Several U.S. Men’s National Team players have voiced their frustration with the country’s recent travel ban. Geoff Cameron doesn’t agree.
Speaking to Sports Illustrated, Cameron voiced his support for the travel ban imposed by President Donald Trump, who signed a recent executive order temporarily banning travelers from seven Muslim-based countries.
“I believe it’s important to support our President whether he was your candidate or not,” Cameron told SI. “I am pleased he is making security of all Americans one of his top priorities. Our enemies have stated—and in Europe they have proven—they will take advantage of lax immigration procedures for the purposes of staging attacks. A temporary pause on immigration for the purpose of evaluating and improving vetting procedures makes sense.
“The United States is one of the most generous and compassionate nations. Our ability to care for and support countries and refugees in need resides in our own sense of security. If we don’t feel safe, how can we protect others?”
Michael Bradley headlined a group of several Americans to speak out against the travel ban, while the MLS Players Union also condemned the executive order. USMNT head coach Bruce Arena also stated his displeasure, calling the restrictions “sad”, according to the Washington Post.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BP1tTxtFWrw/?taken-by=michaelbr4dley&hl=en
The USMNT is back in action Friday against Jamaica, while Cameron continues to recover from an injury that has kept him out since October. He is expected to return to the Stoke City lineup in the coming weeks.
Very disappointed in Michael Bradley. He boldly states not once but twice about a “Muslim ban”, which is a complete falsehood. It is a temporary halt to travelers coming from seven countries that we do not have confidence in their ability to screen these travelers. That is why Saudi Arabia and Turkey and Indonesia are not on the list. We do have confidence that these Muslim countries can properly screen travelers, therefore we would accept Muslim travelers coming from those Muslim countries. Michael Bradley pushing fake news.
with all do respect, I don’t think you have any clue what you are talking about. The justifications listed are putting lipstick on a pig after the fact. Even Republican appointed judges are ruling that the ban was illegal and unconstitutional.
Here is the point that will end this discussion and get us all back on soccer,….”we’d love to help everyone with food, clothes, shelter, education, medical care, etc…but we can’t. We are broke. $20T in debt thanks to an orgy of spending by a Republican and then a Democrat President. Sorry everyone,…whatever your need is, we can’t afford to help you, even if we wanted to. No prejudice, no hate, no politics, just simple economics. We can’t afford to help anyone until we get our financial house in order.”
I hope Geoff gets healthy soon and is back in the squad. We need him.
right-o, BrianK, I’ll remember that as my taxes go up and/or the price on goods imported from Mexico rise to pay for a wall on the US Mexican border. A minuscule portion of our budget goes to help refugees. much less than the special favors being done for billionaires in our tax code.
Yeah,…like the $225B for Palistinians Obama pushed through on the last day of his Presidency. Miniscule? Just one example.
Wrong again, BrianK. The figure was $221 million not billion. The money had been approved by the Republican controlled congress so Obama was simply carrying out the will of congress, but I’m glad you recognize that Palestinians are refugees. That’s something, but really, do a little research. It took me all of 30 seconds to find the real figure as published in the Wall Street Journal.
In case you are wondering, Pres. Obama asked for $2.2 billion dollars to resettle refugees in 2017. It’s a lot of money but in a budget of $4.147 Trillion dollars that comes to a whopping 1/2 of 1%.
oops, did I write 1/2 of 1%? I meant to write 1/20th of 1%.
Like I said,….when you are $20T in debt, you are not in a position to give your money away. So whether it is billions or millions,…we can’t afford it. Why don’t you do me favor and look this up: if you translated the US income vs spending to a ‘normal’ household,…it would be like a household that earns $50k a year but spends $350K. Knock yourself out and confirm that. Something is seriously wrong. Nevertheless, don’t give me this 1/2 of 1% crap. If you want to give to refugees, go to your church and donate,…just lower my taxes.
I get it BrianK. You don’t want to help refugees. But I don’t think the issue for you is money or you would be focusing on where the real money is being wasted.
Let’s see your all-time All Demagogues starting eleven
JordanDaneJohnson@gmail.com
Conservative: Foxnews
Liberal: CNN, MSNBC, NBC, ABC, CBS, NPR, CNBC
But like I said before, stay away from political issues because there are fans that support both sides of the issues, unless you want some of us to tune off than keep it up, We come here to learn about soccer MLS, USMNT, Yanks Abroad,
Agreed. Let’s enjoy the games.
I don’t care what Geoff thinks about this. And I don’t care what any of you think about it either. Especially Gary page or that cheeseburger devouring Ives.
This story makes me sad.
