Wednesday, November 7th, 2012 at 9:00 am  |  96 responses

LeBron James Not Afraid to Make Political Statements


by Marcel Mutoni / @marcel_mutoni

Michael Jordan remained largely apolitical throughout his NBA career, as he felt this was the best way to protect his business interests off the court. Jordan became infamous when he uttered the line, “Republicans buy shoes, too.”

Unlike MJ, LeBron James has no issue with making his political stance widely known — LBJ has once again put his support behind President Barack Obama, and says that he faced some pushback for being so open about who he voted for.

From Fox Sports:

The Miami Heat star makes many millions off his endorsement deals, including one with Nike. But there’s one other particular endorsement he isn’t shy about making news with, regardless of its negative impact on those deals — he’s once again voting for Barack Obama for President. “I’ve been second guessed,” James said. “They’re saying it’s bad for the brand. If I feel like I want to support someone, then go for it.”

James said he carefully researched Obama before he voted for the Democrat in 2008. He’s done that again this time. “No,” James said about not being afraid as an athlete to take a stand. “I just think it’s about knowledge if you know what’s going on. I’ve always said I feel like it’s important for me to do it because that’s just who I am. I got out there and I learned a lot about it in ’08 and I learned a lot about it now.”

Many other NBA players clearly feel the same way that LeBron does, and they haven’t shied away from chiming in (and supporting candidates) during this election year, especially in the digital realm.

LeBron James and his counterparts have a large platform from which to speak, and they’ve elected to make their voices heard. One gets the sense that this is a step in the right direction.

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  • http://twitter.com/KingofKushSmoke PimpMaster of yo Hoe

    This is part of the reason why Obama won. His supporters actually have faces and dont just hide behind negative television commercials out of fear the consuming public will not purchase their product/service because of their personal political views.

  • Buckets

    Did anyone really think Obama wouldn’t win?? Come on, Romney had no chance. Generally speaking, the Republican party is for rich white folks. The majority of citizens (like any other country) aren’t rich.

  • Buckets

    Why should he be afraid? We have political freedom in this country…

  • Max

    Spencers Hawes agrees.

  • K_HOLIDAY

    I’m curious to see how the next election goes and how “involved” all of these guys will be when Obama isn’t running.

  • shockexchange

    With all his new friends off the court – Warren Buffett, Obama, JayZ, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer – has King James lost his focus on it? http://clicky.me/7Jk6

  • Redd

    As well he should be. I voted for Obama but hesitantly.

  • http://www.facebook.com/rig.veda.94 Rig Veda

    are you saying Republican party is not for rich nba folks?

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Mike-Gilbert/100001749589586 Mike Gilbert

    Lets be honest..both candidates were pretty bad choices

  • obama2012

    F*ck Spencer Hawes and his vote for Mitt tweet. The REAL person won last night. Not the fake.

  • Dagger

    “New friends” . . . hilarious.

  • Max

    How the F do you come up with these things? lol

  • ratguts

    Karl Malone, nuff said.

  • spit hot fiyah

    Lets be even more honest, it is pretty bad to only have two choices

  • SWIFTboy

    I’m not against atheletes voicing their opinion on issues, whether I agree with that opinion or not, as long as they are educated and well informed. Since all he did was support a candidate, he was not required to display any knowledge.

    Since he didn’t pursue any post-secondary education, and admitted he only attempted to educate himself leading up to both elections, I have a feeling he’s only aware of the surface issues. So if he’s only going to regurgitate soundbytes, I’d also suggest he sticks to what he knows.

    Then again, he might be reading Chomsky, Huxley, and Tolstoy in his free time and show me what’s what.

  • Max

    Lol that’s whats up.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Mike-Gilbert/100001749589586 Mike Gilbert

    well that’s one part of America that I don’t think will change for quite sometime if at all

  • patrick

    How bout a 3rd party in 2016?

  • ash

    There are other caniddates on the ballot for president. Larry king was the moderator for the debate that was streaming online. People will have to do research

  • Omar

    He shouldn’t be. He’s a man and should be able to voice his opinion as such.

