President Trump today threatened to "use federal tax law to penalize" the NFL over players who "kneel in protest during the national anthem as he sought to escalate a political fight that has resonated with his conservative base," according to Peter Baker of the N.Y. TIMES. Trump said that Congress should "eliminate a law that has allowed the NFL central office to avoid paying taxes as a nonprofit entity." Trump this morning tweeted, "Why is the NFL getting massive tax breaks while at the same time disrespecting our Anthem, Flag and Country? Change tax law!" Baker reports the tax break for the NFL has been a "point of controversy for years, and other conservatives have taken up the cause in recent weeks as the president has repeatedly assailed the league over the player protests." But the idea would be "more about symbolism than impact." The tax break "applies only to the central office, not the teams" and the NFL "voluntarily gave up the tax exemption for its league office" in '15. The league gave up its tax-exempt status because of what it called the "distraction." It is "not clear that it cost the league much money." While the league as a whole "generates billions of dollars in revenue a year," the league office ran a deficit of $13.5M in FY '14. But the change "meant the league no longer had to disclose what it paid" to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell (NYTIMES.com, 10/10).
USING PROTESTS TO FIRE UP BASE: THE HILL's Olivia Beavers reported Trump is "fundraising" off of Vice President Pence's walkout from Sunday's 49ers-Colts game, when several 49ers kneeled during the national anthem. In an email from the Trump Make America Great Again Committee, Trump said, "Yesterday members of the San Francisco 49ers took a knee during our National Anthem. Their stunt showed the world that they don’t believe our flag is worth standing for. But your Vice President REFUSED to dignify their disrespect for our anthem, our flag, and the many brave soldiers who have died for their freedoms." Trump called for "campaign donations to support the move" (THEHILL.com, 10/9).
WEEKEND TALK FORMED PLANS: In DC, Abby Phillip reports Pence "for weeks" had planned to be at Sunday's Colts game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Pence and Trump "spoke by phone over the weekend," and the decision was made that if players knelt, he would "head for the exits." It was a moment that "pitted against each other some of what Pence has stated are his most deeply held convictions: his advocacy for the First Amendment against his fidelity to the flag" and his "loyalty to Trump against his love for his hometown team." Pence "chose Trump's agenda." For some Colts fans, Pence’s move "pointedly showed that he was willing to inject politics into a day that was supposed to be all about the home team" (WASHINGTON POST, 10/10). Colts S Darius Butler said Pence's move "was more theater than anything." Butler: "I would imagine that with our taxpayer dollars he could get some intel that San Francisco has been one of the most outwardly protesting teams. So, I don’t think that was a surprise to anyone in the building. I don’t think there was even a reaction by our crowd. But I guess he was caught off guard by it" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 10/10).
GOING BACK AND FORTH: In Las Vegas, Gregory Clay writes the message to NFL players from fans such as Pence "appears simply to be this: You guys can beat your wives and girlfriends, drive while intoxicated, defy police officers, get arrested for everything from drugs to assaults on nightclub patrons to suspicion of murder, but don’t mess with our flag" (LAS VEGAS SUN, 10/10). But in DC, Cheryl Chumley writes the NFLPA just "doesn't get it." The union yesterday issued a statement supporting players who are kneeling, but Chumley writes the organization is "outright rejecting fans" while NFL players have been "disrespecting the nation." Fans "tune in to see them play -- not protest." Chumley: "It's a bit disingenuous for football players to paint themselves in the same vein as the real patriots of America who fought for 'the land of the free' and 'the home of the brave' -- yes?" (WASHINGTON TIMES, 10/10). Also in DC, Sally Jenkins writes no moral dilemma in sports ever has "been harder to sort out." It is "simply not easy to choose a side." 49ers S Eric Reid and other players are "using their NFL stage to make calculated gestures on injustice they feel deeply about." But Pence had "every right to 'use' that platform too, to redirect attention to those who have died serving" (WASHINGTON POST, 10/10). The WASHINGTON TIMES' Deron Snyder writes under the header, "Maybe The Country Needs A Football Timeout" (WASHINGTON TIMES, 10/10).
ONE FAN BASE NOT BOTHERED: In Jacksonville, Nate Monroe reports the outrage over the decision by 15 Jaguars players to take a knee during the national anthem before a game last month "may have just been hot air after all." According to a Univ. of North Florida survey of 509 registered voters in Duval County, most voters said that the hoopla has not impacted "their likelihood to watch or attend a game." Jaguars Owner Shahid Khan -- who issued a statement challenging Trump’s controversial remarks slamming players who kneel during the anthem -- has a 65% "approval rating." Fifty-three percent of voters said that the kneeling controversy has had "no influence on their decision to attend a game," and 49.6% said the "same of watching games on TV." Sixty-three percent of Republican voters said that they were "less likely" to watch games on TV, and 57% said that "they are less likely to attend a game." Democrats are "not bothered" as 66% said that the controversy has "had no influence." Eighteen percent actually said that they are "more likely to watch and attend games now" (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 10/10).
