

I'd be at a Ron Paul rally.

Nice try, Timmeah... I've lived my whole life not giving a s*** about your political views, and despite your best efforts, I'm not about to start now.

Originally Posted by Gator Mike

Seriously?

He's not allowed to make a political statement? First Amendment?

It's hardly a political statement. It's a partisan statement. There is a huge difference.

There is also the issue of not standing with his team. His action reeks of petty partisanship.

Where are you guys getting that he's conservative? All I read in his statement is that both parties are at fault.

who the @$@# cares about a sports team visiting the president? I mean, really?

Originally Posted by NastiMarvasti

Where are you guys getting that he's conservative? All I read in his statement is that both parties are at fault.

Kinda what I thought too.

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-pu...203636656.html

While his politics aren't common knowledge among many hockey fans, Thomas hasn't hidden his political leanings. He's a fan of former Fox News channel host Glenn Beck, once saying he aspired to appear on Beck's talk show as a guest.
Big Government, a website founded by conservative blogger Andrew Breitbart, celebrated Thomas as a "true Tea Party patriot" for having "In God We Trust" and the Gadsden flag on his mask. From Big Government:

He is a right wing nut job and a coward.

Originally Posted by Gator Mike

Seriously?

He's not allowed to make a political statement? First Amendment?

This first amendment thing is a pet-peeve of mine. I see it thrown around all to much (not from you, but in general).

The only thing the First Amendment guarantees Tim Thomas is that the Government isn't gong to punish him for this. The First Amendment does not prohibit the team or league to reprimand Thomas for his actions. As private enterprises, they can reprimand, fine, suspend Thomas for not attending a team/league function.

Was Hank Williams Junior free to call Obama Hitler? Yes. Was ESPN/Disney free to fire him? Yes. This is no different.