Jack Urges Ohioans To Vote For Mitt
Catalina Camia reports on the Jack Nicklaus campaign appearance for Mitt Romney.
Nicklaus , one of Ohio's favorite sons, told the audience in Westerville that when he travels the world people "want us to be like the America we were." Nicklaus said Romney would bring "a real recovery" to the American economy and restore America's standing around the globe.
"This campaign isn't about what's best for me," Nicklaus said, telling the crowd that Romney and running mate Paul Ryan would say "yes, we will" in order to help the next generation.
It looks to me like Jack is saying something to former Governor Romney in that Mandel Ngan Getty image. Anyone able to translate? Maybe something about the Presidents Cup next year at Muirfield Village?
Geoff
**More of the Nicklaus and Romney comments from Politico's Ginger Gibson:
“When I was competing, I didn’t lean on someone else in tough times," Nicklaus said, comparing his golfing career to the government. "I know what I had to do on the golf course to succeed, and when I won I certainly didn’t apologize for my success.”
On why America needs to elect Romney in November, he said, “We can’t keep doing what we’ve been doing. We have to look at problems at hand and change them."
Afterward, Romney said, "What you heard from the Golden Bear, what you heard from the greatest athlete of the 20th century, the words that he spoke, have touched my heart, and I'm sure they touched your hearts as well.”
Deadspin is having fun with the greatest athlete of the 20th century remark and also features a photo of candidate and endorsee deep in affectionate stare.
Geoff
**From Seth McLaughlin of the Washington Times, Nicklaus branded himself a small business owner. By the way, is he a G4 or a G5 guy these days?
“This campaign is not what is best for me, it is what is best for my children and my grandchildren,” Mr. Nicklaus said. The “Golden Bear” also showered praise on Mr. Romney and lamented about how the economy has prevented him, as a small business owner, from giving his employees pay raises and forced him to to cut his workforce in half.
“These are people who worked for me for decades. These were an extension of our families and when you lose families, it hurts,” he said.
Geoff
**Joe Vardon of the Columbus Dispatch says Nicklaus also mentioned his dismay at the growing number of people on food stamps.
Nicklaus said the election wasn’t about what’s best for him, but for his children and grandchildren. But earlier in his speech he said he’s been forced to lay off “over 50 percent” of the staff at his Nicklaus Design golf course design firm over the last four years – and couldn’t “ afford four more years” of President Barack Obama.
As he was listing off some negative economic statistics within Ohio, Nicklaus said “since that other guy took office, umm, since Obama took office, the number of people taking food stamps increased by 40 percent.”
Thankfully Jack has never leaned on government for help. Well, almost never.
Reader Comments (49)
Serious, serious loss of respect for Nicklaus for backing that nutter.
I remember advising Zinger that ABC/Disney was going to get all over him for his political rants on Twitter. He told me I was crazy and it was a free country. Three days layer ABC reprimanded him.
And for a public figure to refer to the President of the United States the way Nicklaus did -- twice -- is disgusting. He is just like the rest of that shower -- a rabid, right wing bigot.
Chill out, curmudgeons. http://reason.com/archives/2012/08/20/the-wrong-side-absolutely-must-not-win
Mitt frikin Romney? Oh brother.
Regardless, Jack could have just sent all those laid off employees to China. I hear they are doing their best to create a new golf course bubble there.
And he doesn't care a whit about the little people.
Low taxes for the wealthy and forget about those less fortunate.
Anybody with his wealth should pay more than 10% or so in Federal taxes.
Ooops.
As a non-American, I would have voted for Jack Kemp years ago - you'd be thanking me by now.
Anyways, in the interest of balance, Jack had his say for Romney now, here is a word or two from Madonna endorsing Obama::
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7YV54qbrSo&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Nicklaus, which is how I will hereafter think of him, showed himself to be a kneejerk rightwinger. I doubt the Nicklaus family has suffered one iota as a result of the current economy, but whatever he has done as a "small businessman" has led to him having to lay off 50% of his workforce? And add pay cuts to the survivors? Economies can affect any business, but to such an extent, without affecting the owner at all? Da Man makes solid points on some of Nicklaus' less prudent business ventures, and who was in charge then. Like most Republicans, his sense of history begins and ends with the current regime, all history being ignored if unsuitable and the halcyon days recalled if more attractive.
I don't actually know, but I doubt the accuracy of his statement that the number of people on food stamps has risen 40% in the last four years. But if it has risen, which I do NOT doubt, how much is Nicklaus' own contribution to the situation? When he lays of 50% of his work force and reduces the pay of the survivors, how does he expect these people are going to eat? Oh, they'll do what he did and not ask for help and get OTHER jobs. So the other guy can expand his business...doesn't this make Nicklaus a bad businessman?
He has shown himself to be clueless, insensitive, rude and stupid. Hooking up with a hypocritical, self-serving dope like Romney is a tipoff that you are dealing with "A Bear of Very Little Brain."
I pray for the day when a great golfer reasons: I am so rich from my own performance that I will take less money from sponsers who support non-corporate, public good ideals. I'll keep dreaming....
Golf is a game I love, not a game owned by anyone. Jack Nicklaus's high end, over priced unsustainable Signature courses are the problem not the actions of any politician. Jack should use his own bootstraps and not have his hand out if Romney.potentially wins.
10,000,000,000,000
Those aren't golf holes, but the new national debt that will be added since Shrub left office if the current traj is maintained. That's a lot of Nassaus for Jack's kids and grandkids and great grandkids.
Don't reply, I'm going to hit some balls. Or moving to Greece.
Yeah -- I was forgetting about Nicklaus' other crimes against humanity -- like Valhalla.