WIN of the WEAK

WIN of the WEAK (Aug.13/2016)

A count-up of five stories that celebrate 'Progressive Wins' or 'Weak Excuses'; or are just plain full of irony and much needed comic relief.

WIN of the WEAK: WEAK NBC Commentator Sparks Controversy By Refusing To Call Gymnast Simone Biles' Adoptive Parents her 'Parents'

Apparently someone didn't get the memo; It is the year 2016, but not at NBC Sports. Families come in all shapes and sizes, all possible configurations and skin colour or ethnicity may a part in that. But when a young athlete, Simone Biles, a woman of colour, nailed some of the most remarkable gymnastic routines seen at any Olympic Games, going on to win several events, NBC felt the need to explain that the family supporting Biles was actually her 'adoptive family'. Why is this a WEAK excuse for journalism? Because to Simone and her Parents, they are a family in every way that matters. Rather than asking Simone about her family, the network felt the need talk down to their audience. There is obviously room to improve in the reporting about what NBC must see as a 'non-traditional' family, but by directing the dialogue to helpful facts or information about adoption, or asking the adoption community how they wish to be represented, they miss out on an opportunity to have a really important and necessary conversation. This is the sort of think that makes us all WEAK as a society.

Simone cleared up her feelings on the matter later in the week while being interviewed by Us Weekly magazine. This girl is a champion, through and through, something quite obvious when she responded with this absolute WIN of a statement;

“I personally don’t have a comment,” the gymnast told Us Weekly exclusively on Tuesday. “My parents are my parents and that’s it.”

Number Two: WIN Jimmy Dore Hilariously Eviscerates Bill O'Reilly Over "Whitehouse Slave" Comments

After FLOTUS Michelle Obama's momentous speech at last week's DNC Convention, in which she spoke passionately about waking up each day in a house 'built by slaves', the ever crude and endlessly tone deaf O'Reilly felt the need to correct the First Lady's assertions. His arguments about the 'slaves' being 'well treated' according to his research illustrated exactly how biased O'Reilly is on the subject of human slavery, which was sadly predictable. What makes this segment of The Jimmy Dore Show so hysterical is that while pointing out the sheer hypocrisy of O'Reilly, his absolute detachment from reality, Jimmy makes us laugh at a very difficult period in American history, while reminding us that we still have a very long way to go. This may be my favorite Jimmy Dore video analysis to date and makes it an absolute must-watch Progressive WIN.

Number Three: WEAK Donald Trump 'Jokes' About A Second Amendment Solution if Hillary Clinton Chooses Future Supreme Court Justices

Another day, another reason for any remaining doubt about candidate Trump's allegiance to country or constitution to be shattered. This week brought on a barrage of bizarre comments from Trump himself, his campaign releasing incongruent explanations for said comment or it's true meaning, and the man seeming to double down against the advice of his campaign managers. Rumors continue to swirl about the discord within the campaign staff itself, but the fallout on the side of Trump's fellow Republicans has been deafening. Not only has RNC Committee Chair Reince Priebus even introduced Trump at one of his many rally stops. It's clear that their is no bottom to the GOP party, they are not willing to risk a four year Clinton presidency to preserve their party or any shred of integrity they might still have. But far worse than Trump's normal lies and conspiracy theories, he seemed to cross a line this week when he put a call out for a 'second amendment solution', a barely coded call for an assassination attempt should Hillary Clinton begin to nominate liberal supreme court justices for consideration. If there is a more dastardly and despicable volley of words from a Presidential candidate, I don't know that I have ever seen recorded proof. The man reeks of, to paraphrase MSNBC's Joe Scarborough, "talk big and carry a teeny tiny little stick." Yes, Mr. Trump, you are WEAK.

Number Four: WIN A South Korean Athlete Takes a Selfie With Her North Korean Counterpart

I have to continue to remind myself that there are other things going on in the world, things besides the 2016 US Elections. While the results of the Election will have major repercussions around the world, there are still other reasons to have hope. For a few moments theses two teenagers were acting exactly like teenagers. Lee Eun-ju of South Korea and Hong Un-jong of the North took a quick shared selfie during a practice session. But the media noted that this one image is the perfect summary of the purpose and pride of the Olympic Games, since technically North and South Korea are still at war with each other. While I don't imagine that this small, normal, gesture is not a potential political hot potato for one or both of these athletes, I do love the apparent heart and sheer normalcy of fellow gymnasts taking a snapshot to help them remember a very remarkable moment in both of their lives. A lovely WIN of a moment.

Number Five: WEAK Hillary Clinton Continues To Endorse 'Troubled' House Candidate Debbie Wasserman Schultz

Despite recent evidence linking Wasserman Schultz to what essentially amounts to a smear campaign against the wildly popular Democratic Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton is still rooting for her 'gal pal' to return for a 7th term in that office. Adding further insult to the injury perpetrated against Millennials in particular, but certainly extending to all Bernie Supports. It would appear that candidate Clinton thinks she's got this election in the bag, and by continuing to support (and silence?) Debbie Wasserman Schultz, she is basically giving all those who support Wasserman Schultz' direct competitor, in the person of Tim Canova, the middle finger. It would have been far more appropriate for Wasserman Schultz to have separated herself from the Clinton inner-circle, and to drop out of her race while publicly apologizing for any role she, or her office had in manipulating the Democratic primary process. That would have been the right thing to do, and any other year, it would be a larger issue. Unfortunately, with a reckless baffoon heading the Republican ticket, the Democrats seem to think they can get away with murder while the media focuses on blunder after blunder from the Trump camp.  Perhaps Clinton has every right to think thusly, the strategy seems to have been working fine for her up until now. Secretary Clinton, this reveals just how WEAK your morals and ethics really are.