Obama praises the Eagles for taking a chance on Vick, potentially breaking all hell loose
On Monday, Sports Illustrated columnist Peter King #ixzz19MveKOtZ" onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com']);">dropped this little pebble into the well of an otherwise politically newsless holiday:
Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie was surprised to hear the president’s voice on the phone. Barack Obama had two things to discuss with Lurie: the redemption of Michael Vick and the alternative-energy plans Lurie unveiled this fall for Lincoln Financial Field.
Michael Vick has been the target of outrage since 2007 when his ‘Bad Newz’ dog kennel was found to be an illegal interstate dog fighting operation. Aware of that a potential wave of controversy was brewing, the White House moved quickly to clarify that the President condemns the crimes Vick committed.
His career is peppered with legal troubles, from marijuana possession to infecting a partner with herpes. However, since finishing his sentence for dog fighting and related charges he’s managed to avoid trouble. The Philadelphia Eagles have given him a second chance, and he’s made the most of it. With Vick’s help the Eagles hold a 12-6 record and there are rumors he’s in the running to be the NFL’s next MVP. That was the bit of “good news”–Vick’s successful rehabilitation–the president was commenting on. Perhaps the president saw it as a teaching moment: use Michael Vick as an example that with a supportive network and effective counseling, recidivism rates among felons can be diminished over time. But this is the American media we’re talking about…”squirrel!”
A lot of the hysterical anger associated with Vick is ridiculous. Some have said he should be banned for life from the NFL. Other say he shouldn’t be allowed to own a pet. Meanwhile, singer/actress Brandy murders a human being, never serves any time and damn near wins Dancing with the Stars. Celebrated actor Charles S Dutton #Personal_life" onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','http://en.wikipedia.org']);">served time in jail for manslaughter. No one stopped him from perusing his career. He wasn’t prevented from acting angry.
But President Obama compliments an employer who hires a felon, allowing him to become a productive member of society, and its news.
One more example of the ridiculousness: Oscar Grant. After being detained for fighting on a BART train, Grant was punched multiple times in the face and kneed in the head by BART police. As he was laying on his belly being handcuffed, officer Johannes Mehserle shot Grant in the back, and stood over and watched him bleed to death. Officer Mehserle killed an unarmed human being and was given a lighter sentence than Vick. The officer who lied to investigators to try and cover Mehserle’s crime? He was given his job back, with back pay.
No word yet if PETA thinks the officers should be allowed anywhere near Black people, or to keep them as pets.
Nothing to say here but PREACH.
Nothing to say here but PREACH.
Not that I mean to quibble, but you may get called on that Brandy thing. Manslaughter is not murder, and that’s possibly libelous.
The Oscar Grant tragedy was/is a travesty. And by no means does an animal life equal a human’s. Doesn’t mean I have to like Vick. And yeah, I don’t think he should be able to own another pet. Doing that kind of thing to helpless creature that depends on you!?! Its not “cultural”, or a moral failing. Its really sick.