Boy Scouts Apologize Over President Trumps Remarks at Jamboree

[SecularMotion]

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by muriel_volestrangler (a host of the Latest Breaking News forum).

Source: NY Times

Facing an angry backlash from parents and former members, the chief executive of the Boy Scouts of America apologized on Thursday for political remarks made by President Trump at the organization’s national jamboree this week.

In the speech, Mr. Trump crowed over his election victory, attacked the news media and criticized Hillary Clinton and former President Barack Obama.

Michael Surbaugh, the organization’s chief, said in a statement on Thursday that it was “never our intent” for the national jamboree to become a venue for partisan political attacks.

“I want to extend my sincere apologies to those in our Scouting family who were offended by the political rhetoric that was inserted into the jamboree,” he wrote. He added, “We sincerely regret that politics were inserted into the Scouting program.”

Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/27/us/boy-scouts-trump-apology.html

[Mr.Bill]

1. Not good enough.

The President of the United States serves as the honorary chairman of the Boy Scouts. Been that way for a long time. Trump needs to be removed from that honorary position, and it should be given back to the next President, if appropriate.

[cstanleytech]

5. Agreed, they need to publicly announce that Donald and no one in his administration will be

invited in the future.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

17. They should remove Trump as honorary chairman and replace him with Obama

Not that it will happen, but one can dream.

[Honeycombe8]

2. I don't believe he's sorry one bit. He had to know beforehand what kind of speech it'd be.

It's like all his speeches on home soil. Trailer trash, base, shouting, negative, criticizing others (particularly Obama and Clinton, a repetitive theme of his), some reference to sex or something like that, etc.

I don't think of the Boy Scouts in the same way, anymore. "Sad."

[mopinko]

3. too little, too late.

that wasnt politics, that was the ravings of a madman.

[Dave Starsky]

16. It was vulgarity.

For crying out loud, he shared an anecdote about a billionaire having orgies on a boat. At a Boy Scout conference.

Politics aside, his whole presentation was just obscene, and that's what the Scouts should be apologizing for. That's what they will forever more be associated with in my mind.

[Mr.Bill]

4. If I had young children

I would not want them anywhere near that lunatic.

[rpannier]

6. The Boy Scouts iddue a non-apology apology

“I want to extend my sincere apologies to those in our Scouting family who were offended..."
That's not an apology

[old guy]

7. Not in any way good enough.

[yuiyoshida]

8. Its too late...

The horse HAVE left the BARN AND IT WASN'T EVEN on fire...

[BigmanPigman]

9. As usual, it all boils down to money.

The BSA stand to lose a lot from parents and organizations. Their "leader" has a personal political/financial agenda with the current admin. Which one will stand to lose more money? Simple of that. If he were truly sorry he wouldn't have waited this long to apologize. MONEY speaks volumes.

[mwooldri]

10. We'll see if next year #45 is invited.

If he is, then this was a non-apology apology.

If he isn't, then I'll take that as the proper apology.

[rurallib]

19. let's hope he's in jail by then

[TexasBushwhacker]

11. Surbaugh is "Chief Scout Executive" but Randall Stephenson is President

The same Randall Stephenson is president of AT&T and us trying to get the merger with Time Warner approved by the feds. They knew that Trump would likely get political, but they invited him anyway. Stephenson should step down.

[hay rick]

12. Norman Rockwell is rolling over in his grave.

BSA's leadership showed that they are comfortable in America's right-wing hate bubble.

[napi21]

13. WHY did a president, let alone THIS ONE, ever give a speech at a Boy Scout Jamboree ata all???

I know when I heard on TV that he was going to speak there, my instant response was WHY???

Did someone from the Scouts invite him, or did he decide to do this on hos own?

IMO, inserting politics into Scout activities is on a level of churches. Politicians have no place in either.

[Dave Starsky]

18. The President has always been the ceremonial head of BSA.

Other Presidents have given inspiring and encouraging speeches before them without inviting controversy. But, then, other Presidents weren't shitweasels vomited from the innermost circle of hell.

[alittlelark]

14. The pResident should be aplogizing.....

....oh, wait he never does anything wrong and NEVER needs to.....

[NCcoast]

15. Nothing new here, as I recall

I remember a few years back when I was angered by seeing a lineup speaking to the Scouts. Ollie North, Ann Coulter, there's nothing new about this. I'm sure you can find more of these.

Oliver North at Greensboro Boy Scouts

ANN COULTER AND THE BOY SCOUTS

[workinclasszero]

20. Heil Trump!

Link to tweet

[bora13]

21. no one

would believe me when i said back in October that t-rump would
go so far as pander to the young to push his agenda. just like one of
his idols, adolf hitler.

[Gore1FL]

22. It's better than their first attempt, but still not a complete job.

I take no issue with him being invited. I take no issue with him going there. I take issue with his speech and I take issue with the way the Scouts received it.

If and until they acknowledge that the speech and the scout's (and adult leaders) reaction to it were in direct conflict to the aims of Scouting (Character, Citizenship, and Fitness) and denounce both, they are simply blowing hot air.

[Squinch]

23. THAT took four days??

[Luka Boyd]

24. Theyre done

I think a lot of people will never see them the same way again. You cant regain lost respect with a lame apology, it takes a big effort. Trump ruined / broke the boy scouts

[Jakes Progress]

25. Sure makes the boy scouts look like cowards.

They puffed up after the event and basically told everyone to shut up, that they were just being patriotic Americans. Then they got the backlash and they made one of those stupid apologies, you know - sorry if you got offended shit.

it shouldn't have been an apology, it should have been instant outrage at the orange dork. Then they should have had the entire jamboree cleaning highways and restrooms of the interstate for three months because the little trump-youth cheered that kind of crap and broke at least 10 to the boy scout laws. What would they have done if the boys had cheered a cross-burning? Or cheered a creepy old man who grabs women's private parts. Oh wait. They did.

So much for the cream of American youth.

Disclosure: I was a cub scout, boy scout and troop aide. It was a different time and a different set of leaders.

President of Scouts and Chief Scout should resign.

[Iggo]

26. Non-apology.

"...to those...who were offended..."

Like it's their fault.

Fuck you, Mikey.

Resign!

[Hortensis]

27. The BSA apologizing for exposing scouts to POTUS is a big deal.

They don't have to run on about it to make that so. It's huge.

And for all the cheering we heard, tens of thousands of those boys were old enough and aware enough to realize how very inappropriate this was and to have their own thoughts about it.

You know, I go to Washington and I see all these politicians, and I see the swamp, and it's not a good place. In fact, today, I said we ought to change it from the word "swamp" to the word "cesspool" or perhaps to the word "sewer." -- DJT

[Gothmog]

28. It is so very sad that trump is such a low life and degenerate

[Hieronymus]

29. Trump is so sociopathic ..

it won't occur to him to be insulted.

[truthisfreedom]

30. That will not help him win 45's good graces.

He might as well have called 45 out.

[C Moon]

31. Hindsight is 20/20. No support from me.

[lunasun]

32. Bullshit that was not political rhetoric and saying sorry you were offended is not an apology . No

[muriel_volestrangler]

33. Locking - duplicate thread

of https://www.democraticunderground.com/10141831157 (which is the full statement). Please continue discussion there. Thanks.