49ers QB Colin Kaepernick "elected not to vote" in the presidential election despite spending significant time this season discussing social issues, and yesterday he "explained his decision," according to Eric Branch of the S.F. CHRONICLE. Kaepernick on a conference call ahead of Sunday's game against the Cardinals said, “I really didn’t (pay) too close of attention because I’ve been very disconnected from the systematic oppression as a whole. So, for me, it’s another face that’s going to be the face of that system of oppression. And, to me, it didn’t really matter who went in there. The system still remains intact that oppresses people of color" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 11/10). In N.Y., Ebenezer Samuel writes a "generation of young athletes spent the last three months learning the power of protest" from Kaepernick, but on Tuesday they "learned something else." Samuel: "They learned that it’s not important to vote for the president of the United States, that the election process is overrated." Kaepernick "certainly had his reasons for not voting, and he was fully within his rights to skip out on what many insist is a 'civic duty.'" But Kaepernick, who has "clamored for so much change," still missed an "opportunity -- if only a small one -- to effect change" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 11/10).
MISSED OPPORTUNITY: SI.com's Melissa Jacobs writes Kaepernick not voting is a "huge miss as both an American and potential change agent." He has the "right to make his own choices," but being the "figurehead of such a serious, cultural movement and not vote in one of the most critical elections of our lifetime is baffling at best and deeply disturbing at worst" (SI.com, 11/10). FS1's Jason Whitlock said Kaepernick "has to understand he has elevated people’s expectations of him." Whitlock: "He can't just sit out the political election. If you don't like the presidential choices, there are other issues on the ballot. You have to get involved. He set those expectations for himself. People are going to hold him to those standards. I think he's disappointed people" ("Speak For Yourself," FS1, 11/9).
HYPOCRITICAL STANCE? ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith called Kaepernick "irrelevant" and said he "absolutely betrayed his cause." Smith: "I don't want to hear a damn word about anything that he has to say about our nation, the issues that we have, racial injustices needing change, etc. He comes across as a flaming hypocrite" ("First Take," ESPN2, 11/9). CSN Bay Area's John Middlekauff said, "For him to say he didn't vote, it is pretty hypocritical.” Middlekauff: "There were propositions about educational funding and things that he is ‘fighting for.’ That’s a part of voting, it’s not just the president. There are a lot of local elections." CSN Bay Area’s Barry Tompkins: "It's a little bit hypocritical, I think he would have been smart just to keep his mouth shut” (“Sports Talk Live,” CSN Bay Area, 11/9). But PFT's Mike Florio said, "If he makes the conscious choice to not vote, that's his business" ("PFT," NBCSN, 11/10).
