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December 8, 2010

Orioles tweet on Luke Scott and his Obama comments

Orioles designated hitter Luke Scott’s Barack Obama rant – in which he told a radio station during the winter meetings that he doesn’t believe Obama was born in the U.S. and accused the president of “hiding something” -- has taken on a life of its own.

To the point where the Orioles organization, through spokesperson Greg Bader has commented on it through their Twitter site and email. This is the club’s statement:

“Luke Scott’s comments do not reflect the opinion of the Baltimore Orioles organization. … The fact is that Barack Obama is our President, duly elected by the people of the United States. End of story.”

His teammate, Adam Jones, also posted something on Twitter about Scott’s comments: “Whatever comments Luke Scott made were made by him. I’m his teammate and friend. Besides that we have different views so that’s that.”

Jones later tweeted that in this country everyone has freedom of speech.

OK, moving on to baseball …

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Posted by Dan Connolly at 4:03 PM | | Comments (40)
        

Comments

PLEASE! ... Baseball, now.

Meanwhile, Felix Pie had to be physically restrained by his internet service provider...

WTG, Adam Jones!

No, Luke, you cannot produce your birth certificate. You can produce a certified copy obtained from the government agency that has the original. What Obama has produced is a certified copy of the Birth document which is furnished by the State of Hawaii when you request a birth certificate and is by Hawaiian law proof of birth. Stick to baseball Luke.

AdamJones nailed it. Freedom of speech and opinion.

Go back to Mexico or S.America. I'm sure your not born here either!

I love this stupid story. Nevermind that Obama's certified birth certificate copy is out there for the world to see. Nevermind that there are 2 separate newspaper announcements on the day of his birth in Honolulu. Nevermind the facts apparently, with this ... baseball player. Freedom of speech is fine. And the O's should exercise their own freedom to cut [him].

It's no wonder the Orioles have a difficult time fielding a competitive baseball team, when key members spew this type of ignorance. It questions Mr Scott's ability to understand facts, and separate fiction.


"OK, moving on to baseball …"

except there is no news to report on the Orioles front.

Those of us limited government types who are occasionally embarrassed by the birthers might want to hide from this story. But in my opinion, the really interesting thing about this interview is that apparently the only part people find controversial is the Obama citizenship part. Therefore, given that the interview was quite lengthy and dealt with a variety of subjects, people do not seem to care relatively about the other topics. The other potentially provocative area was gun control. Whereas once his comments about the freedom to keep and bear arms would have been controversial, now no one even notices that part. This is a good sign for our movement because it implies that gun control is now legitimately up for debate as policy. But we do still have to keep trying to separate from the birther element, of course, because it gives our political opponents too much ammunition to use against us.

Brian, since when were comments about gun control or limited government controversial? Those are fundamental tenants of the conservative movement over the last 30 years. It sounds like you're trying to portray your ideological movement as oppressed in some way, when that simply isn't true.

Luke Scott's comments are controversial because they are blatantly untrue and because they're entire foundation is racism.

His other comments aren't controversial because they are merely ideas that people have been civilly discussing for years.

That's what makes the accusations that this is just about liberals being thin skinned so easily dismissable. His many other conservative talking points aren't even remotely controversial. It's merely his notion that the President isn't the President that people reject.

And for me, it's offensive to see someone use "that's just what I believe," as a defense of something that's factually incorrect. There's no room for "belief" in the realm of knowable facts. It's offensive to me from an intellectual perspective, not a political one. I'd be similarly offended if someone said they don't believe in gravity, and then backed down from explaining themselves with some nonsense about it just being their belief.

Luke Scott's comments are unworthy of the Oriole tradition. Brooks Robinson, Frank Robinson, Jim Palmer, Cal Ripken, and Mark Belanger (to name a few) would never have lowered himself to the level that Scott just did.

The club should reprimand him and Scott should publicly apologize.

I am a firm believer in freedom of speech.

