04/16/24
May 17, 2006
Steelers' Porter to Bush: Uhh, Never Mind: Porter opened his mouth a few days ago stating what he wanted to tell the President. Should pro athletes and politics meet at the Whitehouse?
They should be kept seperate. I don't see how one helps or affects the other
posted by BEN2700 at 05:49 PM on May 17, 2006
Living in Pittsburgh I saw it on tv. Porter was joking and everyone in the room knew it. Too bad an off the cuff joke got so blown out of proportion.
posted by FriarDuck at 07:11 PM on May 17, 2006
Sorry everett, you are correct, just chalk it up to a lck of forthougt. If it is deleted I certainly understand.
posted by Folkways at 07:20 PM on May 17, 2006
Wow- THIS guy should know better than to say anything bad about anyone. He has that swagger, that everyone knows he's a loudmouth. He might not have been taken seriously if he never said anything about Stevens. He always has something to say, but this time he critized the wrong guy.
posted by redsoxrgay at 08:17 PM on May 17, 2006
I'll bet a months wages if Jeremy Bloom were Joey Porter the prez would not have ignored him. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12840310/
posted by GoBirds at 08:37 PM on May 17, 2006
Porter is an idiot anyways.
posted by kckurtbusch at 09:01 PM on May 17, 2006
Why shouldn't he be allowed the right to express his opinion. What makes your opinion any more of value than his. By the way half of the country must agree with Porter since Bush approval rating is the lowest in history.
posted by TYLAW#1FAN at 09:07 PM on May 17, 2006
I would agree that Porter, knowing that he is a celebrity, should be more careful with what he says, especially considering that at least one unprofessional communicator will misconstrue the comments to get a quick buck off of controversy and other outlets will chase the demand. However, Porter should also be aware that his status gives him influence, and if he does have a position in politics, I would argue that he should be free to exploit the status to drive home the point. In this situation, however, it would undoubtedly be poor etiquette, as he is being invited as a guest (and as part of a team) for an entirely unrelated matter. In other instances, however, the situation and necessity of the matter would have to be a consideration (it isn't often even celebrities can meet the "most influential individual in the nation") for an educated exchange to take place, but there is no reason to simply not permit the meeting of the two.
posted by PublicUrinal at 09:56 PM on May 17, 2006
(It isn't often even celebrities can meet "the most influential individual in the nation") Who said anything about Opra Winfrey? And I'm not even joking this time, PublicUrinal, however, I must have to agree with the rest of your well written comments. Of course, "the meeting of the two" may certainly be good for improving W's acceptance now that his percentage numbers have dropped slightly below the average IQ of his constituancy. By putting 6,000 "Weekend Warriors" down to the Rio to watch "Pancito's Parade" into our sovereign land, good ole W is busting up about that many families, with little or no expectations for results other than political approval, and he likely won't get that from anybody outside the three Rs, Rove, Rice and Relatives. Maybe we should recommend that W meet with Porter. I think Porter might be one of the few who can look at him and smile.
posted by Bud Lang at 12:33 AM on May 18, 2006
Why shouldn't he be allowed the right to express his opinion. What makes your opinion any more of value than his. By the way half of the country must agree with Porter since Bush approval rating is the lowest in history. He certainly has a right to express his opinion...the issue is expressing his opinion to the president himself after he was invited to the white house. That would be like you having a party at your house to celebrate your friend's new job and he telling you before hand that he's going to be insulting your wife once he gets there. I think I'd be canceling that invite.
posted by bdaddy at 08:53 AM on May 18, 2006
Porter'd better watch it, or he'll get shot in the ass. Oops.
posted by wfrazerjr at 09:03 AM on May 18, 2006
Upon hearing any celebrity express his or her opinion regarding any subject, one must consider a few things: What does this person know of the subject? How much research has gone into the opinion expressed? Is the person merely repeating one side of a well-known argument? Remember that opinions are like ***holes. Everyone has one, and most of them stink. We are all free to issue from them whatever flatulence we wish, no matter what distaste or discomfort it may cause to those who must experience it. Of course, that includes the above remarks.
