GOP Gov. Goes Full America With Super Bowl Announcement Kneelers Will Hate
With the final NFL game of the season fast approaching — Super Bowl LII featuring the defending champion New England Patriots versus the Philadelphia Eagles — the season-long debate over the American flag and national anthem protests has reached a crescendo.
According to TheBlaze, one Republican politician has now inserted himself firmly within that debate and there is no mistaking which side of the issue he stands on when it comes to players kneeling in protest during the playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
In fact, this politician — South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster — has now urged the rest of the people in his state via a proclamation to join him in standing up respectfully for the playing of the anthem prior to the Super Bowl … no matter where they are when it is played.
Columbia, South Carolina-based newspaper The State reported on the proclamation by McMaster on Tuesday designating Sunday, Feb. 4, as “Stand for the Flag Super Bowl Sunday.”
I ask that all South Carolinians show the world our state’s resolute commitment to supporting our troops by standing for the national anthem wherever you watch the Super Bowl with your loved ones this Sunday. #IStand pic.twitter.com/x5pK3zPNTO
— Gov. Henry McMaster (@henrymcmaster) January 30, 2018
McMaster tweeted, “I ask that all South Carolinians show the world our state’s resolute commitment to supporting our troops by standing for the national anthem wherever you watch the Super Bowl with your loved ones this Sunday. #IStand”
“Standing for the national anthem recognizes and honors the sacrifice of generations of men and women who have chosen to serve in the United States armed forces,” stated McMaster in a news release.
The proclamation noted how the American flag was a symbol of freedom and the American Dream, as well as how the Palmetto State is home to numerous military bases and hundreds of thousands of veterans.
It went on to proclaim that standing for the anthem was a display of respect for the men and women who have sacrificed on behalf of the country that the flag represents.
Separately, in a campaign email to supporters, the governor wrote more pointedly, “This football season we’ve seen NFL players disrespect our veterans by taking a knee to our nation’s flag and anthem. In South Carolina, we respect our veterans and our men and women in the armed forces.”
In a separate report from The State, it was noted that while McMaster received some support from patriotic Americans and South Carolinians for his proclamation, he also received quite a bit of pushback as well.
The outlet shared several critical tweets that appeared to condemn the governor for wasting time on the proclamation when there are important state issues to deal with, as well as for wading into the middle of a contentious issue for some people.
Some critics who claimed to be veterans made it clear that the governor did not speak for them on this matter and pointed out several veterans-related issues that instead needed his attention. Many seemed to also side with and support the kneelers and their right to protest however they see fit.
But that is just the thing … everyone agrees that the players have a constitutional right to protest — though there is debate as to whether that constitutional protection applies to employees of a private business like the NFL and its teams. The issue is the disrespectful nature and timing of the protests taking place during the solemn moments set aside for the anthem.
In the big scheme of things, that is really all that the governor’s proclamation is asking — that Americans be respectful of the sacrifice of others on their behalf and show them honor for a few moments while the flag waves and anthem plays.
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