Obama Attaches Himself to Michael Vicks Success

[Pony Boy]

Obama Attaches Himself to Michael Vicks Success

Of course President Obama didn't make this call to Michael Vick or to any of the NFL owners when Vick was still in prison or shortly after his release, but now that he has been a success Obama wants to attach himself to Vick.

Everyone deserves a second chance was President Barack Obama’s message when he called Philadelphia Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie last week to congratulate him and the team for giving quarterback Michael Vick a take two.

NBC’s Peter King reported the call during “Football Night in America” on Sunday.

“I talked to Jeffrey Lurie, the owner of the Eagles this week, and he said he was surprised to pick up the phone one day and Barack Obama calls him to praise the Philadelphia Eagles for signing Vick and giving him a second chance,” King said from NBC’s Rockefeller Plaza studios. “Lurie told me that the president was passionate about the fact that it’s rarely a level playing field for prisoners once they leave jail. And he said the message was, what the Eagles had done with Vick was important for society,” said King.

While some are praising Obama for reaching out and making a statement about the stigma former prisoners often face, others argue that Obama’s call came more than a year too late, since Vick was picked up by the Eagles in August 2009. Now that Vick is playing well and enjoying a resurgence in popularity, the timing of the call could be deemed safe.



http://www.politico.com/click/stories/1012/obama_is_glad_eagles_signed_vick.html

[Arkie]

Barack Obama calls him to praise the Philadelphia Eagles for signing Vick and giving him a second chance... the president was passionate about the fact that it’s rarely a level playing field for prisoners once they leave jail. And he said the message was, what the Eagles had done with Vick was important for society

Vick is different. Most felons are replaceable by someone who deserves a first chance.

[cutthemdown]

Well there is some QB out there right now who didn't get a job because of vick. A person without a record who didn't torture animals. So Obama supports dog killers getting jobs and chances that someone who did it right doesn't get.

[cutthemdown]

Now we know why that game got changed to Tuesday. Goodell is ruining the NFL. They got get hom out of there asap before its too far gone to come back.

the 18 game schedule is a bad idea. All the fines are a bad idea, the game isn't any safer....except for maybe QBS and even that is up too debate.

If I was a d coord I would say Vick get's jumped on with all your weight after every run no matter what. Even when he slides. If he is sort of out of bounds, hit him and drive his head into the turf.

The only way to get a QB to not run is to hit him. They are changing the nature of the game and it sucks.

[Pony Boy]

Well there is some QB out there right now who didn't get a job because of vick. A person without a record who didn't torture animals. So Obama supports dog killers getting jobs and chances that someone who did it right doesn't get.

I expect Opra to be kissing Vick's ass soon also....

[Play2win]

I ****ing can't stand Vick. And I won't watch any game he is even in. I don't care if its the Broncos vs. the Eagles in the ****ing Superbowl. I won't watch it.

[Mr.Meanie]

Well there is some QB out there right now who didn't get a job because of vick. A person without a record who didn't torture animals. So Obama supports dog killers getting jobs and chances that someone who did it right doesn't get.

Vick got the job by being the best person for it and beating out some very good competition, not by some sort of affirmative action crap.

It seems as if some people around here are arguing that once someone makes a terrible mistake or lapse in judgement in their life they should never be able to recover.

I'm glad our evolved society doesn't pander to that sort of mentality.

[DivineBronco]

Vick got the job by being the best person for it and beating out some very good competition, not by some sort of affirmative action crap.

It seems as if some people around here are arguing that once someone makes a terrible mistake or lapse in judgement in their life they should never be able to recover.

I'm glad our evolved society doesn't pander to that sort of mentality.

he deserves to have a life again....just doesn't deserve millions of dollars and the chance to be famous again

[Mr.Meanie]

he deserves to have a life again....just doesn't deserve millions of dollars and the chance to be famous again

He lost a $100M+ contract, is in a protracted bankruptcy and has a few short years left in his career. He is virtually untouchable from a marketing perspective. Everything he has built his entire life is gone, and the fact that he even has a chance at redeeming himself in his career at this point is pretty incredible.

