Do you forgive Mary Lou Retton for letting the Republicans use her?

[itsrobert]

She was a willing tool back in 1984. She appeared in TV ads for Reagan and used at the GOP convention.

[Jack Rabbit]

1. I've given it no thought in years.

So, yes.

[JeffR]

2. I still can't forgive her for that hairstyle she used to have.

x(

[peekaloo]

30. the "Pee Pot Special"

exclusive to those who had a pot to piss in as it also doubled as a haircutter's tool when placed over the head.

[Aristus]

3. As long as she's not actually a repuke herself, then yes.

My brother and I were both ga-ga over her during the Olympics. It was only afterward, during the deluge of endorsements, when her huge grin was EVERYWHERE, that we got a little sick of her.

Then I heard a rumor she was a repub, and that ended it for me.

Is she back from the dark side?

[Prefer]

4. She looks great

just saw her interviewed. she is a full time mom and still does paid appearances and events.

Mary Lou had a rare kind of star power, even amongst Olympic gold medalists.

[JVS]

5. I thought she was in an ad about bowling, not Reagan

[Kittycat]

6. Don't make me hate Olympians.

I'm still nauseated that Phelps was bumbling over himself in glee that President DuhByuh wanted to shake his hand. :puke:

[Mr. Blonde]

26. I would say the chances of Phelps being extremely apolitical are pretty good

in that situation, shaking hands with the president, any president, is just an honor and nothing more.

[Bake]

31. I would say the chances of Phelps being a brainless swimming machine are pretty good.

When I've heard him interviewed over the past week, he didn't exactly sound like the most articulate jock on the planet.

Bake

[AlCzervik]

7. she was at the 2004 rnc circle jerk leading the pledge of allegiance. She's a republican.

Pledge of Allegiance
Mary Lou Retton and Kerri Strug
Olympic Gold Medalists

http://www.nytimes.com/ref/politics/campaign/CONVENTION_SCHEDULE.html

[ColbertWatcher]

9. Okay, never mind my last post then (#8).

Fucking tool.

[truebrit71]

44. Oh well....Besides...her grin got tiresome after a while...

...

[AlCzervik]

45. she doesn't bother me to be honest, she's not on my radar as i can guess i'm not on hers.

[ColbertWatcher]

8. Did she have a choice?

Wasn't she just a kid at the time?

I think it says something that she is virtually silent on the issue now that she is an adult.

[Diane R]

10. To this day, she disgusts me. I've never forgotten her republican cheerleading.

[stevedeshazer]

11. No. The final straw was the battery ad.

So now, after all these years, she wants to rub it in my face. Well, Mary Lou, what the hell happened when you left me in that cave with nothing to eat but bats?

What the hell was I supposed to do? Echolocate you?

I'm over you, Mary Lou. All the double-A's I bought back then are dead now.

And I SO thought that I could count on you after Ludmila Tourischeva dumped me.

And don't even get me started about Nadia Comenici; I BOUGHT her those hoop earrings. She never paid me back, even after I arranged that gig for her on NBC's "Today".

You owe me. That Wheaties box?

Call me.

Snuggles,

Steve

[Beregond2]

12. She always reminded me of that cheerleader in highschool;

the one who was RELENTLESSLY cheerful and egging you on to be just as manic as she was, with that weird glare behind the smile that seemed to say: "Be a booster, damn it, or my brothers will be paying you a visit..."

I had too much time to think between numbers in the pep band.

[JVS]

13. It's SUPER-charged!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTVvsVkAqUY

It's like Rick James says: Cocaine is a hell of a drug.

[noamnety]

14. She has continued to be a tool for the republicans

The army paid for my entire office to go hear a bunch of "motivational speakers" at cobohall a while back. It was her and a bunch of right wing fundie idiots. That was in the mid 90s. I certainly would have refused to go if I'd had a clue what I was in for - it was awful. She's still with them.

Her coworkers:
Sean Hannity
Bob Dole
Ann Coulter
Alexander Haig
Alan Keyes

http://premierespeakers.com/faith_fundraising

[FKA MNChimpH8R]

17. Isn't that a nauseating collection of freaks, idiots and psychopaths

except for Bob Dole, who's just an old fool.

