NASCAR endorsing Bush

[sandersadu]

http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/grind/

Apparently, popular NASCAR drivers, as well as popular announcers of NASCAR races on NBC & TNT are campaigning for Bush in a 14-city battleground blitz.

Is this legal, for paid announcers on NBC to openly campaign for Bush? Conflict of Interest, anyone?

Also, I remember when Michael Jordan refused to campaign for Harvey Gantt in the 1990 Senate Race vs. Jesse Helms. His answer was "Republicans Buy Tennis Shoes." Well don't Democrats watch NASCAR? NASCAR has the ability to tip the election in Ohio, WV, FL, and N.C. We should be concerned, and better yet contact NBC and complain.

[bullimiami]

1. is nascar some political force?

i dont think so. the mindless bush/nascar apes are already trained.
im sure there are some nascar fans that are not indoctrinated.
i cant imagine of many undecided voters they will convince.

[One_Life_To_Give]

2. Team Owners?

Aren't all of them Team Owners?
And I don't think any of them work for NBC. As for fans well maybe democrats will avoid the sponsors of these owners teams.

[PretzelWarrior]

3. of course it's legal. We have Bruce Springsteen and REM

they have Dick Trickle (lol at that name every time).

You know what you say? In your best GOP/Rightwinger hate voice you say: "GAWDDAMMIT! Those celebrities don't have ANY RIGHT to tell me what to think or how to vote. Those rich puffs think they are there to give me an opinion? THey should just shut up and race."

the irony is terrific.

[puddycat]

4. no surprise there. Bush probably stole the Iraq oil just for them.

[naufragus]

5. I heard...

bush got booed and shot the finger when he was at nascar

[blm]

6. That last tax cut was rushed through to benefit NASCAR for quid pro quo

aka this "endorsement" bullshit.

Dale Earnhardt may have something to say about this. He hates Bush.

[CottonBear]

10. Jeff Gordon is the only top driver

who is not endorsing Bush. Hey, that's just one more reason for NASCAR fans to hate Gordon.

[flyingfysh]

7. Dale Earnhardt Jr. took his crew to see Fahrenheit 9/11

He recommended that everyone see it.

[progressivebydesign]

36. And he was fined and penalized INCREDIBLY heavy recently..

.. for saying the word, SHIT. An unprecedented fine and removal of points for saying the word SHIT. I'm CERTAIN it had nothing to do with his political views..

[Jack_Dawson]

38. Did he really?

Do you have a link?

That's fucking awesome. I hate NASCAR but suddenly love DEJ.

:toast:

[obnoxiousdrunk]

8. Isn't it obvious that

someone watching cars going round and round for hours is voting for Bush ?

[PlanetBev]

17. You beat me to it, obnoxious drunk

I was just about to post the same thing! The same intellect that can be observed when a dog chases it's tail.

[frylock]

25. the same can be said for people who watch reality based shows..

like Survivor, which IMHO is the most mindless, banal krap ever produced for TV. However, the NASCAR fans here on the board are courteous enough to not go out of their way to ridicule the folks here that watch it.

[frylock]

24. i do, and i didn't..

I watch NASCAR on a regular basis, and I mailed my absentee in last week with a vote for Kerry. Please refrain from the stereotyping. There are many people on this board who enjoy racing.

[0007]

9. IMHO NASCAR is a step below professional wrestling,

neither are a sport.

I hear baseball & football announcers campaigning for junior in a very subtle way.

[aden_nak]

11. That depends on whether they are using NASCAR airtime to do it.

If not, of course it is legal.

[nine30]

12. Hardly surprising. NASCAR is a redneck sport of the South.

[JUS]

13. We got Howard Stern

Check. Mate.

[Lugnut]

14. I'm on it!

This NASCAR fan disagrees with their choice but they have their right to free speech just like I do.

Edited for brain short circuit.

[exsoccermom]

15. My 86 year old aunt loves NASCAR

and hates bush. Don't think she has even voted for a repuke in her life. She's probably already voted for Kerry. I've got her Seymour Hersh and "Going Up River" for her 87th birthday. I'm proud to be her niece.

[WilmywoodNCparalegal]

16. Jeff Gordon: doubtful

he'd be endorsing Bush, especially since he's been living in NYC (but you never know)....

I don't know about Dale Jr., but somehow he doesn't strike me as a Bush kind of guy

[PROGRESSIVE1]

31. Both endorsed Bush. Gordon because he's a "Born Again Christian"...

and Jr. said that he is a Repub because his father is one.

If you ask me, Dale Jr. is a Repug because NASCAR mandates it. He is openly liberal on social issues.

[Norbert]

33. Gordon was a born-again Christian

He hasn't mentioned it since he broke up with Brooke.

[cybildisobedience]

18. why don't they just "shut up and drive?"