So please do not censor me from saying that Luke Scott is an uneducated moron who is not worthy of wearing the Orioles uniform.

Just because somebody can hit home runs doesn't mean his opinion has value.

AK, I disagree with your assessment that being against gun control was completely acceptable 30 years ago - gun control had been going up in municipalities all across the country, and only in 2008 did the Supreme Court declare the 2nd Amendment as an individual right. Also, implicit in your assertion is the conflation of limited government and the Republican party. As someone who absolutely denies that link, I disagree with this assumption. Limited government has not been a popular movement for a long time - look at the expansion in the size, scope, power, and cost of government over your time period if you doubt this.

But I'd also like to point out that after you addressed my gun control point, you spent most of your post back on the birther thing, which illustrates my argument. Not only is Luke's limited government ethos less controversial today, but the birther comments are easily used to demean it. For the record, I basically agree with you about the issue, but I completely disagree that it's about racism (see Luke and Felix's friendship), and I challenge you to deny that a fringe birther movement might not have arisen if McCain had won (he was born in Panama).

Open mouth insert foot Luke

It's rare to see someone with the intelligence and courage of Luke Scott in professional sports. He should be applauded for talking about something other than himself, which is all the A-Rods, Tigers, and LeBrons of the world do. Instead, the Leftist media crucifies him for daring to challenge their hero.

I'd say McCain's Panama birth is solid evidence that it is based on race, in the broadest possible sense. To say that the idea is based on race is not to say that everyone who subscribes to the idea is, by extension, a racist. It's Obama's "otherness" that is on trial, representing far more than simply his African American roots, but also his ties to Islam (though he is no doubt a Christian), his extended families ties to both Kenya and the Phillipines, and the fact that he is biracial. Altogether, people see someone who isn't like them, and so they work backwards looking for evidence that justifies the belif. I'm sure many "birthers" have friends who are black, just as Luke Scott is clearly good friends with Felix Pie. But none of that means that the idea isn't firmly rooted in race.

And the fact that there isn't a birther movement around John McCain, and that there wasn't at any point during his campaign (though there already was for Obama), proves this.

You've suggested that an increase in the size of government in recent decades proves that limited government was somehow a controversial idea. Similarly, you say that only recently did the Supreme Court declare that the 2nd ammendment was an individual right. But at what point was supporting either gun rights or limited government something that was frowned upon anymore than any other political discussion in mixed company? Medicare was hailed as the coming of socialism when it passed, as was social security and every other major entitlement program entered into by the US government in modern times. Those who support limited government are convinced that they're on the side of the nation's founders, and they've had voices in mainstream media for many years. Everything said about Obama's policies now was once said of Jimmy Carter's before. Your insistence that you're part of something new, and that there's a newfound acceptance to your ideas, sounds very self-fulfilling.

The fact is, we're talking about the most fundamental ideological difference between conservatives and liberals. And while I agree with you that Republicanism is in no way synonymous with limited government (look no further than any of the Bush terms or the Reagan years for proof), there's no question that ultimately the majority of political disagreements eventually boil down to what one believes the proper role of government to be. Your argument here suggests that, until now, it was politically incorrect to voice a view that has largely been voiced by between 48 and 52 percent of the population, depending on the year.

Well we all know that baseball players are not known for their higher education; a bunch of spoiled little boys that were never made to grow up. Is anyone really that surprised by his ignorance?

Senator McCain's parents were both American and out of the country on military duty when he was born so that makes his situation different.

For the record, it is a fact that McCain's qualifications were indeed challenged by the other party when he first campaigned for the senate.

As for Obama......he is kinda busy creating his own legacy at the moment.

Freedom of speech:
Luke your brain is the size of a baseball!