Also, who determines what anyone "deserves" anyway?

[Garcia Bronco]

He lost a $100M+ contract, is in a protracted bankruptcy and has a few short years left in his career. He is virtually untouchable from a marketing perspective. Everything he has built his entire life is gone, and the fact that he even has a chance at redeeming himself in his career at this point is pretty incredible.

Also, who determines what anyone "deserves" anyway?

I'll quote Clint Eastwood. "Deserves got nothing to do with it." He's got the talent and people will pay him whether we like it or not.

[Play2win]

Vick is just going to be the The Thug poster-boy for how you can "get away with it"

If the NFL had any integrity left...

[Garcia Bronco]

What about Chris Carter? I applaud the President for acknowledging what appears to be one of the biggest success stories of the year. People make mistakes, we let them get another chance here.

[TonyR]

he deserves to have a life again....just doesn't deserve millions of dollars and the chance to be famous again

Just fyi, I've heard on Philly sports radio that he doesn't get to keep much of his loot. A large chunk of it gets taken to pay off creditors due to his Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing.

[Rigs11]

Couldn't expect Any less of a moronic post from one of the forum idiots. I'm sure if obama would have came out against Vick, that opportunist twats like pony would have posted something condeming Obama as well.

[Mr]

Now we know why that game got changed to Tuesday. Goodell is ruining the NFL. They got get hom out of there asap before its too far gone to come back.

the 18 game schedule is a bad idea. All the fines are a bad idea, the game isn't any safer....except for maybe QBS and even that is up too debate.

If I was a d coord I would say Vick get's jumped on with all your weight after every run no matter what. Even when he slides. If he is sort of out of bounds, hit him and drive his head into the turf.

The only way to get a QB to not run is to hit him. They are changing the nature of the game and it sucks.

Yup.
The fundamentals of your assignment are completely different.
Without the threat of a violent end, the run is more tempting to the QB and if the QB has a hemi... He's gonna get yds.

[cutthemdown]

I don't really have a problem with Vick playing again. Also I would argue he has a right to. I just find it funny Obama waited until now to attach himself to the whole thing. Would have taken way more balls to come out and say you are a vick fan before he had an MVP type yr.

Also I loved how Minny made Vick pay tonight for his yards. He was off his game just enough to lose. You can't shut him down but you can hit him and force him into mistakes.

[cutthemdown]

Unless your profession has some sort of rules or bylaws that keep you from working after a felony you should be able to try and work again. Really no one can argue against that. They way to show the Eagles, NFL, that you don't like vick is to not watch him.

He's big money though. He will attract more then he repulses.

[Pony Boy]

Couldn't expect Any less of a moronic post from one of the forum idiots. I'm sure if obama would have came out against Vick, that opportunist twats like pony would have posted something condeming Obama as well.

Ha.... there are some liberal posters on the mane that put up a pretty good fight in a thread and are fun to do battle with ..........but then there's Riggs a pathetic little name caller. When I read your posts I see Pee-wee Herman....

[Rigs11]

Ha.... there are some liberal posters on the mane that put up a pretty good fight in a thread and are fun to do battle with ..........but then there's Riggs a pathetic little name caller. When I read your posts I see Pee-wee Herman....

i just called you out, but let me ask you again since you failed the first time to address my point. If obama would have came out against vick would you have created a thread condeming him as well? be honest.

[Pony Boy]

i just called you out, but let me ask you again since you failed the first time to address my point. If obama would have came out against vick would you have created a thread condeming him as well? be honest.

Honestly absolutely not, if there is a person that's on the top of my dislike list its Michael Vick. Obama is also on my dislike list and to see him attach himself to the success Vick is having on the field is the point of this thread.

The problem I have is when you don't read the thread but make posts using terms like "a moronic post from one of the forum idiots" and "opportunist twats". I'm 60 years so as they say, I've been there, seen it, done it, so name calling doesn't bother me but it makes your posts seem immature. You’re approaching LABF territory.