  • bike

    Let’s face it, who in their right mind would want to be president. Work on your game, become a nba star, and you will make way more money than the Commander and Chief plus have a lot fewer headaches.

  • http://www.facebook.com/evan.boland Evan Boland

    LMFAO.

  • http://www.facebook.com/evan.boland Evan Boland

    Ridiculous. Democracy, lmao.

  • tommyboy

    Get the hell out of here Ralph Nader !

  • http://twitter.com/bjollz Björn Atli Davíðsson

    Naw man. He’s reading Hunger Games.

  • tommyboy

    Who is Spencer Hawes?

  • http://twitter.com/Jzakoni Verified Account

    ahhhhh stinger lol

  • http://twitter.com/Jzakoni Verified Account

    why lie, i didn’t vote for any of these cats

  • lososway

    anyone who “knows what’s going on” and values human life wouldn’t vote for either of those ass clowns.

  • Comment_System

    If Corey Booker runs, you know they will be.

  • Comment_System

    To answer your question, yes. Republicans.

  • Comment_System

    There are other parties, but it isn’t in the best interest to have more than two (the only that CAN change is which two). I personally liked gary johnson, and if it was between him and obama, my vote would have been much tougher to make.

  • Comment_System

    This is a great and kind way to say “HA!, like im going to listen to what a high school graduate says about politics”

  • Comment_System
  • Canesta

    You clearly don’t know much about politics. You don’t have any basis for such comments about “rich white folks”. Give one explanation that backs up that statement. Yea, you can’t…

  • danpowers

    thats stupid so you actually supported the bigger evil (republicans).

  • danpowers

    but its a valid point, republicans only benefit wealthy people and the big majority of wealthy people in the usa are white

  • danpowers

    the problem is that broad population groups such as rednecks or white trash in general are poor or just not educated. so they believe the republicans lies about their policy and paradoxly vote for the party that harms them the most.

  • http://twitter.com/Jzakoni Verified Account

    hell no, i didn’t. I’m a democrat. i didn’t care to vote this year, so why lie..

  • danpowers

    yup and by this you automatically weaken the democrats

  • http://twitter.com/Jzakoni Verified Account

    brother please, keep your opinions to yourself. people like yourself make talking politics a SCANDAL. ruffling your feathers like a b!tch

  • Canesta

    danpowers, you forgot to mention the part about poor blacks who believe the democrats lies about policy. It’s such a shame that so many believe that the democrats want to “help” the poor. democrats want to take make them even more dependent on the government, which only hurts them! And republicans only benefit wealth people? really? that’s simply not true. republicans benefit the business owners, all and large, all of which are the people who pay you and me to work!

  • charliewinning

    I guess not every player wants to be like Mike. Good for him.

  • http://www.facebook.com/HolyBaller Dillan Leu

    And ghetto democrats who have no clue about politics don’t vote? Please. Stop with your obvious bias.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1235696147 Tony Ojo-Ade

    President Obama won like I predicted it 4 years ago. Now, haters & bigots what you gonna do or say? There you go folks. Lebron said it in a few words. “Knowledge is power” He made the right choice after learning and researching what’s going on. That is why he is the reigning king on the basketball court today. God bless you my brother.

  • Guest

    People like you should never complain about bad government because you are don’t exist. don’t you know that your vote is your voice and you make a difference with that single vote? When you fail to cast you vote, you are not only dead human being; your failure will affect your family members; you children. My advice to you, aways make your vote count because that is your voice for you children, your community and your country.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1235696147 Tony Ojo-Ade

    People like you should never complain about bad government because you don’t exist. Don’t you know that your vote is your voice and you make a difference with that single vote? When you fail to cast your vote, you are not only a dead human being; your failure will affect your family members even your children. My advice to you, always make your vote count because that is your voice for your children, your community and your country.

  • http://twitter.com/Jzakoni Verified Account

    save the sermon

  • http://twitter.com/Jzakoni Verified Account

    save the sermon my man

  • charliewinning

    Are you implying they’re only voting for him because he’s black?

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