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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsKeith Olbermann On Roger Goodell: "An Enabler Of Men Who Beat Women"
Video here: http://deadspin.com/keith-olbermann-on-roger-goodell-an-enabler-of-men-wh-1632150757
Full Olbermann statement:
We begin tonight with the unavoidable and simple truth that, intentionally or by neglect, the Atlantic County district attorney's office, the Baltimore Ravens, the National Football League and Roger Goodell conducted a cover-up of Ray Rice's brutal assault on his then fiancee on February 15. There is no other conclusion possible.
Each body, each leading individual involved, came to a judicial conclusion about what had happened to Janay Palmer and what should happen to Ray Rice. And each, through deception or incompetence, misled the public, damaged the efforts of every man and every woman seeking to merely slow down the murderous epidemic of domestic violence, and made a mockery of the process by which those who batter those who they claim to love, are be brought to justice.
And not one of them, not commissioner Goodell, not NFL senior vice president Adolpho Birch, not NFL chief counsel Jeff Pasch, not Baltimore team president Richard Cass, not Baltimore general manager Ozzie Newsome, not assistant prosecutor Diane Rupert of Atlantic County, New Jersey, not prosecutor Jim McClane, not superior court judge Michael Donio, not Ray Rice himself, no matter what actions were taken today against Rice nor what might be taken in the future, none of them have any remaining credibility, and each must leave or be expelled from their current positions. And despite the obsession of the moment, it does not truly matter whether they had seen this video before today. The league, the team, the prosecutors either white washed Ray Rice's brutal assault without having seen this video, or they saw the video and white washed Rice's brutal assault anyway.
I accuse prosecutors McLane and Rupert and Judge Donio, even with the full weight of the law behind them, of failing to seek or failing obtain or failing act upon that in-elevator video, of failing to put Ray Rice in jail where he belongs.
The state of New Jersey must immediately begin an inquiry unto whether or not the failures of McClane and Rupert and Donio are mere incompetence, or if they rose to the level of criminal malfeasance.
I accuse president Cass and general manager Newsome of Baltimore of failing to act internally after The ludicrousness of the Rice two-game suspension should have become apparent, even to them.
They have had six weeks to add a team suspension to Rice's token league punishment, to try to make the scales of justice slightly less out of all balance. They did nothing, until they terminated Rice's contract today after all of them failed to get away it.
Mr. Casse and Mr. Newsome put the meaninglessness of their own team's financial and on-field success ahead of the safety and well-being not only of Janay Palmer, but of every woman in the country now threatened by a man who, because of how they covered for Ray Rice, is a little more more confident of he can get away with it.
I accuse Roger Goodell of conducting a kangaroo court by interviewing Janay Palmer-Rice with Ray Rice present, in contradiction of all recommended practices when dealing with victims of domestic abuse, thus virtually guaranteeing that whatever testimony she gave them of the events of February 15th, they had the validity of a video made by a hostage with a gun to her head.
Putting Janay Palmer in a position to plead for her husband's career, perhaps being at the risk of beaten again if she failed, that Roger Goodell did.
Seek and act upon the videotape that should have sent Ray Rice to jail without bail, that he did not do.
Commissioner Goodell, as I first said on this program on Aug. 1, must resign.
If he will not do so, NFL owners must fire him, and fire senior vice president Birch, and chief counsel Pasch. Pasch, of all people, should've known better than to put the victim on trial and acquit without evidence,
Mr. Goodell's ineptitude has not merely rendered this football season meaningless and irrelevant by contrast, it has not only reduced supporting or watching football to a distasteful, even a disrespectful act, but most importantly it has comforted the violent and afflicted the victim.
His push to increase NFL punishment of domestic abusers to roughly that one-third that of repeat pot smokers, his decision today to suspend Rice indefinitely, after the Ravens had fired him, are elements of classic tragedy, wherein the right thing is finally done only after it's too late to matter.
Roger Goodell's existence, who he is, what he has turned The NFL commissioner's office into, is now symbolized by Ray Rice's brutal left hand striking Janay Palmer and striking her again. Mr. Goodell is an enabler of men who beat women.
His position within the National Football League is no longer tenable.
And I accuse Ray Rice of a brutal and potentially deadly assault, followed not by admission and contrition, but by a pious, self-serving, insincere, cynical devious, manipulative, unapologetic performance to protect his job and his money at the expense of the truth, at the expense the public, at the expense the next woman he brutalizes. He has already had his second chance. This new video shows he had already squandered it. Ray Rice must never be allowed back in a National Football League uniform.
And lastly, I accuse us, all of us, executives, players, fans, reporters, of failing to draw a line in the sand when one was needed most. Any games played by Baltimore without its executives and the Commissioner having been dismissed, and without Ray Rice Being permanently banned by the National football League, must be fully boycotted by all of us. If not, we become accessories After the fact.
