The Ravens are "getting $130,000 from American taxpayers to promote Obamacare," according to documents cited by JUDICIALWATCH.org. The deal between the Ravens, NFL and Maryland health officials was "secured on September 9." Maryland officials "evidently appealed directly to the home team, announcing in early September that the Ravens would help market" the state's Obamacare exchange known as Maryland Health Connection. In an agreement between the Ravens and the Maryland Health Connection, the state will pay the team $130,000 to "push Obamacare on television, radio, the team's official website, its newsletter and in social media." This includes the Ravens Report cable TV show and "a number of pre and post-game radio segments as well as Facebook and Twitter plugs" (JUDICIALWATCH.org, 10/22). PRO FOOTBALL TALK's Mike Florio noted it is an advertising deal "struck by a for-profit entity that has the ability to project a message to a lot of people." The "powers-that-be in Maryland want citizens to be aware of the new healthcare law and, ultimately, their options and rights under it." Regardless of "what anyone thinks or believes or fears about Obamacare, the Ravens are simply doing what professional sports teams do: Collecting money for sharing a slice of the high profile that professional sports teams enjoy." In a capitalistic society, "how can anyone fault the Ravens for capitalizing on the ability to pocket $130,000 in advertising dollars that otherwise would have been used elsewhere?" (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 10/23).
