Tim Thomas is the All-Star goaltender for the Boston Bruins, winners of the National Hockey League’s 2011 Stanley Cup — which “was won by defense as much as by offense,” President Barack Obama said yesterday at a White House event honoring the team:
Tim Thomas posted two shutouts in the Stanley Cup finals and set an all-time record for saves in the postseason, and he also earned the honor of being only the second American ever to be recognized as the Stanley Cup playoffs MVP.
But Thomas wasn’t there to hear the president’s praise. He chose not to attend, explaining cogently in a statement:
I believe the Federal government has grown out of control, threatening the Rights, Liberties, and Property of the People.… This is in direct opposition to the Constitution and the Founding Fathers vision for the Federal government.
Because I believe this, today I exercised my right as a Free Citizen, and did not visit the White House. This was not about politics or party, as in my opinion both parties are responsible for the situation we are in as a country.
Boston Bruins President Cam Neely explained that Thomas’s “views certainly do not reflect those of … the Bruins organization.”
Sportswriter Joe McDonald charged that “when the president of the United States invites you … you go and represent the team,” and that “Thomas instead chose to represent himself.”
Yes, as Thomas admitted: “This was about a choice I had to make as an INDIVIDUAL.”
His quiet, conscientious choice to stay home — no news conference or interviews — was heard loud and clear by me.
It’s Common Sense. I’m Paul Jacob.
21 replies on “Skipping the Political Pomp”
Of course Mr. Neely said that Mr. Thomas’ statement does not reflect that of the Bruins — because the Bruins, like most sports teams, are rent-seekers, and threaten always to leave areas where the government does not support them via taxation to build their giant arenas.
I applaud Tim Thomas.
Interesting when a sports figure expresses his views and those views don’t mesh with lame stream media’s view, then it’s reprehensible. I wonder what this moron, Mcdonald wrote about michael jordan when he chose not to visit the WH after their championship. Jordan’s reasoning: Why should I go, I’m not a republican.
Makes me wish I had my 15 minutes of fame, so I could get invited and turn down the invite also.
WOnderful to see an athlete that can actually serve as a role model.
As a teenage tennis star wannabe, I dreamed of winning Wimbledon. First, because winning Wimbledon would be awfully cool and financially rewarding, and second, because then, if the Queen were in attendance, I could refuse to bow to her Unworthiness and make an international statement against monarchy.
We still have freedom of choice. Exactly when did a visit to the White House become standard for sports teams?
I am not a hockey fan. However, I am a Tim Thomas fan, now.
Thank you Tim Thomas — the world could use more like you.
And thank you too Mr. Jacob — we need to hear about people of integrity more often.
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Instead of chastising Thomas, McDonald should chastise Obama for trying to boost his image using Thomas and the team. The President is certainly welcome to give his congratulations, but anything beyond that is just campaigning at taxpayer’s expense, as it consumes money (who pays for travel/hotels — it’s surely the government) and staff and the president’s time.
Thank you Tim Thomas.
If more people had the guts to express their individual choice we would not be living in a kindergarten run by morons.
Nice job, Tim, we need more like you and Ron Paul… the citizens need to wake up to the facts… the crooked elites are taking over…
MUCH RESPECT to anyone with the BALLS to tell the truth! I don’t know if anyone in the USA is actually awake, but you folks just LOST ALL YOUR RIGHTS when Obama signed Bill 1867!!!!! Quite an accomplishment for America’s first Black President! OH YES!! This is how you get your debt under control, just like your messed up Gov’t is doing, You go to your bank and ask them to just RAISE YOUR DEBT CEILING!!! WHY? Because you can’t control your spending and don’t want to stop! I’m SURE your bank will say “SURE, Go ahead and spend whatever you feel like! ” LOL!!!Spend more, get farther in debt!!! THAT is what those Geniuses in Washington are doing!!! HELLO??????? Anyone awake in the USA??? Oh yes! You have the most PHARMACEUTICALLY DRUGGED NATION IN THE WORLD!!! Quite a “Medical” Accomplishment!! 1 in 4 adults in the USA are on ANTI-DEPRESSANT DRUGS!!!! Cancer, Diabetes, Neurological diseases, etc, etc, etc are at RECORD HIGHS!!! And you folks want to keep that “system” in place?????/ What does that tell you about the “state” of your “Once Great” nation!??? Thank your Fed and Big Banks like JP Morgan(Master Manipulators and the Fed’s “arm” into the mkts) or GoldmanSachs ripping the world off with Derivatives, ESPECIALLY INTEREST RATE SWAPS) Did no-one figure out that the INTEREST RATE SWAPS are at the very CORE of this Global Manipulation of currency rates? The same folks who sell them worldwide are the same folks who helped create and de-regulate them AND THEY(Big Banks which is EXACTLY WHO THE FED IS in truth) SET INTEREST RATES!!!! HAHHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA
I don’t follow hockey and I never have but what Thomas did was couragous and noble and I salute him. When he decides to end his hockey career I think he would fit in nicely as a Libertarian Party candidate for the congress or senate.
Kudos, Timmy.
You’re not only a hockey Champion, but a TRUE American Patriot.
Yeah so good for Thomas and the rest of you, blame it all on the President, somebody has to be the scapegoat for all the venom and also a shield for the very Elite at the very top who perpetuated all of the problems that we have in the United States today. all presidents going back quite a few years now have been handpicked and put into office by these evil monsters who control the entire world. Phillip Biggins what does Obama being the first Black President have to do with it? What’s your point?
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I think his point was a black man,who represents a history of abused rights,just signed away whats left of everybodys rights in America as President.…thats irony for you.And the liberals will still vote for him…
Finally, an athlete worth our respect. How can you not love this guy. When Ron Paul retires maybe Tim Thomas can be one of the people to follow in his footsteps.
[…] The story was posted over at the thisiscommonsense.com website…and I thank Casey Research‘s own Doug Hornig for passing it along. The link is here. […]
Sorry but I disagree with Tim Thomas. Mr. Thomas is an “employee” of the Boston Bruins. He is under contract with the team and earns a salary from that team. The Bruins team was invited to the White House and the “team” agreed to attend. As such, Mr. Thomas was obligated to attend a team function. I also note that Mr. Thomas had no political comments to make when he agreed to play for the US Olyimpic team! I fail to see the difference.
GOOD JOB, TIM THOMAS.
The difference between a man like Mr Thomas and the pinkos running about in the world today, is that
Mr Thomas has the consideration and proper upbringing to stick his thumb in the eyes of this petty tyrants WHEN IT IS CALLED FOR, and not say one thing and then jab a knife in your back when you’re not looking, as the pinko doctrine demands. (That is why they hate a fair fight.)
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