[Aqaba]

15. During the 1984 Olympics, I was 12

I didn't give a damn about politics but I did give a damn about Mary Lou and her meaty thighs!

She was the first celebrity that I lusted after, even if I didn't know WTF I was feeling. Its bizarre thinking about it now, its very clear, but back then I didn't understand the attraction.

As to the OP, do you think a 16 year old can actually be a willing tool?

Hardly.

[CitizenLeft]

16. ew.

I couldn't stand her that Olympics. I got so sick of her, and her leaps into Bela Karoly's arms (not sure I spelled his name right). She just icked me out. One of the few American Olympians I just didn't like at all. Not a bit surprised to find out she's a damn Republican. Double ew.

[yodermon]

18. Well at least our newest Gold Medalist, Shawn Johnson,

has appeared in photos with Democrats! ;)

from http://www.iowasenatedemocrats.org/danielson/photos/default.htm




If you missed her gold medal balance beam routine catch it here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qq_BePxe5bk it's incredible.

[bumblebee1]

20. Wow!!!

Shawn looks like she could be his little girl.

[distantearlywarning]

29. And she's been wearing peace earrings in interviews.

I have a feeling Ms. Johnson is more to the left side of the spectrum than Ms. Retton.

[GreenPartyVoter]

38. Yeah, I saw those earrings. I loved that she was wearing them on TV!

[Bake]

32. What did she get the gold in? I thought she was silver in the all-around ...

Bake

[yodermon]

37. check the youtube link at bottom of my post

it was the individual balance-beam where she struck gold.

[Bake]

41. Fabulous!!

And thanks!

Bake

[norepubsin08]

19. Fuck now I don't forgive

I keep on hoping she'll land on her head and break her neck

[Skittles]

21. Tyson whore too

[Dogtown]

22. Fundy nutbag

Loathsome.

[JSK]

40. Yup, fundy she is.

Just read a recent interview with her. Revolting.

As far as our current gymnasts go, I took a liking to Nastia, but after seeing Shawn's earrings, she's my new fave. They really stood out in her NBC interviews. Loved it! She also flashed the audience a peace sign after her gold-medal-winning event.

[Indenturedebtor]

23. No I don't forgive anyone who knowingly worked to bring us to where we are today

Unless they renounce and work twice as hard to fix all of these problems they worked to create.

:puke: I'm even mad at my own parents.... You only get one Earth and one life you know.

[tjwash]

24. Damn...she's had the longest 15 minutes I've ever seen.

If the soviets and the rest of the eastern bloc countries had actually participated in he 84 olympics she wouldn't have even placed in the top 7.

[devilgrrl]

33. Isn't that the truth?

1984 was the worst summer olympics ever.

[AllentownJake]

25. Forgive?

I don't like her views but do I forgive a fundie nutbag for being a fundie nutbag? She has every right to be a fundie nutbag. If people vote on 16 year old girls tumbling ability they probably aren't going to vote for us anyway.

[cobalt1999]

27. What's to forgive?

I may disagree with her politics, but that's not personal, so there is nothing to forgive.

She is free to express her opinion and support who she likes. I'm free to do the same. I'm not asking her to forgive me either.

[Marr]

36. Agreed.

Such an odd question.

[tammywammy]

39. Agreed. n/t

[bushisanidiot]

28. She was a kid and I'm sure she made some good $ off of it.

Many of us who were around back then have changed our view on politics. I wouldn't doubt that she has too.

[noamnety]

43. Having heard her speak (see my post 14)

I think the only thing she's changed is her clothing and hair.

I don't think being used for politics when you are 16 is a thing that needs forgiveness.

Being part of the bullshitonparade that I was subjected to in the army by her and her cohorts, on the other hand ...

[Arugula Latte]

34. I found her increcibly annoying, even as she was winning golds

Couldn't stand her then; can't stand her now. But, you know, the magical thinking of organized superstition warps a lot of brains.

[undeterred]

35. I don't expect athletes to be good at anything but sport

and I am hardly ever surprised.

[Catherine Vincent]

42. It's her life. Let her live it.

But that Shawn Johnson is a cutie!