The degree that this story has gotten blown up is INSANE.
Agreed. The media didn't rip into Theo Epstein and Manny Ramirez nearly to this degree when they both skipped the trip to the White House in 2007. Heck, Larry Bird declined a White House invitation in 1984, as well (although I think he went in 1986), and I've never heard any criticism related to that, either.
Of course, Boston is a liberal town in a liberal state, and there was a different political party occupying the White House in '84 and '07. My guess is that has at least something to do with the media storm.
Sure, that's part of it Roy.
But a bigger part is that neither of those gentleman chose to politicize a non-political event. Neither of them came out with a statement saying they did not attend because they didn't agree with the political party in the office.
Theo declined to comment, simply stating he had prior commitments and manny pretty much played it off as "im a goofball, i forgot."
now, could it have been because of the party in office? for theo, i'm sure it was, but unlike Thomas he chose not to make it a political statement. Thus he skated for the most part (though he was criticized, especially on talk radio)
Manny I'll buy was just dumb or didn't care.
Another case in point is Larry bird, who also chose not to attend, but declined to make it a political issue when asked.
Thomas went out of his way to make a non-political visit a statement about politics. That is his right, but he should also expect enhanced criticism for that decision.
For instance, if he had come out with a statement two or three days before that said "I have chosen not to attend do to other commitments." then people would have speculated, the rabble rousers like felger would have yapped about it but it wouldn't have been nearly the issue it has become because Thomas chose to make it one.
It was Tim's decision to make the non-political visit for winning a sporting event into a political statement, and if he's convictions warranted it then fine, that's his right.
but I find it hard to feel shock that it's blown up into a political story or credit it simply to the politics of Massachusetts. The choice to make this a political talking point was his.