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Faygo Kid

(21,478 posts)
Fri Jun 28, 2013, 09:08 PM Jun 2013

NFL says no to promoting Obamacare

Source: Washington Post

The National Football League is used to big, bruising battles. But on Friday, it announced that it was likely staying out of one of the roughest fights in Washington: the war over Obamacare.

Earlier this week, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius disclosed that the Obama administration was in talks with the sports organization to help promote the law, which enters a new phase as advocates prepare to begin enrolling millions of Americans in health insurance this fall.

On Friday, Republican leaders in the Senate issued a stern warning to sports organizations not to partner with the White House on an issue marked by such “divisiveness and persistent unpopularity.”

Asked about the congressional letter, NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said the league had not made any commitment to the administration. . .

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/nfl-says-no-to-promoting-obamacare/2013/06/28/1d02af1e-e026-11e2-b2d4-ea6d8f477a01_story.html?hpid=z1



Freaking cowards. It's the LAW OF THE LAND, and the NFL could play a very helpful role in providing information.

Instead, they punt out of fear of Mitch McConnell. Cowards. Worst decision since Pete Rozelle decided to play the schedule the Sunday after the JFK assassination.

Let's hope the other leagues have a spine. People need information, and sports are a great way to reach a huge audience.
27 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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NFL says no to promoting Obamacare (Original Post) Faygo Kid Jun 2013 OP
They should just use retired athletes as spokes people. Other than O.J. Simpson, I mean. n/t Ian David Jun 2013 #1
Yep, because he already has single payer healthcare Paulie Jun 2013 #2
Or Aaron Hernandez. premium Jun 2013 #14
NFL: "We are spineless weaklings" Ash_F Jun 2013 #3
Well, some NFL players pretty much end up being "spineless" Ken Burch Jun 2013 #8
DON'T BUY ONE FUCKING TICKET smccarter Jun 2013 #4
IRS employees have some experience with this, put them on it. n/t jtuck004 Jun 2013 #5
The NFL is generally a bastion of right wing fundy nutjobs. MrSlayer Jun 2013 #6
Yeah, and I always wonder why the losing teams don't RENOUNCE God each Sunday. Ken Burch Jun 2013 #10
Shouldn't that be ChazII Jun 2013 #19
You're right, of course. n/t. Ken Burch Jun 2013 #20
Browns' owner Haslam has been cheating trucking companies Kolesar Jun 2013 #12
I think Obamacare is hated because... Grassy Knoll Jun 2013 #7
Well, why would you expect ANY interest in health care... Ken Burch Jun 2013 #9
BEST POST! DUZY! N/t alp227 Jun 2013 #23
What if the State asked the NFL to promote and explain voter ID laws? forthemiddle Jun 2013 #11
I agree. tammywammy Jun 2013 #13
I agree also. premium Jun 2013 #15
I disagree with you slightly. tammywammy Jun 2013 #16
Agreed, premium Jun 2013 #17
There is another tie in. Students are required to have health insurance to play sports. Some cannot okaawhatever Jun 2013 #21
By all means, enable disgraceful cowardice. aquart Jun 2013 #22
Keep my politics out of my sports. It's bad enough that every team I support sucks Nanjing to Seoul Jun 2013 #18
Take away their anti-trust exemption. Brigid Jun 2013 #24
After last year's Green Bay-Seattle game, this decision doesn't surprise me. Major Hogwash Jun 2013 #25
The NFL should stay out of politics, unless I agree with the position they're going to take. hughee99 Jun 2013 #26
Why would they frontier00 Jun 2013 #27

Ash_F

(5,861 posts)
3. NFL: "We are spineless weaklings"
Fri Jun 28, 2013, 09:17 PM
Jun 2013

Someone should ask them how much fans respect a player who is easily intimidated on the line of scrimmage.

 

Ken Burch

(50,254 posts)
8. Well, some NFL players pretty much end up being "spineless"
Fri Jun 28, 2013, 10:11 PM
Jun 2013

especially after helmet-to-helmet hits.

smccarter

(145 posts)
4. DON'T BUY ONE FUCKING TICKET
Fri Jun 28, 2013, 09:22 PM
Jun 2013

Support the law. don't spend money with any company unwilling to follow the letter of the law.

 

MrSlayer

(22,143 posts)
6. The NFL is generally a bastion of right wing fundy nutjobs.
Fri Jun 28, 2013, 09:52 PM
Jun 2013

With a few notable exceptions of course but mostly it is rife with baggers and religious crazies. So this is really no surprise.

 

Ken Burch

(50,254 posts)
10. Yeah, and I always wonder why the losing teams don't RENOUNCE God each Sunday.
Fri Jun 28, 2013, 10:13 PM
Jun 2013

After all, He ignored their prayers.

