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05-08-2015, 08:30 AM | |
Be Kind To Your Pets
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The Clarks Love Money More than Vets
Apologies if posted before, and maybe this ought to be in the DC section.
Washington Post reports that the Federal Military has paid millions to the NFL to "salute" veterans. The Clarks took $250,000. So much for the NFL saluting soldiers out of the goodness of their hearts. The Chiefs don't need the money. They should send that cash back to the military to buy body armor for active service guys, so we wouldn't have so many "wounded warriors" to salute. This whole thing makes me more cynical than I already am, if that's even possible. Just salute veterans because its the right thing to do, and pick up the goddamn check. They put their lives on the line for us, it's the least a tax-exempt, multi-billion dollar enterprise like the NFL can do. I didn't get a harrrump outta that guy...... http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/...rss=rss_sports During timeouts at home games, the New York Jets air a Hometown Heroes segment in which a U.S. soldier or two are shown on the Jumbotron and everyone thanks them for their service. The soldiers and three friends get seats in the Coaches Club. It’s a nice salute. It’s also funded by U.S. taxpayers. According to Christopher Baxter and Jonathan D. Salant of New Jersey Advance Media, the Department of Defense paid 14 NFL teams $5.4 million from 2011 to 2014 for salutes like the Hometown Heroes segment and other advertising at professional football games. All but $100,000 of that money came from the National Guard. U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) called the spending wasteful and disingenuous, Baxter and Salant report: “Those of us go to sporting events and see them honoring the heroes,” Flake said in an interview. “You get a good feeling in your heart. Then to find out they’re doing it because they’re compensated for it, it leaves you underwhelmed. It seems a little unseemly.” … “They realize the public believes they’re doing it as a public service or a sense of patriotism,” Flake said. “It leaves a bad taste in your mouth.” Flake added that he has no problem with the National Guard spending money on recruitment advertising at football games. “The problem, he said, was spending taxpayer money on a program that, on its face, appeared to be a generous gesture by a football team,” Baxter and Salant write. The story goes on to detail what the National Guard gets in return for its spending: Aside from the Hometown Heroes segment, the agreements also included advertising and marketing services, including a kickoff video message from the Guard, digital advertising on stadium screens, online advertising and meeting space for a meeting or events. Also, soldiers attended the annual kickoff lunch in New York City to meet and take pictures with the players for promotional use, and the Jets allowed soldiers to participate in a charity event in which coaches and players build or rebuild a playground or park. The Jets also provided game access passes. A National Guard spokesman said the agreement with the Jets helps promote and increase “the public’s understanding and appreciation of military service in the New Jersey Army National Guard increases the propensity for service in our ranks and garners public support for our Hometown Team.” A Jets spokesman says the team works with the National Guard just as it works with any other sponsor to tailor in-game advertising. According to the report, the Colts and Ravens are among the other teams that have similar agreements with the National Guard. |
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05-08-2015, 11:15 AM | #46 |
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The NFL doesn't salute cancer researchers or doctors without borders or people building houses in New Orleans or volunteers at battered women's shelters or anyone else doing some good good but don't have the TRILLIONS in resources to promote themselves for recruiting purposes.
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05-08-2015, 11:40 AM | #47 | |
..........
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However, I do use USAA insurance and have A VA loan on my house. When applying for certain things that have veteran discounts I'm happy to save a little coin. I do not go to the restaurants on Veterans Day, I don't like standing up in a stadium or other public event, it feels like it's advertisement. That being said, I also would like to keep the rights I signed up for 20 years ago and many of those are deteriorating because of the public figures who feel much like virus. I don't want to get into what all I've done or saw, but I sure as hell wasnt doing it for the money. I did use the GI bill and I had walked away from a family business where I could've made a shitload more. There were and are many like me in the service. One of the biggest names is Tillman. You want to tell his family he died for institutionalism? Cynicism is one thing, but dont be dicks here on this subject, just to be dicks. I'm anti war too, most all service members are, even the infantry guys, saying shit like they're ready is mental training. |
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05-08-2015, 11:42 AM | #48 |
Pessimistically optimistic.
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I'm currently in the Air Force going on 13 years, and while I appreciate the sentiment, I always feel a bit weird standing up at Chiefs games or being acknowledged.
Maybe there's a subset that don't mind it, or maybe I'm the outlier....but on most days, I just consider it a regular 9-5 job. |
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05-08-2015, 11:45 AM | #49 | |
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Why is it necessary to show America's military might before a football game broadcast to the entire world? |
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05-08-2015, 11:49 AM | #50 | |
I'm the MFCEO
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05-08-2015, 12:05 PM | #51 | |
You gotta kill a few people
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It's just strange to me what people choose to latch onto. We put military servicemen, LEO, firefighters, etc. on pedestals but I don't see anyone taking a moment of silence for the roofers, truck drivers, and fishermen who work jobs that are just as important and dangerous. |
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05-08-2015, 12:15 PM | #52 | |
Fight, build, win!
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Why does the Academy always televise the Oscars to the Nation every year? There is only a fraction of people who give a rats ass. Its closed to all except those in the Industry who want to pat each other on the back and tell everyone how great they are. |
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05-08-2015, 01:12 PM | #53 |
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Because you have a ton of people all in one place waiting to be entertained.
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05-08-2015, 01:15 PM | #54 |
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If you serve in the military for 20+ years you shouldn't have to pay taxes ever again.
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05-08-2015, 01:21 PM | #55 |
Consuming CP souls
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FYP
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05-08-2015, 01:22 PM | #56 |
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05-08-2015, 01:27 PM | #57 |
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05-08-2015, 01:27 PM | #58 | ||
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With the lack of true royalty in this country (thankfully!), people gravitate to famous actors and actresses instead. But you'd probably be surprised how many participants are actually nauseated by it as well. |
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05-08-2015, 01:28 PM | #59 |
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05-08-2015, 01:35 PM | #60 |
Has a particular set of skills
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Every single day there are soldiers putting themselves in harms way and dying to go after people who would kill Americans for no reason other than they are American. They have earned our respect.
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