LoisB
(7,206 posts)asjr
(10,479 posts)Stardust
(3,894 posts)Dreamer Tatum
(10,926 posts)Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)and it's fucking kid's games. I don't think the hobbies of folks who like to watch adult men handle balls on TV should be contributing to such horrible things in society. Clean up the room or give up the lease. I'm sick of the fans, the organizations, the shower rapists, dog killers, woman beaters, rapists.
I just saw some guy on Sharpton's show saying this man punching his wife in the face on TV should be allowed to play again, the 'Rev' shook the man's hand. So sick of sports figures being allowed to be criminal reprobates while still continuing to be lionized and hugely compensated. There is no excuse for any of this. None of it.
It makes me sick. Go team.
Dreamer Tatum
(10,926 posts)I, for one, didn't do shit wrong, didn't hurt anyone, and I don't need KO telling me what we should "all" do
because of what one asshole did and what a couple of other assholes didn't do.
Tommymac
(7,263 posts)As Keith said, unless those responsible for this coverup are held accountable, all of us are guilty of enablement. No different then boycotting advertisers who support Rush, or voting for pols who supported Bush's criminal activities.
His opinion. I agree with him. You can do what your conscience says.
Dont call me Shirley
(10,998 posts)BlancheSplanchnik
(20,219 posts)Too bad Mr. Rice didn't use the N-word. Or said something homophobic. Then we'd see some real action.
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)executives, commissioners, etc. that we will not put up with their special treatment for athletic criminals, it will persist. This time there was video, next time there might not.
tooeyeten
(1,074 posts)Those billionaires who employed Goodell expect him to cover it up & feign shock, and until the public has enough of these idiots with billions concealing these crimes and finally challenging the owners absolutely nothing will change.
Lets have a Federal investigation, Senate, DOJ, swear in owners, Goodell, lets hear what they have to say under oath. We the public subsidize these 501c6 (non-profit)fools with subsidized tax dollars for these stadiums, let's take the key, lock the doors one Sunday, until they tell the truth. Non-profit my ass!
Wise up public, they're pulling the wool on this "we know nothing" "we didn't see no freaking elevator video..." You best believe they knew it from the beginning.
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)Erich Bloodaxe BSN
(14,733 posts)But I already knew it would be, given that he 'dragged his unconscious girlfriend' off the elevator. It takes a fair amount of force to actually knock somebody unconscious. When there is such external evidence of an assault, there should never be a requirement for the victim to 'press charges'. The state should be acting to deal with violence whether or not the victim feels able to, since the victim might feel that so doing will inevitably lead to further violence.
orpupilofnature57
(15,472 posts)L0oniX
(31,493 posts)ann---
(1,933 posts)L0oniX
(31,493 posts)rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)is willing to give up everything for wealth. I hope she remains safe.
orpupilofnature57
(15,472 posts)orpupilofnature57
(15,472 posts)tooeyeten
(1,074 posts)That sucker never picked it up to drop it. He's a liar, an obstructionist, a fool, propped up by a bunch of billionaires to hinder any real investigations of the contracted millionaire criminals hiding out in the NFL.
orpupilofnature57
(15,472 posts)More to the point, Agreed .
Dont call me Shirley
(10,998 posts)ProfessorGAC
(65,076 posts)He didn't just pull no punches, he hit really hard. Perhaps even harder than wife beater Ray Rice.
There are a lot of people in law enforcement that have a lot of explaining to do.
Celebration
(15,812 posts)kicked off the team, once the video was released.
mahannah
(893 posts)WilliamPitt
(58,179 posts)In this commentary, he did. It goes waaaaaaaaay beyond sports.
mahannah
(893 posts)WilliamPitt
(58,179 posts)Just sayin'.
BrotherIvan
(9,126 posts)SunSeeker
(51,574 posts)malaise
(269,054 posts)the people in their paths, it is time to have a rethink on the depravity facilitated by those who run sports.
This patriarchal culture will no longer be tolerated.
Bravo KO!!
maindawg
(1,151 posts)As a Browns fan, I am exited to see that these horrible people are finally exposed for the scum they are. The Rooney family runs the league and these are their stooges.
They sugar coated this turd to the point that Rice actually got a standing ovation when he ran onto the practice field ! I was slack jaw when I heard that.
Lobo27
(753 posts)Soccer, NHL, NBA, NFL you name it I like it. But sports does create a culture of violence. Its not surprising at that the day of the Super Bowl is day where so much domestic violence happens. So damn sad....
Duval
(4,280 posts)So many of us miss KO, and Countdown. I hope I live long enough to see our MSM report the facts again. Also missing is
Dan Rather.
Omaha Steve
(99,660 posts)K&R!
tooeyeten
(1,074 posts)Goodell should be fired, everyone in the NFL front office should be fired!
Did I mention the NFL is considered a non-profit, structured as a 501c6, not subject to income taxes? If I didn't before I did now so when will the public be outraged enough to challenge this albatross they makes billionaires off the backs of you and me with subsidized tax dollars.
bullwinkle428
(20,629 posts)down in the NFL, I have a two-word response for you.
MICHAEL VICK.
DinahMoeHum
(21,794 posts). . .and will be urged/ordered by various parties to get counseling. Before the NFL considers
re-instating him.
