Freedom of speech or political association is not a value the liberal media revere, at least not when it comes to blacklisting people who oppose homosexuality. Peter Vidmar, a 1984 Olympic gold medalist, had to resign as chef de mission for the 2012 U.S. Olympic team because as a Mormon, he donated $2,000 for Proposition 8 in California supporting traditional marriage and appeared at two Prop 8 rallies.
But Vidmar’s not alone. Lifesitenews.com reported one of Canada’s major sports anchors, Damian Goddard of Rogers Sportsnet, was fired after voicing support for Vidmar on his Twitter page.
Gay Olympic skater Johnny Weir explicitly tied Vidmar to racists in his opposition in a Chicago Tribune interview:
"Most people would have an issue if the chef (de mission) publicly was against Asian-Americans or African-Americans, so it should be dealt with if the chef is anti-gay...
"It's wrong,"' Weir said in a telephone interview. "I certainly wouldn't want to be represented by someone who is anti gay marriage. It isn't just about marriage, it is being allowed equal rights as Americans. The fact this man who is very publicly against something that may be represented on the American team is disgraceful.''
Weir is the same scholar who insisted to Joy Behar that he thinks Jesus was a woman. Vidmar resigned by saying he didn’t want his religious beliefs to distract from the U.S. Olympic effort. From USA Today:
USA Today's Christine Brennan, no stranger to tub-thumping for feminism, simply recounted the Vidmar purge without criticizing it:
"Olympic gold medalist joins Rancho Prop 8 demonstration," said The Orange County Register on Oct. 30, 2008, in which it quoted Vidmar as saying, "It's good for our society to have a traditional definition of marriage."
Vidmar said his opposition to same-sex marriage comes from his religious beliefs as a Mormon.
"The Church wanted to take a stand on the issue, and they invited their members to take a stand," he told the Tribune. "I chose to be involved."
In U.S. Olympic circles, there was concern that Vidmar wasn't just expressing his personal opinions on a controversial issue, but that he had moved into an activist role on an issue involving civil rights.
Philip Hersh of the Chicago Tribune also let the blacklisters express themselves without opposition:
Box Turtle Bulletin, a web site devoted to "news, analysis and fact-checking of anti-gay rhetoric,'' headlined an April 29 item on Vidmar's selection as chef de mission, "U.S. Olympic Committee goes anti-gay.''
The website outsports.com said, ``This is not the first time the USOC has made a decision antagonizing the gay community.'' The other decision cited by outsports was the USOC's legal fight to prevent the founder of the Gay Games, Tom Waddell, from using the name, ``Gay Olympic Games'' for the event.
The firing of Damian Goddard in Canada is a sign of the trend that's coming to the United States. Advocate against homosexuality, and you won't have a career in the media. (NBC hockey blogger James O'Brien actually blamed Goddard for "inappropriate" timing):
“I completely and wholeheartedly support Todd Reynolds and his support for the traditional and TRUE meaning of marriage,” wrote Goddard on May 10th. He also voiced support for U.S. Olympic gold medalist Peter Vidmar, who resigned as chef de mission for the 2012 U.S. Olympic team after homosexual activists created a controversy over his support for true marriage.
Sportsnet had distanced themselves from the comments on their own Twitter account. They announced Wednesday that Goddard had been fired and did not specify the reasons.
“Mr. Goddard was a freelance contractor and in recent weeks it had become clear that he is not the right fit for our organization,” said Sportsnet spokesman Dave Rashford in a statement.
Nevertheless, Goddard is standing by the comments. “In terms of what I said, I stand by it,” he told the Toronto Star. “I’m a devout Roman Catholic. It’s not about hate at all.”
Actually, this is about hate. Homosexual activists hate anyone questioning them and will get you fired if you dare to profess your religious beliefs. Being a Christian is now more offensive to liberals than being a member of the Communist Party.
