A Marine veteran running for Congress in California just blasted former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick on Monday. The candidate, Jeremy Staat, who also played in the NFL, went so far as to accuse Kaepernick of “pulling the racism and victim card.”
Jeremy Staat Slams Colin Kaepernick
Jeremy Staat, who spent four years playing in the NFL before serving his country in Iraq, recently wrote to his supporters in a fundraising email that Kaepernick is a “national disgrace and I’m tired of seeing him celebrated like he’s a hero.” On Monday night, Staat doubled down on his criticism of Kaepernick in an interview with “Fox & Friends.”
“[Kaepernick] knew what he was getting into when he decided to kneel and now he’s going to go ahead and capitalize” on his decision,” Staat said. He then accused the former NFL quarterback of “essentially extorting the black community and using Nike as his little shiny horse, if you will, to ride in on.”
Kaepernick’s ‘Unthanksgiving’ Event
Staat’s criticisms of Kaepernick come days after the former 49ers quarterback attended the “Indigenous People’s Sunrise Ceremony”. Also known as “Unthanksgiving”. The ceremony is held on Alcatraz Island in San Francisco, California. And is meant to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Native Americans occupying the famous island. The same island which previously served as the site of a famous federal prison.
“Spent the morning at the Indigenous People’s Sunrise Ceremony on the 50 year anniversary of the Occupation of Alcatraz,” Kaepernick tweeted on the afternoon of Thanksgiving day. “The US government has stolen over 1.5 billion acres of land from Indigenous people. Thank you to my Indigenous family, I’m with you today and always.”
Spent the morning at the Indigenous People’s Sunrise Ceremony on the 50 year anniversary of the Occupation of Alcatraz. The US government has stolen over 1.5 billion acres of land from Indigenous people. Thank you to my Indigenous family, I’m with you today and always.✊🏽 pic.twitter.com/6cTuktUlQN
— Colin Kaepernick (@Kaepernick7) November 28, 2019
Kaepernick’s UnAmerican Legacy
While Staat may not be famous for his football career or his years of service to this country, Kaepernick became infamous to many Americans for his national anthem protest. The former QB began taking a knee during the national anthem before his games as a quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers during the 2016 season.
Though the former professional athlete claimed to be doing this to protest against racial inequality in the United States, many saw this move as a blatant sign of disrespect towards the American flag and those who have given their lives to protect it.
Kaepernick has not been signed by an NFL team since leaving the 49ers after the 2016 season. While his supporters claim that his lack of signage is due to racist reasons, other point to his record. That Kaepernick led the 49ers to an abysmal losing record in 2016. And thus it’s his lack of football talent and high dollar demands that leave the player unsigned.
Staat Is An American Hero, Unlike Kaepernick
Staat is running for Congress as a Republican in California’s 8th district. He played alongside the late Pat Tillman at Arizona State. Before becoming a defensive end for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1998 to 2000. Staat joined the Marine Corps in 2006 and was deployed to Iraq one year later.
Staat said that he is tired of seeing veterans be treated as second class citizens. And that instead of attacking law enforcement like Kaepernick, he wants to be part of the solution by helping President Donald Trump in Congress.
“If you want to be part of the solution, go out and find ways to make the problem better. Don’t go out and attack individuals who are just doing their jobs,” he said.
Staat went on to say that while he wants to reform the VA, he is not going to “attack” doctors and nurses at VA hospitals.
It’s certainly a telling picture when you compare Staat’s legacy to that of Colin Kaepernick.
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