Without that reinstatement, he's not playing a single down.
Mike Daniels
(5,842 posts)was discussing this and whether Rice would be likely to play in the NFL again. One announcer argued that the video will always be out there as a method of shaming anyone who would think to hire Rice.
Another announcer brought up the point that there's video from years back of "Pacman" Jones punching someone dead in the face and he's still in the league to this day.
The cynic in me believe that if Rice goes to some counseling/anger management classes and keeps out of trouble through next year's training camp schedule he'll likely be back on the field by next fall.
hifiguy
(33,688 posts)Rice walked scot-free.
lucca18
(1,242 posts)tooeyeten
(1,074 posts)But for TMZ today, after this week's 2nd Ravens game, ole Ray would be playing next week.
So if you buy this crap from the NFL's claim that no one ever saw the video before today, we have some swamp for sale.
niyad
(113,344 posts)niyad
(113,344 posts)cbayer
(146,218 posts)When asked who should decide the nomination, KO said
"Somebody who can take her into a room and only he comes out."
He has and always will say whatever he thinks will get him the most media attention.
Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)Keith's program is now on ESPN at 5:00 PM. It's very entertaining if you like sports.
jwirr
(39,215 posts)abakan
(1,819 posts)Stuart G
(38,436 posts)Blue_Tires
(55,445 posts)Initech
(100,081 posts)- Suspected rape (Ben Rothlisburger)
- Bullying (Richie Incognito)
- Double homicide (Aaron Hernandez)
- Illegal weapons possession (Plaxico Burress)
- Cheating (Bill Belicheck)
- Killing dogs for sport (Michael Vick)
I'm not in any, way, shape or form defending what Ray Rice did. I have not seen the video (nor want to), and I don't condone that behavior. But there's plenty of other equally heinous activity associated with NFL players and coaches.
bpj62
(999 posts)I will agree with you on all of them except for Stallworth. Dante Stallworth was driving home from a late night when a man jumped into the road and he hit and killed him. Stallworth stayed at the scene of the accident and was subsequently charged with DUI and involuntary manslaughter. he never denied his actions and was convicted and had to pay restitution to the victims family. he was suspended from the NFL for one year and subsequently was reinstated into to league. He has spoken to athletes about the dangers of drinking and driving and has always owned up to his poor decision. It was later determined that the victim was a laborer who was trying to catch a bus on the opposite side of the street and he never saw the car. However that does not matter because Stallworth should not have been driving.
If you are going to point fingers you should look at the Ray Lewis incident. Although he was cleared in the actual murders he was convicted of Obstruction of Justice for helping dispose of the bloody coats that his friends were wearing. Yet the Ravens and the NFL look at Ray Lewis as some sort of hero.
Initech
(100,081 posts)WilliamPitt
(58,179 posts)He's in jail, likely to stay there for a long time, and permanently off the team that signed him. A ban at this point would be the equivalent of hammering a nail that's already deep in the wood. As a symbolic gesture, sure, I can see that. But it will have zero practical impact.
VA_Jill
(9,983 posts)have both amended their lives and I think are both good examples of redemption. Lewis does a tremendous amount of charity work and has a strong commitment to disability sports. I think Michael Vick has also tried to amend his life. Continuing to punish people who show that they are trying to change their lives, or who have done so, speaks of revenge, which is un-Christian if you happen to be of that persuasion, or amoral if you are not religious but at least consider yourself moral.
TexasMommaWithAHat
(3,212 posts)It was up to the district attorney to prosecute this jerk. In fact, I support the idea of the NFL or any other employer not letting employees go until they have been prosecuted and found guilty. However, with the video, that seems rather pointless...
ann---
(1,933 posts)a victim who was knocked unconscious shouldn't be the one to decide if she wants to press charges. The crime was committed -- period. He should be in jail.
hifiguy
(33,688 posts)One of our local sports talk guys - who seems to be fairly liberal, he's certainly not like some of the stone-agers on that beat - was having kittens yesterday about why the DA did nothing about such an open-and-shut case and I had to admit he was asking the right tough questions.
That was an aggravated assault and should have been prosecuted as such. Why it wasn't is the central question. There was certainly conclusive evidence,
tooeyeten
(1,074 posts)The latest news reports are offering extended video showing the aggressive behavior of the victim, as though it justified the actions of the abuser to deliver a knockout punch to her. And of course it intends to further the outrageous acts of the NFL to give a measly 2 game suspension.
colsohlibgal
(5,275 posts)I miss him at MSNBC/Current as well. Of course he bolted MSNBC for the same reason Cenk did - Phil Griffin and the suits were censoring what they could say. Obviously ESPN is so desperate to fend off Fox that they swallowed their pride and amazingly brought him back - and obviously are not filtering what he says.
So go Keith and thanks for taking such a strong stand against domestic violence.
A couple of years ago I went to a women's self defense seminar, and it was taught by two of the toughest women I've ever seen. I would pay money to see a guy try to beat either one of them. He'd wind up in a hospital.