posted by Howard_T at 09:15 AM on May 18, 2006
Bdaddy, No one said anything about insulting Dubya's wife; I think the more realistic analogy would be for your friend to inform you that he'll take time at the party to mention that he doesn't like your habit of letting your dog crap on his lawn... perhaps not the best timing, but what's the solution here? Maybe they should pre-screen all the members of the Steelers team and only allow those who sign statements supporting the president to attend? I think too many people have worked too hard for too long to shield W from any negative thoughts entering his private bubble...
posted by don-peyote at 09:18 AM on May 18, 2006
Joey Porter is a classless idiot who needs to just shut his mouth, play football and that's it. He's a hippocrite. He complains about the refs in the game against the Colts but then when it was obvious the NFL was fixing it for the Steelers to beat Seattle in the Super Bowl, he said that's just how it goes. Shutup Porter, you idiot.
posted by tim at 10:26 AM on May 18, 2006
If the President wants to get some political goodwill out of my Super Bowl win he can take the bad with the good.
posted by ?! at 12:31 PM on May 18, 2006
The president it not simply a man, but an institution - it deserves your respect and best behaviour. That said, the president is also a public figure in the strictest sense. You are not going to his house for a party. This is a political event, a PR event. If this is your opportunity to speak to the president, I think you are entirely within your right to speak to him about issues, provided it is done in a respectful manner. At least, that's how I see it. That's his job.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 12:35 PM on May 18, 2006
Bdaddy, No one said anything about insulting Dubya's wife; I think the more realistic analogy would be for your friend to inform you that he'll take time at the party to mention that he doesn't like your habit of letting your dog crap on his lawn... perhaps not the best timing, but what's the solution here? Maybe they should pre-screen all the members of the Steelers team and only allow those who sign statements supporting the president to attend? I think too many people have worked too hard for too long to shield W from any negative thoughts entering his private bubble... And even using your analogy, I would not invite someone into my home for a party in celebration of him, if I know that when he gets there he's not going to thank me for being generous, but instead is going to start giving me sh*t (regardless of what the sh*t is about). It's just improper...and Joey realizes that (hence his apology). You shouldn't have to "screen" people to make sure they only say supportive things....the people you're inviting should have enough class not to even bring it up at that time.
posted by bdaddy at 02:17 PM on May 18, 2006
The White House isn't only the President's home. It is also his place of business. Telling someone what you think about the job they are doing is okay in their place of business.
posted by bperk at 02:35 PM on May 18, 2006
bdaddy: The President isn't inviting me as some honor for me. It's a time-honored tradition for the chief to try to get some of the warriors luck to transfer to him by association. The president isn't giving these athletes anything. They're there to give him a nice photo op. That's true of every President, no matter his political party. If he really just wants to meet the guys have them come in without the press and spend an hour chatting. Or let some sleep in the Lincoln Room like he does his cronies. (Again: true of every damn President.) The idea of the President as "institution" has caused many mere mortals to think they are somehow "more equal than others." He's a guy. With a job. He works for me.
posted by ?! at 02:52 PM on May 18, 2006
Bdaddy- So we agree that it would be something other than a classy move by Porter to bring anything up during the photo-op; For Dubya to withdraw the invitation on that basis (or do that screening bit like his election cycle 'town hall meetings') would seriously smell like quashing a citizen's right to free speech- if Porter were to have the oh-so-American bad taste to bring negative comments to him, I'd say he'd have to suck it up and keep a calm expression on his face... like he did with Colbert at the correspondents dinner, lol.
posted by don-peyote at 09:48 PM on May 18, 2006
Ill ignore the the either disregard or the ignorance of the posting rules here... Now: I always feel torn in situations like this. On one hand I want to say "Porter, you know that you are a celebrity, be smart and think before you talk!" on the other hand I genuinely feel like maybe on of the curses of being in the spotlight is that you are constantly required to watch what you say. Tongue-in-cheek comments are a way of life for me, I can't imagine having to completely restrict that impulse of mine.