[Pony Boy]

Would Obama have made the same call if Vick was white?

Also is he going to make any calls for Plaxico Burress?

[Mile High Shack]

Would Obama have made the same call if Vick was white?

Also is he going to make any calls for Plaxico Burress?

wow, you went there

[Pony Boy]

wow, you went there

When Obama was elected, the talk was how we have finally reached a point where race was a non-issue and we could put all that behind us. If anything the opposite has happened and we are probably worse off than ever on the race issue. I put the blame all on Obama, he let Rev. Jeremiah Wright lead him down the wrong path and attaching himself to Michael Vick is not helping his cause.

[Rigs11]

Honestly absolutely not, if there is a person that's on the top of my dislike list its Michael Vick. Obama is also on my dislike list and to see him attach himself to the success Vick is having on the field is the point of this thread.

The problem I have is when you don't read the thread but make posts using terms like "a moronic post from one of the forum idiots" and "opportunist twats". I'm 60 years so as they say, I've been there, seen it, done it, so name calling doesn't bother me but it makes your posts seem immature. You’re approaching LABF territory.

fair enough, my apologies for the name calling. I just feel that obama gets blamed for farting in many of these threads.the right calls him out for promising something as too liberal, then if he follows through on it they slam him as a socialist, if he doesn't they say that he didnt follow though on what he said.

[Rohirrim]

Vick is a dog killer.

**** him.

[TonyR]

...we are probably worse off than ever on the race issue. I put the blame all on Obama...

Why? How? I think the only reason it's perceived as an issue is because people like you say it's an issue since Obama is black. For example in this very thread you assumed race was an issue because Vick is African American. Obama didn't do or say anything to make race an issue here. You did.

[Pony Boy]

Why? How? I think the only reason it's perceived as an issue is because people like you say it's an issue since Obama is black. For example in this very thread you assumed race was an issue because Vick is African American. Obama didn't do or say anything to make race an issue here. You did.

Your right I did make it a race issue because it looked like a duck, walked like a duck and quacked like a duck. Obama should have been smart enough to see that coming but he didn't.

[Play2win]

It might not be a race issue, but I am beginning to believe it is a "community" issue.

[Mr.Meanie]

Your right I did make it a race issue because it looked like a duck, walked like a duck and quacked like a duck. Obama should have been smart enough to see that coming but he didn't.

In other words, Obama should have realized people who dislike him are going to use every instance they can to bring up race issues, and then use those race issues they brought up to claim he is dividing the country more than ever. Got it.

[Spider]

LOL . and the majority of the people posting here will dayum near bring their sled to a halt to see an accident in hopes to see blood and carnage , run home tell everyone about the wreck they saw , yet get all squeamish over dog fighting ........ and by the way Obama talks to felons every day you dumbsasses .....ever hear of congress ? tell me those bastards are not felons

[That One Guy]

In other words, Obama should have realized people who dislike him are going to use every instance they can to bring up race issues, and then use those race issues they brought up to claim he is dividing the country more than ever. Got it.

No, Obama should've known if he was going to step out of his lane and voice his opinion on something controversial, he should've made sure it was a good scenario to add his input to. When Vick was arrested, it was almost entirely just black players that was stepping up to defend him (Roddy White and Deangelo Hall come to mind). So race has been lingering in the back of the mind for a while with Vick. Then, last week someone writes an article titled "Racism why Vick can't own a dog" and we have Channing Crowder (another black athlete) saying everyone knows Vick should be the MVP but that Brady would get it. Have any white people yet stepped up to defend Vick who weren't/aren't involved in the situation? (This one is an honest question) This is a situation that seemed from the beginning to divide at racial lines. Why would he put himself in the middle of it? It's just begging to be made dramatic.

[TonyR]

Another Christmas-season controversy I missed was the burst of outrage — culminating in some unfortunate hyperbole from Tucker Carlson — over the phone call that Barack Obama made to the Philadelphia Eagles’ owner thanking him for giving Michael Vick a second chance. If you remember my earlier thoughts on Vick’s return to the N.F.L., you won’t be surprised to learn that I agree with Michael Gerson, who penned a persuasive column yesterday arguing that “Obama’s instinct on this issue is entirely correct.”

