Tarnished Sterling

You have to be totally cut off from the world to not know about the alleged comments the owner of the Clippers made recently. I'm hardly a sports fan and couldn't even tell you what sport the Clippers play but I've been bombarded with news about it.

There is so much wrong about this whole thing I hardly know where to start. I guess I'll start with a disclaimer: None of my comments made here should be construed in any way to mean I support racism. Nor have I heard anything regarding Sterling's reaction or comments to all this.

The first issue I have with this whole story is how it came about. Some unidentified person allegedly taped a private conversation between two people without their knowledge and then, I'm assuming, sold said audio tape to TMZ....a bastion of responsible reporting. <insert sarcasm here> As far as I know, based on the news I heard this morning, no one has yet to verify whether the tape is authentic or in fact Sterling. Everyone is in such an uproar over what is on the audio tape that no one seems to be asking the questions I'm curious about. Has anyone bothered to confirm the tape is real and not some spliced together piece to generate outrage towards an easy target? Has anyone actually verified it is Sterling on the tape? Why is no one outraged about the method this tape was obtained? I mean seriously, how much skeevier can a person get than skulking around, taping private conversations for profit. Makes me feel a need to take a shower just thinking about it.

Next there is all the talks about sanctions and other ways to punish Sterling for his comments. Oh wait...that's right, these are only alleged comments because no one as of yet has bothered to verify. So we're all ready to tar and feather a man based on unproven allegations.

Then there is the irony and hypocrisy components of this story. Let's face it, Sterling has a well documented history of racism. I don't think that's up for debate by anyone. This leaves me to try and understand the moral outrage of the NAACP; a group that was about to award Sterling a Lifetime Achievement Award. The NAACP is awarding a known racist with an achievement award? Achievement of what; being a lifetime racist?? And now they act all shocked and appalled and are no longer going to give him the award. I have no issue with that but I do have issues with the hypocrisy of the whole thing.  I do have to give the NAACP kudos for one thing. They have said they will also be returning all monies Sterling has donated to the organization. I suppose that does offset a bit of the hypocrisy of the award.

The sports world itself is also being highly hypocritical. Again, its been no secret this man is a racist. A fact the sporting world has apparently been willing to show a blind eye to for all these years. So why suddenly act outraged now?

Bottom line, Sterling has the right to say what he wishes, whether we like it or not. If in fact he did make these alleged comments (which I'm guessing he probably did) then he will have to bear the consequences of those comments. As I've said before, the First Amendment gives you the right to free speech. It does not however protect you from the consequences of those words.

If we really want to stop this kind of behaviour though maybe its time to start holding accountable those who allow such behaviour whether it be because of an 'old boys network' or not wanting to lose a golden goose. In my opinion the hypocrites who have allowed or ignored his racism for the last 30 or so years are just as guilty of promoting racism as Sterling is.

Scraping By

Virginia Democrat James Moran apparently feels there is a problem in Congress.  They don't get paid enough.  According to him "a lot of members can't even afford to live decently in Washington."  Add to that the horror that their pay has been froze for the last three years and this poor guy must be just barely scraping by. <insert sarcasm and eye roll here>

Congressmen make $174,000 a year.

Here are my thoughts and suggestions for Congressman Moran to help him in his plight of poverty.

1. Congress is so out of touch with its constituency it's sickening and you are the new poster child for this.

2. If you can't live "decently" on $174,000 a year maybe you need to take a cold hard look at your lifestyle.  Maybe you need to pare it back a bit and learn to live within your means.  Maybe, just maybe, your perception of what is "decent" living is a bit skewed........or disgustingly distorted.  Seriously, as a federal employee I make significantly less than you do.  I don't live in a mansion or drive a fancy car.  I'm not above shopping at a thrift store or picking up something free off Craigslist.  I consider my lifestyle decent though.  And that's even with you freezing my pay for the last three years.

3. No one is forced to run for Congress.  If you don't like the job or the pay associated with it, go find a different one.  (Moran has actually announced his retirement.  The poor man is going to have to start living on a fixed income of at least $174,000 a year.  Makes your heart break for the poor guy, doesn't it.)

4.  If you are finding that measly $174,000 a year simply isn't covering your needs you could do what a lot of your fellow Americans have had to do....get a second job.  7-11 is always hiring.

The arrogance of this guy is sickening and just one more reason we need to completely clean house in this year's election.