Even though I am a Dodger fan, have been for over twenty-seven years and until the day I die, I have to hand it to Yankee fans for their treatment of Rudy Giuliani the day they were booted from the playoffs. I've never thought about Steinbrenner's politics, but when I think back on the games I have been to in the Bronx certain things like singing "God Bless America" is a bit strange for the seventh inning stretch.
Anyways, Rudy was there to support his team, care of Steinbrenner's free front row tickets that are always provided. Not only does he get free seats, as a potential nominee for the Republican Presidential ticket, he was also given free TV coverage at the game, but Yankee fans were not pleased with this at all.
From DailyKos:
For years, George Steinbreener and right wing nutcases running the New York Yankees have subtly and overtly attempted to turn a nonpolitical sporting event such as watching a baseball game at Yankees stadium into a 1930s style German propaganda event to promote right wing politicians, right wing views on religion, and right wing views on Iraq. It's no longer take me out to the ballgame and as a Yankee fan, I find it disgusting.
The most frequent use of mixing politics and baseball at Yankee stadium is Steinbrenner's promotion of right wing extremist Rudy Giuliani. Giuliani gets a front row, unimpeded view of Yankee games because these seats are given to him by Steinbrenner. Then Yankee stadium officials and the networks try to plaster Rudy Giuliani's face all over the big screen and the television. This amounts to millions of dollars of free advertising, something quite beneficial when you are running for President.
But Steinbrenner overplayed his hand. Giuliani got roundly booed at Yankee Stadium and this will play out on the campaign trail.
DaveFromQueens over at DailyKos expands on how this can reverberate, but only if the other candidates (both D and R) use it to their advantage. It takes only a minuscule amount of common sense to know that if people from your own city resoundingly boo you at a baseball game, it shows a lot about the guy.
New Yorkers know how bad Giuliani is, his record as Mayor before, during and after September 11th was atrocious. We are sick of him using the terrible tragedy that happened here six years ago for his own benefit. As more people get to know the real Rudy, the less of a chance he will have.
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