[democratreformed]

19. Ouch! And I used to like Mark Martin. My mom was his biggest fan.

She would be sadly disappointed in him. I'm so glad I didn't put her name on a brick in front of his new garage like I thought about.

[Snivi Yllom]

20. oh rats

* has the racist redneck moran vote locked up. What a loss...

[endnote]

21. So what? I like Home Simpson, but if he endorsed Bush I would not care.

[GregW]

22. I can see it now ... "Bubbas for Bush"

:eyes:

[dave123williams]

23. These crackers would endorse Lester Maddox were he still alive...

There'd be a line around the block to get their pictures taken with George Wallace, most likely. The rednecks; can't we send them to Liberia, or something?

[Dawgs]

26. Hey, wait a fucking second...

Before you guys trash NASCAR racing make sure you realize that many of us love and watch the sport religiously.

It's real easy to make fun when it's not something you like.

Grow up!!!!

[Ron Green]

27. I call Bullshit on NASCAR.

I hot-rodded cars when I was 16 years old, but I GREW OUT OF IT, FOLKS!! And that's when gasoline was 38 cents a gallon, and we thought it was inexhaustable. This activity (don't call it a sport) glorifies not only celebrity worship, but the mindless combustion of fossil fuels. There is *no* justification for this, except in the name of freedom (this is the same "freedom" of which Bush speaks, no? The freedom to pollute, extract non-renewables, and feed the lower urges of our lizard brains.) Sorry to offend fans of this atrocious racket (pun intended,) but just THINK about the global implications of this nonsense.

[Rambis]

28. Nascar I just don't get it

My brother in law is a nascar guy. Uninformed, listens to rush and Hannity, drinks the bush kool-aide, his wife is a cop (assault weapons ban) and her overtime is being cut by the new law and he is voting for Bush.

[Captain Lance Bass]

29. Idiots..sheep..baaa...baaaaaaaaa

Listen to him ..Daryl Waltrip (?)

When asked about ISSUES its

I trust GWB...JFK is a multi-millionaire.
GEB is a man I can trust.

Blah blah blah.

No substance... brainwashed

[rndmprsn]

30. BUSH IS HONEST? ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?

these nascar ppl are about as dumb as an old beat up abandoned salvaged car...

when their guy is presented with facts by wolf he just doesnt know what to say...why is CNN giving these idiots a mic?

[No2W2004]

32. I know a bit about this....

1) No NASCAR is not endorsing anyone. The people mentioned in the article are acting as individuals, not as Representatives of NASCAR. Sad to see that a few guys that I enjoy watching are on that list, but what can ya do.

2) There has been an unsponsored car that has run with "Vote for Bush" painted on it. The guy is no threat to qualify for a race let alone be in one, but even if he does manage to squeak in, His car isn't featured on camera, and isn't mentioned very much by the announcers.

3) NASCAR is now all about marketing dollars. They aren't gonna risk losing $$$$ by campaigning openly on-air for anyone. Think Nextel would appreciate NASCAR alienating half of THEIR client base?

4) The worst thing NASCAR has done is really play up "Patriotism themed support our country crap" by showing the soldiers, flags, and fly-overs during the national anthem at every race (not that other sports don't do it, but NASCAR really plays it up for the crowd). They also manage to get in the Judeo-Christian "race-prayer" on-air much of the time.

5) As far as the "redneck" association....yeah. Again, it's NASCAR's marketing base, so they are gonna play up to it. I can tell you from personal experience, I've watched all kinds of racing for many years. I'm losing interest in NASCAR mainly because their marketing efforts are becoming oppressive to the teams and drivers. NASCAR is forcing the cars to be identical, the tracks to be identical, and now the drivers to be identical. Now, I'd rather watch cars run around small dirt tracks, or go to local tracks and watch guys who only have one car, no crew, and race because they love it. Racing isn't for everyone, but what is? That's no reason to cast dispersion.

[Norbert]

34. If you ask me NASCAR is behind the times

They could probably get away with this kind of thing in the late 1970s and the 1980s when it was a sport of mainly the Southern region of the United States.

They are a coast to coast series now. Their fan base comes from all walks of life. I can't see now how they think they can get away with this since they could lose a significant segment of the audience if they take this too far. Face it, bush democrats consist of Zell Miller, Ed Koch and 20 of their closest friends.

[dad]

35. Can't believe some of the responses on this thread

Sorry, but everyone in the South and every NASCAR fan doesn't fit your stereotype.

[Borgnine]

37. Who wants to hear from these Charlotte conservatives?

"Who cares about their opinions! Their opinions don't matter! Why should they use their fame to influence what people think? Anybody who listens to them is an idiot. They should just shut up and drive their cars!"

That'll be my response to whenever somebody bitches to me about Sarandon, Robbins, Penn, etc.