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| President Obama, joking with NASCAR drivers during his Tuesday speech. |
On Tuesday, April 17, President Barack Obama welcomed 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart , and the 11 other chase drivers to the White House for a celebration.
They celebrated Stewart’s third championship and the president recognized drivers for their on track abilities, as well as NASCAR’s charity work with the military.
It’s a tradition that sports teams and athletes get invited to the White House to meet the President of the United States. This particular trip made me think of ways in which our government is similar to the sports we love.
Most sports have a single person in charge and a cabinet of followers to spread their concepts, similar to President Obama and his staff. In the NFL, this person is the commissioner, Roger Goodell.
President Obama has the ultimate test, but whether you’re leading the free world or being the chief ruler of a sport, the challenge can be fierce.
Both the political and sports leaders have to campaign for support, pleading their case to the general public. Furthermore, legislation and rules are put in place so that society and athletes have guiding principles. Many promises are made, many broken. The similarities seem endless.
Obama’s welcoming of the NASCAR drivers to the White House reminded us that whether its football, politics, or racing, we are all succumbed by powerful administrations that seek support from the public.
In 2008, we were destined for “change” in the political atmosphere of the United States, when then Senator Obama brought forth a message of hope. Where did it go?
In 2010, we hoped for excitement as NASCAR declared, “ boys have at it.” Did they stop because there are women racers again in NASCAR?
Don’t get me wrong, there is plenty of excitement in NASCAR, but like government, NASCAR struggles to give the public a clear message of its ideology. Transparency should lead the way.
Sports leaders are like politicians: they work in seasons, they make lots of money, and they make important decisions that can affect a vast amount of people. Also similar to politicians, they take credit for the good, try to disregard the bad, and make blame for poor decisions.
If it walks like a duck, sounds like a duck, and looks like a duck, it’s a duck.
So if NASCAR looks like government, acts like government, and sounds like government, are they government? No, but their actions make it seem as if they are.
The best way to control the actions of NASCAR and/or government is to vote. It’s simple in government, but in NASCAR, rather than chose a candidate, people vote with their checkbooks and their TV remotes.
After keeping my remote tuned to President Obama addressing NASCAR this past Tuesday, I started to think of how NASCAR was a lot like the government of the United States, then I compared some political topics.
Here are a few:
OBAMACARE vs. BOYS HAVE AT IT
Health care was one of the promises that Barack Obama gave Americans in 2008. His plan, known to many as Obama Care, has support on both sides of the argument, but it is going through strict scrutiny in the U.S. Supreme Court.
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| Busch vs. Harvick (Darlington) Click to play video |
Kyle "Rowdy" Busch versus Kevin Harvick in 2011 fueled the debate.
The two drivers had issues in the Southern 500 at Darlington when Busch wrecked Harvick as a caution flag came out. After the race Harvick tried to confront Busch on pit road, but once he got to his window net, Busch [still in his car] hit the gas, bumping Harvick’s unmanned car into the pit wall. Finally there was drama. NASCAR’s plan was working. Low and behold it was Busch that also made NASCAR rethink their strategy. Busch vs. Harvick at Darlington
During the fall truck series race at Texas Motor Speedway, Kyle Busch intentionally wrecked championship contender, Ron Hornaday, ironically driving for Harvick’s truck team KHI. Both Harvick and Hornaday declared that payback was coming to Busch, but NASCAR stepped in before that could happen.
Busch was suspended from all series events for 1 race weekend. NASCAR deemed his actions detrimental to the sport because of the championship situation in that series and for safety reasons.
Since this incident, drivers have been hesitant to retaliate, not knowing what NASCAR may do. Like ObamaCare, there is support and opposition to boys have at it, but the argument still lingers.
The plan, like both concepts, is still unclear.
THE WAR ON WOMEN
Currently women are at the center of the debate in Washington D.C. The media has declared this year’s presidential campaign to be a war on women voters. Each party wants women to understand they fully support them and their lifestyles.
For NASCAR, women continue to win this battle, and they don’t plan on backing down any time soon.
The growth that NASCAR has experienced over the last two decades is largely due to a growing female fan base. What was once a sport full of male friendly sponsors has turned into a global brand that welcomes women and families. Motor oil and car parts sponsors are a thing of the past. Today, we have sponsors like Zest, M&M’s, 3M, and Kellogg’s to name a few. The sport has truly become a family sport.
And, oh, there’s that lady, DANICA, who brings in a new wave of fans.
I wouldn’t call this a war, because the women are dominating.
THE USE OF THE MILITARY
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| Danica Patrick stops to pose with U.S. Navy officers that did the NNS prerace flyover, and one determined fan. |
President Obama is the commander in chief of the United States military. There is no greater force than the U.S. military and this part of government is something that we as Americans should appreciate.
No one appreciates the military like NASCAR. Through programs like Joining Forces, NASCAR has continued its support of helping military families. The first lady, Michelle Obama, experienced it first hand during her trip to the season finale at Homestead Motor Speedway.
President Obama recognized this Tuesday.
“"You look out for Gold Star families. You make regular visits to Walter Reed to raise spirits there. And for you guys to give that much back to folks who have given so much to us as a country and help protect us and keep us safe is remarkable. So I want to thank all of you for what you do on behalf of our troops."
The government controls the U.S. military and each party has its views on how the military should be used. We all need to support the military and their families, no matter what party you're associated with.
NASCAR IS GOVERNMENT
The governing body of NASCAR is nothing more than a looser version of all three branches of government. More particular, they resemble the Obama administration and its thinking of “yes we can.”
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| President Obama & Brian France |
NASCAR’s president, Brian France, is like the president. He is well protected, but difficult to gain access to.At least President Obama talks to the media and to people throughout the world.
On rare occasions France actually appears, but majority of the time he’s running the sport from an unseen distance.
Yes, France is a busy man and he can have his staff run the sport, but for someone that is the face of a government[sport], France needs to redirect his own campaign or drop out and let someone else run the show.
At the end of a day, whether leading the free world or leading a race at Kansas Speedway, people have to abide by the rules from authority that have been put in place.
The best thing about our government is that we, the people, have rights. These rights are guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution.
There aren’t any constitutional amendments in NASCAR, but the U.S. government loves NASCAR because they gave us something that all citizens and especially NASCAR fans enjoy.
The freedom of expression.
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