Colin Kaepernick in danger of losing support after comments on presidential candidates
After galvanizing support from athletes and civil rights leaders across the country, Colin Kaepernick is in danger of losing it.
His comments Tuesday about the first presidential debate between HIllary Clinton and Donald Trump were as needlessly divisive as the “pig cop’’ socks he wore last month. In case you missed, here’s part of what the San Francisco 49ers quarterback said about Clinton and Trump:
“Both are proven liars and it almost seems like they’re trying to debate who’s less racist.”
NAACP president Cornell William Brooks and Rev. Jesse Jackson are among the civil rights leaders to have praised Kaepernick for his protest of racial inequality and police brutality. But they’ll have a harder time supporting the San Francisco 49ers quarterback after the incendiary comments about the presidential candidates, especially those directed at Clinton, who has strong support within the African-American community.
Colin Kaepernick: 'Embarrassing' that Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton are candidates
Kaepernick must heed a voice of reason, and he has one in Harry Edwards, the civil rights activist who works with the 49ers and helped convince Kaepernick to stop wearing the socks with cartoon pigs dressed as policemen.
“Freedom of speech and the processes of democratic elections are awesome blessings of freedom — and burdens of responsibility,’’ Edwards said told USA TODAY Sports by text message. “Words matter!’’
In other words, Kaepernick needs to be more careful of what comes out of his mouth, even though Edwards said Kaepernick had a valid point.
There’s no compelling reason, Edwards said, to believe Trump’s “law-n-order’’ remedy or Clinton’s education and job training proposals will address racism. But Kaepernick’s comments came across as shrill and lacked nuance and could cost him the growing support he needs to affect real change.
“(His) abilities to articulate his analyses has not yet caught up to his abilities to formulate those analyses,’’ Edwards said. "But he’s learning.’’
He better learn fast.
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