...

Obama didn’t congratulate Vick, exactly: He just cited his second chance as a high-profile example of the kind of opportunity that “many people who serve time” deserve once they’re released from prison, and all-too-rarely get. And he could have cited him, as well, as a rare example of a celebrity who didn’t manage to use his name and money to escape a prison sentence: In a world of Roman Polanskis and O.J. Simpsons, rehab stints and suspended sentences, Vick’s stint at Leavenworth stands out as a celebrity punishment that actually fit the crime. This doesn’t make him any kind of hero. But it does make him a useful and salutary example for other Americans serving sentences, and hoping for rehabilitation down the road.

http://douthat.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/05/the-example-of-michael-vick/

[That One Guy]

Another Christmas-season controversy I missed was the burst of outrage — culminating in some unfortunate hyperbole from Tucker Carlson — over the phone call that Barack Obama made to the Philadelphia Eagles’ owner thanking him for giving Michael Vick a second chance. If you remember my earlier thoughts on Vick’s return to the N.F.L., you won’t be surprised to learn that I agree with Michael Gerson, who penned a persuasive column yesterday arguing that “Obama’s instinct on this issue is entirely correct.”

...

Obama didn’t congratulate Vick, exactly: He just cited his second chance as a high-profile example of the kind of opportunity that “many people who serve time” deserve once they’re released from prison, and all-too-rarely get. And he could have cited him, as well, as a rare example of a celebrity who didn’t manage to use his name and money to escape a prison sentence: In a world of Roman Polanskis and O.J. Simpsons, rehab stints and suspended sentences, Vick’s stint at Leavenworth stands out as a celebrity punishment that actually fit the crime. This doesn’t make him any kind of hero. But it does make him a useful and salutary example for other Americans serving sentences, and hoping for rehabilitation down the road.

http://douthat.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/05/the-example-of-michael-vick/

There's two ways this can be approached. A, it can be a way to teach felons that you can make something of your life after prison. That's good to keep people from thinking streets and crime are the only things possible in their future. B, though, is that the stigma of being a felon the rest of your life should be a deterring factor from doing these crimes in the first place. There's a reason you are a felon forever once convicted of these crimes. You commit a crime, you serve time, you are not free and clear. I'd rather our president be speaking a firm stance against the crime being committed in the first place than be slapping people on the back for supposedly turning things around.

[TonyR]

I'd rather our president be speaking a firm stance against the crime being committed in the first place than be slapping people on the back for supposedly turning things around.

A larger point that wasn't addressed here is that apparently Obama did not call the Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie for the purpose of talking about Vick. There was a different business agenda, I don't recall specifically what, and afterwards Obama made a comment to Lurie regarding Vick. Then it was reported that this happened and then of course Obama haters jumped on this as a way to criticize Obama about something that is basically a non-event.

[epicSocialism4tw]

Vick looks humbled by his mistakes, and I hope he does well for himself.

But as for the guy being a role model? The only people that he's a role model for are prisoners that need rehabilitating. He's not a role model for children.

A person that does that to dogs has some pretty serious psychological issues. Its very dark. That type of behavior often is a stepping stone for people who become serial killers or pathological murderers.

[That One Guy]

Vick looks humbled by his mistakes, and I hope he does well for himself.

But as for the guy being a role model? The only people that he's a role model for are prisoners that need rehabilitating. He's not a role model for children.

A person that does that to dogs has some pretty serious psychological issues. Its very dark. That type of behavior often is a stepping stone for people who become serial killers or pathological murderers.

I don't buy his change, personally. If it were fine before, just the fact that he got sent to prison doesn't change his position on anything - it just means he wont participate and risk getting arrested again.

If he was raised in the culture, it's as ingrained in him as his ability to throw a football.

[JPPT1974]

Well Obama sadly talks the talk. He needs to just walk the walk. There is a difference you see. He is on his next to last year, bear in mind in his first term.