It ain't about race. It's about being not a natural born citizen and having Muslim ties. Obama could have ended this long ago by answering questions and presenting proof.
Luke Scott is a patriotic American, a God fearing man, and Adam Jones is a stand-up guy for standing by him. Adam will probably be ridiculed also, but they were my favorite Orioles before this and are more so now. And Scott is not a racist , as proven last year by his constant support and help to Pie to make him a better player. We need a lot more of Scotts and Jones on this team. They are winners!!

Addressing a conspiracy theory will never end it, but in fact do just the opposite. Conspiracy theories are self fullfilling in that way. The moment an official explains the gross inaccuracy of one, what do the conspiracy theorists do? They reject the explanation and insist that the person has motivation and cause to lie. If not, the consiracy theory wouldn't exist in the first place. It's a long understood logical principle that you cannot prove a negative, and conspiracy theories are the best example of that reality. No matter what was produced as evidenced, it would be dismissed out of hand, just as is the existing preponderence of evidence that proves as conclusively as is logically possible that the President was, in fact, born in Hawaii.

When people want to believe something, they'll believe it. All the thorough debunking of the moon landing conspiracy has only made the theorists more assured that they're right.

Haha! I like this! It gets our minds off of more bad news for the Orioles! I wonder if this was planned out....lol

It just goes to show that you can be a great athlete and still be a total moron. Hey Luke... How many times does the republican governor of Hawaii need to show Obama's birth certificate. I suppose for idiots like you, it's never enough. Stick to guns and baseball!

Luke and Adam each have a right to their opinion because we live in a country where the freedom of speech is still guaranteed. The purpose of this outlet is the discussion of Oriole baseball. After 13 years of losing, we should be banning together to let the front office dudes know that we want and expect change. If we don't we will be stuck in last place in the AL East another 13.

Luke does NOT miss an episode of the S. Palin show, Prob voted for Bristol too...Tea Bag me

Luke Scott should remember the adage: "Better to be silent and thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt". We all have a right to our opinions, we also have a responsibility to research and substantiate the things we say aloud, especially when we have a national stage. Luke Scott is an ignorant, prejudiced, idiot... and I've researched that.

I second dabronxboy. Freedom of speech is great, but put a mic or camera in front of a moronic athlete, pseudo celebrity or actor, and their verbal diarrhea spews forth in a stream of uneducated, low life garbage.

Luke Scott is no moron or racist.

To use the phrase "that is what I believe" is not an attempt to excuse anything. It's merely stating a fact in order to frame any previous questionable comments.

Also... official documentations of events such as births, deaths, criminal activities, passports, visas, or organizational affiliations can all be falsified or misrepresented. It is not uncommon.
Hence, you can point out all the legal proof you care to..... and it indeed may hold up legally..... but that does not make the information contained therein necessarily accurate.
Therefore, one's belief that a certain event took place differently than the legal account of it says it did is not necessarily disproven by existing documentation..... and holding such beliefs certainly does not make a person a "moron".

I would say that anyone who has not thought this all through to the above extent and makes the assumption that such a person is a "moron" or even more ridiculous.... a "racist"...... is DEFINITELY guilty of being a hypocritical BIGOT to the fullest extent.

I suggest to those people something Jesus said:
"Before attempting to remove the splinter from your brother's eye..... remove the BEAM from your own eye so that you may better see your brother's eye."


Scott reminds me of all the Hollywood stars (Jolie, etc.) who think their opinions actually matter. Over-paid entertainers with inflated senses of self-importance all. Stick with what you know, Lukie: baseball.

"If I have to compromise what I believe in, there's no honor in that. There's no integrity. That's not a leader." Luke Scott...... If anyone who has "actually read" the complete interview and didnt get a chill of your american patriotism, had better rethink why they live in this country. Also if you are so narrow minded as to JUST focus on the birth certificate part of his interview need not have a word to say about Luke scotts beliefs, This man is standing up for what he believes is the BEST thing for his country, your country, and that is to be a country worth living in as well as a country worth dying for. I am a proud veteran to serve for this country and hope many others after me will still feel the same. If you have something bad to say about a man who speaks his belies and all he wants to see is this country do better for itself, i suggest you re-read the constitution because you obviously dont remember history call and understand the how what and why this country was build on. I can only wish i can personally thank luke scott for voicing his freedom of speech and bringing light to such a touchy subject.