Kolesar

(31,182 posts)
12. Browns' owner Haslam has been cheating trucking companies
Fri Jun 28, 2013, 10:31 PM
Jun 2013

...by altering data in the quantity discount program.

Grassy Knoll

(10,118 posts)
7. I think Obamacare is hated because...
Fri Jun 28, 2013, 10:00 PM
Jun 2013

The Con-Dumbs can't scam millions out of the american public,
Look at the push back from fox and rush, both outlets making
millions promoting misinformation.

 

Ken Burch

(50,254 posts)
9. Well, why would you expect ANY interest in health care...
Fri Jun 28, 2013, 10:12 PM
Jun 2013

...from a business that encourages its employees to injure each other?

forthemiddle

(1,382 posts)
11. What if the State asked the NFL to promote and explain voter ID laws?
Fri Jun 28, 2013, 10:13 PM
Jun 2013

In many States, Voter ID is now the law of the land due to Republican legislatures.
In Wisconsin (where I live), it is going through the courts, but in all likelihood will be in place by the next State wide elections (the Wisconsin SC leans right).
If the State asked the Packers too promote, and educate on that law, would you be in favor of that?
Of course not, you only want them to promote laws that you agree with?

I personally, don't want my favorite team promoting ANYTHING that bleeds into political. If personal players state their opinions, that is one thing. To have the organization promote it, that is quite another. Where does it stop?
I watch the NFL to get away from life for a few hours, don't take that away.

tammywammy

(26,582 posts)
13. I agree.
Fri Jun 28, 2013, 11:19 PM
Jun 2013

If the government wants to get sports players to be advocates that's one thing, but I don't think having NFL, NBA, NASCAR, etc promoting Affordable Health Care is really appropriate.

 

premium

(3,731 posts)
15. I agree also.
Fri Jun 28, 2013, 11:27 PM
Jun 2013

Sports Org. shouldn't get involved in promoting govt. programs, if individual players want to, fine, but not the org.

tammywammy

(26,582 posts)
16. I disagree with you slightly.
Fri Jun 28, 2013, 11:30 PM
Jun 2013

If they want to promote government programs for fitness, i.e. Let's Move, I don't see a problem with that since sports = fitness.

okaawhatever

(9,462 posts)
21. There is another tie in. Students are required to have health insurance to play sports. Some cannot
Sat Jun 29, 2013, 03:09 AM
Jun 2013

play for that reason. The school districts sometimes set up group plans, just for injuries during the sport itself, but then charge a fee to each player. Often that fee keeps kids out of sports programs as well. Ditto summer and little league programs. They could promote it from that angle.

aquart

(69,014 posts)
22. By all means, enable disgraceful cowardice.
Sat Jun 29, 2013, 05:14 AM
Jun 2013

Feel proud. Go watch men beat each other into mental and physical disintegration. Because it's fun.

 

Nanjing to Seoul

(2,088 posts)
18. Keep my politics out of my sports. It's bad enough that every team I support sucks
Sat Jun 29, 2013, 12:40 AM
Jun 2013

I don't need policies I support or think suck propagandized to me while I'm watching my teams getting shelled.

However, let's take it to the extreme. Since the ACA won't be touched by them, then they should advocate for no laws. That includes DUI and spousal abuse.

But seeing how the NFL is now a haven for drunk drivers and wife beaters. . .

Brigid

(17,621 posts)
24. Take away their anti-trust exemption.
Sat Jun 29, 2013, 09:05 AM
Jun 2013

And let them pay for their own stupid stadiums instead of the taxpayers.

Major Hogwash

(17,656 posts)
25. After last year's Green Bay-Seattle game, this decision doesn't surprise me.
Sat Jun 29, 2013, 01:01 PM
Jun 2013

When the Green Bay cornerback intercepted the football in his own end zone, and then the Seattle receiver wrestled it out of his arms after they were both laying on the ground and the play was over . . . and then the WHITE replacement referee called it a touchdown -- a call that was obviously wrong to a blind man -- the NFL refused to reverse the decision.

It was the worst decision I had ever seen after watching football on tv for 48 years.

Using replacement referees was the first mistake the NFL idiots made.
And then by sticking up for bone-headed calls like the one in Seattle threatened to make their entire season totally unwatchable.

The NFL is not managed by Harvard graduates, or rocket scientists.
They are headed by money managers, who kowtow to the uber-rich team owners.

hughee99

(16,113 posts)
26. The NFL should stay out of politics, unless I agree with the position they're going to take.
Sat Jun 29, 2013, 01:12 PM
Jun 2013

Then it's okay.

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