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Tim Thomas defends snubbing White House ceremony

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January 24, 2012|By Bryan Bender

WASHINGTON -- In hockey it might be termed a save. In politics, it is more like trying to save face.

When Boston Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas skipped a White House ceremony today to honor his championship team, it was seen as an affront to President Obama, whose politics Thomas has made quite clear are not his own.

The criticism he swiftly received for what many in the sports and political worlds saw as petty publicity-seeking seemingly scored.

When Thomas, the Stanley Cup MVP, finally weighed in himself tonight, the avowed conservative and right-wing talk radio enthusiast said he was seeking to make a statement about his unhappiness with official Washington as a whole, not snub the president in particular.

“I believe the Federal government has grown out of control, threatening the Rights, Liberties, and Property of the People,” Thomas, only one of two Americans on the Stanley Cup team, said. “This is being done at the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial level. This is in direct opposition to the Constitution and the Founding Fathers vision for the Federal government. Because I believe this, today I exercised my right as a Free Citizen, and did not visit the White House. This was not about politics or party, as in my opinion both parties are responsible for the situation we are in as a country. This was about a choice I had to make as an INDIVIDUAL.”