Political Basketball: White House Praises LeBron James; Republicans Crap On Him
Yes, America, apparently everything is a partisan political issue, as two very different reactions to the news of LeBron James’ return to Cleveland demonstrate.
The hot story on Friday was the tenterhooked anticipation of the NBA superstar’s decision on whether to return to his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers, and when he did, the news temporarily swallowed the universe, and even made its way into the White House daily briefing. At the top of the briefing, as Press Secretary Josh Earnest was congratulating incoming and outgoing White House Correspondents’ Association leaders, a reporter joked “I thought you were going to congratulate LeBron,” to which Earnest replied “We may get to that. We’ll see.”
A few minutes later, he did get to it, as The Hill’s Justin Sink asked Earnest for the White House’s reaction to the big news. Although Josh hadn’t spoken to the President about it, he did offer words of praise for the four-time NBA Most Valuable Player, expressing the President’s admiration for James, and praising his return to Cleveland as “a pretty powerful statement about the value of a place that you consider home.”
I know that the President is a big fan of LeBron’s. I think that he, like many of us, even those of us who are not quite as avid NBA fans — that the President is a fan of somebody that has demonstrated such tremendous skill and athleticism on the court and the President enjoys watching him play.
The President also has had an opportunity to meet him personally a few times and the President does consider him to be a fine young man who carries himself with the kind of professionalism that is really pretty impressive to see. The fact that he’s made this decision I think is a testament to the kinds of values that he has incorporated into his life and that he says that he’s interested in instilling in his children. So I think it’s a pretty powerful statement about the value of a place that you consider home.
In stark contrast to the White House reaction, Republicans seized on LeBron’s decision in order to make a political attack…READ MORE
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By: Tommy Christopher
Tommy Christopher is The Daily Banter's White House Correspondent and Political Analyst. He's been a political reporter and liberal commentator since 2007, and has covered the White House since the beginning of the Obama administration, first for PoliticsDaily, and then for Mediaite. Christopher is a frequent guest on a variety of television, radio, and online programs, and was the villain in the documentaries The Audacity of Democracy and Hating Breitbart. He's also That Guy Who Live-Tweeted His Own Heart Attack, and the only person to have ever received public apologies from both Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck.
8 responses to Political Basketball: White House Praises LeBron James; Republicans Crap On Him
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majii July 12th, 2014 at 18:59
One of these good old days, some of these haters are going to ‘stroke out’ in the midst of spewing/writing another useless negative comment about an unimportant issue.
Hirightnow July 12th, 2014 at 20:12
After which, I will gladly tell anyone who listens that it was the will of the Almighty.
majii July 12th, 2014 at 18:59
One of these good old days, some of these haters are going to ‘stroke out’ in the midst of spewing/writing another useless negative comment about an unimportant issue.
Hirightnow July 12th, 2014 at 20:12
After which, I will gladly tell anyone who listens that it was the will of the Almighty.
egbegb July 13th, 2014 at 01:11
Blaming “Republicans” for dis-ing LeBron’s decision is like blaming Jews for the evils of the 1930’s Europe. Because the FL GOP didn’t like LeBron’s decision does not mean Republicans, Conservatives or Libertarians support a Florida GOP organization whose views might be odd.
LeBron may have been chastised by his experience of leaving Cleveland in 2010. I would guess that is exactly what happened. He went back to his home to try to do for his home (which is what he wanted to do during his first 6 years in the NBA) what he did for Miami. He signed a 2 year contract only because he and the owner had no long term mutual trust. It is up to the owner and LeBron to bridge that distrust and give to Cleveland what Michael Jordan gave to Chicago. LeBron may be as good as Michael; the next 6 years will be LeBron’s legacy, not the past 4 years.
egbegb July 13th, 2014 at 01:11
Blaming “Republicans” for dis-ing LeBron’s decision is like blaming Jews for the evils of the 1930’s Europe. Because the FL GOP didn’t like LeBron’s decision does not mean Republicans, Conservatives or Libertarians support a Florida GOP organization whose views might be odd.
LeBron may have been chastised by his experience of leaving Cleveland in 2010. I would guess that is exactly what happened. He went back to his home to try to do for his home (which is what he wanted to do during his first 6 years in the NBA) what he did for Miami. He signed a 2 year contract only because he and the owner had no long term mutual trust. It is up to the owner and LeBron to bridge that distrust and give to Cleveland what Michael Jordan gave to Chicago. LeBron may be as good as Michael; the next 6 years will be LeBron’s legacy, not the past 4 years.
GunTotingLib July 13th, 2014 at 14:04
LeBron who?
GunTotingLib July 13th, 2014 at 14:04
LeBron who?