While a Presidential invite to the White House is usually a command performance; five NASCAR drivers are citing previous commitments as a reason for being no shows.
NASCAR issued a press release stating that President Barack Obama will be meeting and greeting five-time Cup Champion, Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch, Jeff Gordon, Denny Hamlin and Clint Bowyer.
Drivers Carl Edwards, Kevin Harvick, Tony Stewart, Greg Biffle and Kurt Busch have respectfully declined the September 7th media event citing previous commitments.
Let us break this down, calmly. NASCAR needs the prestige that a well-covered media event like this brings. And, the United States President needs a feel good soft news event.
The overriding question is why does this media event take place (because there is no actual news being broken) with contenders to the Sprint Cup when most other sports wait until a champion is crowned for such recognition?
This writer has no good answer other than it is merely just another media opportunity. It’s been done in the past.
Drilling down to the micro issue:
• In the United States there is a saying that one respects the office of President; even though you do not support the individual which occupies the White House.
• Thus the five drivers who do not appear next week will endure the questions of why their previous commitments supersede a White House invitation.
• It is a tempest in a tea cup.
• All parties should have waited until after Homestead. Then the Cup Champion could be honored by the President. And that would have been a story worth covering.
NASCAR issued a press release stating that President Barack Obama will be meeting and greeting five-time Cup Champion, Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch, Jeff Gordon, Denny Hamlin and Clint Bowyer.
Drivers Carl Edwards, Kevin Harvick, Tony Stewart, Greg Biffle and Kurt Busch have respectfully declined the September 7th media event citing previous commitments.
Let us break this down, calmly. NASCAR needs the prestige that a well-covered media event like this brings. And, the United States President needs a feel good soft news event.
The overriding question is why does this media event take place (because there is no actual news being broken) with contenders to the Sprint Cup when most other sports wait until a champion is crowned for such recognition?
This writer has no good answer other than it is merely just another media opportunity. It’s been done in the past.
Drilling down to the micro issue:
• In the United States there is a saying that one respects the office of President; even though you do not support the individual which occupies the White House.
• Thus the five drivers who do not appear next week will endure the questions of why their previous commitments supersede a White House invitation.
• It is a tempest in a tea cup.
• All parties should have waited until after Homestead. Then the Cup Champion could be honored by the President. And that would have been a story worth covering.