Athletes for Bush
I have always found these things kind of well stocked with blandness. I also doubt that these things will change anyone's mind. But it does strike me as interesting that celebrities go left and athletes go right. Financially, they make about the same. So why the difference?
Anyway, here is the letter.
To our fellow Americans:
We have given much thought to the values and characteristics that make a great athlete. Our lives have been spent trying to run farther, push further, and jump higher than the person beside us, or across the field of our chosen sport.
With years of training and exhaustive competition beneath our belts, we have identified the values necessary to compete and win – values like personal strength, determination, a sense of fair play and faith.
The same qualities that make a great athlete make a great President – the determination to do what is right, regardless of the latest polls, the personal strength to bear the weight of the nation on your shoulders, and the faith that a higher power will direct the actions of good people.
We see in President Bush these same qualities.
In 2001, our nation was attacked without cause or provocation. The President's values saw us through those dark days after the terrorist attack.
The economy was rocked by the dual blows of the terrorists' cowardly action and the reckless disregard of the rules by a few rogue executives. But President Bush's decisive, principled leadership has moved America forward, and today our nation is safer and our economy is strong and getting stronger.
The fight against terrorism takes decisiveness. It takes continued support for our troops and first responders. But most importantly, it takes courage and inspirational leadership in the White House. In these critical times, our President has had the courage to stand up and do what's right.
For that and for his unwavering character, we choose George W. Bush as our President for the next four years. He is a leader we can depend on to make the tough decisions and the right decisions. Please join us in supporting a candidate of courage, President Bush – a leader who backs our troops defending our nation and shares our values.
The athletes who signed it:
Ernie Banks,Daniel Beery, Carlos Beltran, Craig Biggio, Josh Davis, Adam Dunn, John Elway, Bob Feller, Natalie Golda, Matt Hasselbeck, Bernie Kosar, Steve Largent, Karl Malone, Anthony Munoz, Jack Nicklaus, Mary Lou Retton, Dot Richardson, Nolan Ryan, Janet Lynn Salomon, Chris Spielman, Roger Staubach,Kerri Strug, Lynn Swann, Todd Walker.
Some names I know, others I have no idea. The only name that surprises me is Ernie Banks, only because if memory serves, he attended the Democratic National Convention in 1996.