President Obama was asked today whether he would or should intervene in the dispute between the owners and players to prevent the loss of next season. In short, his response was that he hopes they can figure it out themselves because “I’ve got a lot of other stuff to do.”
“You’ve got owners, most of whom are worth close to $1 billion. You’ve got players who are making millions are dollars. My working assumption at a time when people are having to cut back, compromise and worry about making the mortgage and paying for their kids’ college education is that the two parties should be able to work it out without the President of the United States intervening,” President Obama said.“I’m a big football fan, but I also think for an industry that is making $9 billion a year in revenue, they can figure out how to divide it up in a sensible way and be true to their fans who are the ones who, obviously, allow for all of the money that they are making,” the President continued. “My expectation and hope is that they will resolve it without me intervening, because it turns out I have got a lot of other stuff to do.”
He’s absolutely right. He does have more important stuff to do and they should be able figure this out themselves. It’s absurd that think that President should have to concern himself with solving a dispute between football players and owners.