Yeah, yeah, even the Hawaii Department of Health is wacko, eh?

Because last Friday, through an open records request, the Hawaii Department of Health released an image of their official raised seal.

Obama’s COLB does not bear that image and it isn’t a ‘raised seal’ as the law requires, it’s 'incised.' And Arlen Specter blabbed that Congress knew the text from that seal should be raised for it to be an official and legal document.

http://obamasgarden.wordpress.com

Please stick to baseball- freedom of speech is a right...but please use it wisely. Obviously you have right wing views (which I can respect the "right" side of things) but do some research which includes going outside of you own feelings so you can make an informed argument. You mentioned that 50 years ago a man could shake another man's hand, which meant he could repay a loan. Did you know that some of America's prosperity did not come with hard work but was also considered an honest job...stock trading. Where is the honest days work in that? We take educated guesses on how a company will perform and place our bets. Hey, I’m not complaining- I also feed the beast of this economy to reap the rewards. So get off your high horse (like your closet is filled with suites of integrity, honor and all that BS). If you had it your way, the sport you play and make a whole lot of money off of (and vice versa) would fail to exist. But I don't see you taking a stand about the corruption in your own sphere of influence (MLB) and doing something about it. Seems like you have a lot of fire inside...please pick up a better cause that can help shape the future of the MLB and the young ones that aspire to be apart of it one day.

George, you're an idiot. The long form (the one signed by the doctor, parents, etc.) IS NOT out there for the world to see. The one you're talking about is a computer generated print out.

And Lee Gire, stick it your yourself. Luke Scott can produce a copy of the long form certificate with all the signatures. That coward, Obama, will only show the copmuter generated form, not (a copy of) THE ORIGINAL.

Scott certainly got the attention he seems to crave. Is that a fundamental Christian ideal ? i'm not sure, but somehow doubt it.

Where's the humility? where's the humanity?

speaking rhetorically, thanks

I laugh when I see the righties use propaganda websites like wordpress to prove Obama isn't an American. Never mind the fact that the far right website World Net Daily has already concluded that Obama is an American citizen. And ask yourself this wingnuts, why didn't any republican candidate for President produce evidence that Obama isn't a citizen back in 2008? Because they don't have anything. Unless they wanted to use the Russian drag queen Orly Taitz's fraudulent Kenyan birth certificate. As for Puke Scott, he should shut his yap or be dfa'd. Notice how classy Adam Jones is in not exposing his political views.

he only made those comments to make sure his hunting photo's would get shown nationally. sheesh.

stick to grounding in double plays, Luke and don't brag about shooting deer on a fenced off ranch.

If you are willing to buy real estate, you would have to get the mortgage loans. Furthermore, my brother all the time takes a small business loan, which supposes to be the most useful.

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About the bloggers
A Baltimore native, Dan Connolly has been covering sports for 14 years, and baseball and the Orioles for 10 seasons, including the past six with The Sun. His first year covering baseball on a daily basis was Cal Ripken Jr.'s final season as a player. It's believed that is just a coincidence.

Steve Gould is an assistant sports editor for The Sun, overseeing Orioles coverage. The Columbia native joined The Sun as a sports copy editor in 2006 after graduating from the University of Maryland.

Peter Schmuck has been covering baseball for a lot longer than Steve Gould has been on this earth. He is now a general sports columnist, but has been a beat writer covering three major league teams (the Dodgers, Angels and Orioles) and also spent a decade as the Sun's national baseball writer. If you want more of his insight on the Orioles and other sports issues, check out his personal blog -- The Schmuck Stops Here.


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