Grant Wahl??? Bing…bing…bing… my GAYDAR just went off. Anyone shocked that he wrote something like this?
I believe liberal politics are simply a way to extort money from gay men. If there is no crisis, Create One!
I’m not sure if that was meant as a joke, but pretty sure Grant Wahl is married (to a woman) and talks about her appearances on CNN pretty regularly.
Having said that, I agree with other comments that, for a sportswriter, Wahl seems to wade more and more into non-sports issues. I guess if his employer is cool with it, then that’s his right. Again, I have the option to unfollow him on twitter if I’m tired of his non-soccer stories.
I think there should be a temporary ban to figure out if the vetting is proper not for terrorism. But there views on LGBT and woman’s assualt. I read about a town in England were a gang of refugees were convicted of assaulting and raping 1400 women in the name of Allah. Also, Sweden has a serious rape especially gang rape epidemic since the refugee explosion. All the defendants claim they are doing it for the will of Allah. The reason you vet is to keep those guys out on top of the terrorist
I think the travel ban is worthless, won’t keep out a determined terrorist, will not make the US safer, nor protect against potential threats already here. That said, everyone should be entitled to their opinion, and I tend to admire Cameron for stating his when asked, even though it runs counter to all the “famous people” and knowing he may suffer in the court of public opinion. I’m getting tired of all the extreme reactions to every little thing that someone says. The whole ****ing country needs to step back, take a deep breath, and do a little relaxing. And the media needs to find other ways to get ratings besides stoking the fires on every single political story. Over it.
Well Said!
Anyone remember when this country used to embrace open discourse and debate with an aim toward compromise? When belonging to a political party made you a minority and the sway over national policy was controlled by moderates and line-crossers with open minds?
When did everything become so binary? The world isn’t made up of saints and bigots. Just because someone has a nationalistic view doesn’t make them a terrible human being, no more than having a globalistic view makes one enlightened. Whether you like it or not, most of the world exists in the gray areas between the two.
Left or right, you have all been manipulated by fear. Politicians don’t control the country anymore. This left/right narrative is bought and paid for, little more than political theatre, and it sickens me that people line up in droves to participate oblivious to the fact that the same entities are in control regardless of who wins or loses. The longer we stay divided, the easier it is for them to maintain control.
Agreed fast right. And Cameron has just as much right to express his opinion on the issue as Michael Bradley does. I happen to agree with Bradley, but that doesn’t make Cameron’s opinion any less valid.
So many people think that these guys should never be able to express a political opinion, but the public generally also thinks that they should be role models. If you’re a role model, you speak out on issues that are important to you. While I disagree wholeheartedly with Cameron’s sentiment, I don’t begrudge him for sharing it, and it doesn’t affect how I feel about him as a soccer player. He’s as entitled to share what he thinks as anyone else.
Totally agree with this sentiment, trying to keep my reaction in check. However, I keep wondering if his first priority and concern is being a soccer player, why would you risk alienating some of your teammates who are personally being affected? Seems like poor leadership to me. I’m expecting another reaction from one of our duel nationals soon, and so the divide begins. It seems like a very irresponsible comment coming from a veteran player.
DCM, when you take a sound bite, and try to extrapolate some theory out of it…..,well, let me try. Quote from Fabian Johnson “unfortunately, I wasn’t consulted in the decision.” This comment is in regards to klinsmanns being fired. Who does Johnson think he is, to be consulted? Some hired gun, who because of his high ASN ranking and European pedigree should have an input on US national team coaching decisions. Good grief! Lets say nothing of the comments Tim chandler made about MLS. And it would be his right, but what, he is going to reject an offer for more money, and wait until he is at least 29, and then maybe he will float the idea of coming to Lil ole MLS, and do us the favor of taking a big fat paycheck to the caymans. Thanks for the love Timmy C!!!
And I do think Tim howard and JJ can go into closed doors, and soundproof room, with lots of padding, and work it out. Same goes for junior and spyder man.
So maybe a purge is on the horizon, or maybe…. this situation will bring the players closer.
Great post. But be careful, you’re dangerously close to the truth.
Let the hounding of Cameron by the tolerant, inclusive, hate-hating progressives begin! Setting his car on fire probably would be a good first step.
100% disagree with Cameron but no need to say more than that. And anyone who follows him on Twitter already knew he leans pretty far right anyway. So this is not shocking.
I guess this is funny to me because I don’t follow any players on twitter. I only follow US Soccer and the club teams. I used to, but when I logged on, I would see their stupid (new shoes etc) or uninformed (general) postings. So, I un-followed them. What did I expect, they are jocks.
Spot on, Anthony.
I don’t go to professional athletes to get my news or get advice on major life decisions. So what do I care what their political leanings are…?
Cameron is entitled to his ignorant opinion, but those stating they will boycott the team are forgetting that the team’s captain and head coach both came out forcefully — and correctly — against Trump’s rushed and reckless ban.
Trump’s ban had nothing to do with securing the country and everything to do with him taking the chance to humiliate yet another group of people for no other reason than because they don’t look like “US”.
If Cameron can’t see that, or is not willing to admit it, then I’m done with him and the team as long as he’s around.
It’s this kind of knee-jerk reaction that makes it hard to take people seriously. I don’t know you, but I am 100% sure that you will, in fact, continue to follow USMNT, watch games at home, and even post on SBI stories about the team.
If I’m wrong, then I guess we’ll see you around 2022, after Cameron announces his retirement from international play…
You are right: You don’t know me.
Camelback: Have fun posting under a new name then…
Well I recently purchased a Copa America Cameron jersey, sadly wore it once so will not be able to return it. I really don’t care about players political views mostly but I won’t support a trump supporter and his hateful views. Cameron is dead to me and can rot on the injury bench for eternity, his jersey is either going on ebay or the trash.
i too dislike Trump, what he stands for and am baffled that logical human beings would vote for such a man but i digress. However, everyone is entitled to their opinions and their candidate, such is life, but i won’t let his views distract from my love for the team!
RRR: “I won’t support a trump supporter and his hateful views. Cameron is dead to me and can rot on the injury bench for eternity.” The fact that you missed the irony of your statement is perhaps the funniest post on this story yet… You wish him ill will but, somehow, HE’S the one with hateful views…
Was not trying to get a chuckle out of a chuckle head, but I never said anything about me being not hateful. I choose to support him and become a fan of a player I find as an asset to our team. If said player is stupid enough to open his mouth and inform the public of their political views they risk alienating the fans that don’t align with his views. Pretty pathetic I have to explain this to you. I really don’t wish him injury or bad karma but I rather he never played for my team again. I also choose to spend my money on another players jersey. I will never accept trump and never get over it. Cameron lost a fan and I am sure that the sun will still rise tomorrow.
Forgive me for misconstruing your words when you said “Cameron is dead to me and can rot on the injury bench for eternity.” How could I possibly get the wrong idea…
But we do agree on this point: You can show your displeasure by not buying his jersey or following him on social media, or however else professional athletes are able to monetize their success. I’m not sure that it will have much of an impact, but that is your right.
Leftist ideology at its best!
hahaha…if Ravishing Rick Rude would be alive….Rick Rude would give you the “Rude awaking” for that comment.
And this is why Geoff Cameron is one of my favorite players. He is not swayed by the media and understands the need to secure our nation, our people first, before trying to be the world saviour. Ask France and Germany how their lax borders are going for them? I support thr US and MLS even when they try to force their liberal agendas at my face, hope everyone can feel the same.
is your name really jordan morris?
I know France very well. I can tell you I trust their policies a lot more than I trust the Trump administration’s. Remember, France stated right from the start that Iraq had no WMDs and that going to war there was a mistake. The U.S. has suffered just as many terrorist attacks — actually more — than France. The difference is France doesn’t have mass shootings at the hands of white male nutjobs.
Any soccer-related criteria on your favorite players?
“I believe it’s important to support our President whether he was your candidate or not,”
Not in a Democracy it isn’t.
Support doesn’t mean like. I was against Obama but always hoped that he would make the right decisions for our country (although he didn’t).
don’t be naive, he was hampstrung by Congress making it there lifes work to shoot down every reform or piece of legislature he tried to implement to better the country. And Faux news isnt biased reporting?? Yeah, ok haha
If you dig in to the actual data, you’ll find that refugees commit far fewer crimes in this country than society at large. There have been exactly zero fatal “terror” attacks attributed to refugees who have entered the country since 1980 when the current system of background checks and vetting was established. Immigrants as a whole also commit far fewer violent crimes than society as a whole. I work with refugees and the amount of vetting they get is already extreme. You can point to France and Germany all you want to, but the French and Germans themselves, by and large, haven’t resorted to such extreme fearmongering much less based their policies on it. To listen to the justifications for this policy you would think the US has been under constant attack and that is just not the case. In fact, excluding 9/11, in this country you are more likely to be shot and killed by a toddler than by a foreign-born terrorist.
Yeah, but what’s the likelihood, of an Islamic extremist using a plane as a missle to kill thousands, compared to a toddler doing the same?
Nice try, but the refugee and immigration ban has nothing to do with airport/airline security. In any case, If the ban had been in place back in 2001 exactly zero of the 9/11 hijackers would have been covered.
“To announce that there must be no criticism of the president, or that we are to stand by the president, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.” Teddy Roosevelt, 1918.
would we all be up in arms if Trump communicated his plan and intention the same way Cameron did? I don’t see any issue with Cameron voicing his opinion, and just glad that he did so in a non-antagonistic manner. Trump might sway a few people’s opinions (not that he cares particularly) on him by taking a page out of Cameron’s book.
He did, it was the media that twisted his words and are constantly attacking him to make him look bad. Try Fox News for once and you’ll see unbiased reporting.
wow…your inability to look at things objectively is glaring. if you think fox news isn’t biased you’re mistaken. is the media “twisting” trump’s tweets too?
Jordan, I seriously hope your comment was satire. If not, then you need to broaden your horizons.
Two different studies have found that Fox News viewers are less informed than those who watch no TV news. I remember a poll that came out about 2 years after the US invasion of Iraq and something like 60% of Fox News viewers still thought that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction, even though President Bush himself announced about 4 months after the invasion that there were none..
“Try Fox News for once and you’ll see unbiased reporting.” Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! Now that, my friend, is how you deliver a punchline! Well done.
another pos. i find it hard to support the team with scumbags like this.
I thought it was obvious; Cameron speaks for himself, not the team. Trump’s views don’t represent most Americans either…
Dave: We obviously come at this from different perspectives. I have friends that won’t listening to certain artists or watching certain movies because of the singer/actor/director’s position on political issues. I generally assume that these artists (and soccer players) have widely different political positions to mine, and yet I enjoy their working their craft.
You may be on polar opposites of the spectrum than Cameron, but I can’t understand why this would make it hard for you to support USMNT. Not everyone thinks the same as you. Accepting this fact will make it possible for you to enjoy life more fully.
Frank Sinatra consorted with mob guys and his bodyguards beat up people more than once. But I still like the way he sang. I don’t agree with Tom Selleck’s politics, but I like him as an actor. Too many people are carrying this too far. If you don’t like Cameron’s opinion, consider that maybe he’s been misinformed, but he should still be the starting CB of the US team.
If you disagree with Geoff, fine. I do. But not supporting the team because you have different political views? It’s your prerogative. Personally, I don’t care if Geoff thinks the Earth is flat, the moon is made of cheese, or aliens built the pyramid, as long as he is healthy and in form come March. He plays for the same team as people with opposite views on the issue.
So you support the USMNT as long as all the players have the exact same political opinions as you? That’s silly. I don’t agree at all with Geoff on this but he still has my support 100% when he is wearing the USMNT shirt.
I have no problem with Cameron speaking his mind on this topic; I just wish soccer websites would not write articles about them. If I want to know Cameron (or Bradley’s) opinion on politics, I will follow them on twitter. But I don’t care so I don’t follow them.
Gasp…grab the pitchforks! smash some window! and light some stuff on fire!
Why are politics reporters like Grant Wahl interviewing soccer players like Geoff Cameron?
[…]
What? You claim Grant Wahl is a soccer reporter? Naaaaaahhhhh…
Wahl has been trending away from soccer reporter for years now. Someone just give him a social issues gig and be done with it.
I don’t agree with Cameron, but this isn’t any surprise. Cameron has long been known as probably the U.S. farthest right player politically.
Furthest right, really? I never heard anything about players’ leanings except in interviews. In terms or his opinion, he is asked and everyone is allowed to have an opinion (agreeably or disagreeably).
On a side note, I HATE when people say the left is so politically correct and sensitive. As a staunch independent and libertarian, those on the right and left are sensitive, politically correct in their own ways. Don’t believe me, how did the right react when Colin Kaepernick knelt during the national anthem or when you says anything about religion? The list can go on and on.
Well, there was just an attack at the Louvre.
Some idiot literally brought a knife to a gun fight not sure that should count as a terrorist attack.
When a white male who supported Trump on the internet and was radicalized by Le Pen actually MURDERS five people in a mosque in Canada, our president doesn’t even say a single word about it, but some guy at the Louvre pulls a knife and that justifies detaining green card holders at the airport?
Hey, Cameron, my boy. Care to venture how many more innocents in this country have been slaughtered since 9/11 by white “Christian” men than by Muslims?
Tell you what, I’ll support you and your buddy Trump’s travel ban, if you also agree to put all the Christian’s in camps until we can properly vet their suitability for gun ownership.
Deal?
Grunt, why don’t you get a breakdown: number of christians who killed muslims, number of muslims who killed other muslims, and number of Islamic extremist killed by Allied forces. Then we can discuss further
This kind of argument is really rather mindless. Stalin and Mao were atheists and probably killed tens of millions between them. In the First Crusade, Christians went into mosques and put everyone to the sword, including women and children, and in some places the blood ran ankle deep. It didn’t get much better the rest of the crusades. In Iraq the US killed several hundred thousand Iraqis and the vast majority were not jihadists. The 30 Years War depopulated parts of Europe as Catholics fought Protestants. In Syria hundreds of thousands have been killed in Muslim vs. Muslim because of political beliefs, not religious ones. ISIS and al Qaeda have killed many more Muslims than Christians. The problem is people who use religion or those who find some other excuse for violence. There are rotten people everywhere at any time in history. A very astute journalist who has covered the Middle East for almost 40 years (Robert fisk) once wrote that in the Middle East, there is no right and wrong, only wrong. No one has clean hands and if you think otherwise, it’s only because you are lacking in knowledge.
Thank you, GP!
Gary, if your choice is to present a one sided view of history, and I’m not sure about the accuracy of your claims, what can you say about the rest of history? Muslim countries attacking Israel, on more than one occasion? What’s going on in Sudan, indonesia, and other places, like Nigeria? I’m talking about present day. You really should think about what you say, such as your blood running ankle deep BS comment. Why do christians go on pilgrimages in the holy land? And why does Islam have its pilgrimage in Mecca? Who went in and protected bosnians? Who saved the oil rich Muslim Kuwaitis? Tell me when a Muslim army has done the same for christians, and try and keep it in the last century or two. I don’t think you can do it. ” the moors conquered Italy and changed the whole bloodline forever”. “And you’re a cantalope”
I know this country is politically correct on steroids but Cameron is entitled to his opinion.
I don’t think anyone said he wasn’t. However, freedom to express one’s opinion does not mean freedom from reaping the consequences of one’s words.
What is your point? So is everyone commenting here. The overwhelming opinion is that he may be a good player, but he is a moron.
Geoff Cameron: piece of shït
Masshole is the correct term, Sir.
Do you know him personally? If not, you should keep your opinions to yourself.
The term Masshole is not seen as an insult by massholes. Being a masshole is a great source of pride for massholes. It’s kind of like what black people did with the N-word
Piece of sh*t for answering a question? You come across as a solid individual.
Complete and total D Bag
Why push this agenda? No complain Obama’s six month banned on Iraqis and Syrians traveling into U.S.!
I will boycott U.S soccer. like when I boycott “Wolf Cola”.
Scott,
What are you on about again? Bradley stated that he was against the ban and now Cameron says he is for it. They are both allowed to themselves. They were asked about it.
On a side note, Obama’s was different because he was responding to a specific threat that the intelligence agencies had picked up about a plot, so he imposed a ban until a further information was obtained and further restraints and assurances were put in place. This is very different. As per Giuliani’s words on Fox News Saturday morning, ““When he first announced it, he said ‘Muslim ban,’” Giuliani said in a Fox News interview “Trump called me up and said, ‘Put a commission together, show me the right way to do it legally.”
Additionally, there was no ban as a response; just higher screening for Iraqi travelers, which slowed the processing time 6 months. Bears repeating, this came as a direct result of catching two Iraqis involved in terrorist attacks & congress calling for it.
These type questions and views should stay from U.S., either in favor or against “extreme bedding”. U.S. soccer should stick in “WINNING”.
I am combat vet atheist Hispanic with Middle-East family ties, I try avoid politics in my business and focus on: customer service, quality products, and making money for my family.
Please, stop drinking the “Wolf Cola”.
Even if you think it was wise policy, and I don;’t, it was horribly implemented and poorly written. I think 5 different judges have ruled that it is unconstitutional or in violation of existing law in whole or in part. Also, Trump did it without consultation or even prior warning with and to affected departments like Customs, Justice, and the State Department. When it was first promulgated he was advised to not include green card holders, but Steve Bannon said do that anyway, which is clearly illegal (and anybody with even a teeny bit of knowledge would know that). As someone who has worked in government, this bears the marks of people who know nothing about government and are very incompetent.
While I agree Trump is incompetent. this idea that you have to be some lifetime bureaucrat to operate in certain offices is stupid. I live in Illinois, where Mike Madigan has held power for longer than I have been alive. Illinois is currently one of, if not the most corrupt and poorly runs state’s in the union going on two years without budget. A lot of lifetime politicians are part of the problem.
Apparently Trump should have given advance warning to give all the would-be terrorists a sort of “last call before closing announcement.” SMH
I really prefer to come here for soccer news.