President Obama Defends Colin Kaepernick

President Obama takes to the podium to defend Colin Kaepernick

President Obama Defends Colin Kaepernick

“Let me be perfectly clear”, when President Obama defends Colin Kaepernick and other athletes who support him by saying that he was  “exercising his constitutional right”, he is absolutely correct. However, that is where his correctness on the issue ends.

If you haven’t been living in a closet, then you have certainly heard of San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick sitting during the National Anthem during football games. Kaepernick has stated that his protest is meant to highlight the unfair treatment of African Americans by police officers. He is fighting a social problem that has been proven to be based on false information, and he’s dragging something unrelated, our National Anthem, into the issue. However, President Obama, and an unfortunate number of Americans still just can’t accept the truth:

“When it comes to the flag and the national anthem and the meaning that holds for our men and women in uniform and those who fought for us — that is a tough thing for them to get past,”

Lets take a moment and think about this. “That is a tough thing for them to get past.” The way I read this, the President is stating that the flag and national anthem only mean something special to those who defend it. While I agree that the people who sacrifice to defend our country and communities hold a strong bond to our national symbols, I would like to think that the majority of American citizens also share those strong feelings. The President is suggesting that this is only an issue that upsets veterans. President Obama continued his incorrect statements on Kaepernick’s actions:

“But I don’t doubt his sincerity. I think he cares about some real, legitimate issues that have to be talked about. If nothing else, he’s generated more conversation about issues that have to be talked about.”

Issues that have to be talked about? Again, after the facts are examined, these “issues” just do not exist. I respect the fact that the President is defending the constitutional right that allows Kaepernick to protest, but in my opinion, that is where it should end. When the Westboro Baptist Church spreads their message of hate, we don’t salute them for exercising their right to free speech. Rather, we shun them and speak out against their vile behavior. People generally don’t voice support for others who are exercising their constitutional rights to free speech, unless they actually agree with that speech.

The President, the media, and politically fueled movements have created a sensational false narrative that has endangered the lives of American heroes. Watch as President Obama defends Kaepernick below: