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AP Exclusive: Boy Scouts chief expected a fiery Trump speech

K

KSweeley

Member
The AP just reported that the chief of the Boy Scouts EXPECTED Trump's speech!!!!!: https://apnews.com/2a2890373ad24407...oy-Scouts-chief-expected-a-fiery-Trump-speech

The Boy Scouts of America anticipated President Donald Trump would spark controversy with a politically tinged speech at its national jamboree in West Virginia but felt obliged to invite him out of respect for his office, its leader said Wednesday in his first public comments on the furor over Trump’s remarks.

“If I suggested I was surprised by the president’s comments, I would be disingenuous,” Boy Scouts of America president Randall Stephenson, who’s also the CEO of AT&T, said in a phone call with The Associated Press.

Other U.S. presidents have addressed past jamborees with speeches steering clear of partisan politics. To the dismay of many parents and former scouts, Trump, a Republican, promoted his political agenda and assailed his enemies in his speech Monday evening, inducing some of the more than 30,000 scouts in attendance to boo at the mention of Barack Obama, his Democratic predecessor.

Stephenson noted that every U.S. president since Franklin Delano Roosevelt has been invited to address the jamboree and said the Boy Scouts leadership gave “a lot of thought about Donald Trump coming to speak.”

“Anyone knows his speeches get highly political — we anticipated that this could be the case,” Stephenson said. “Do I wish the president hadn’t gone there and hadn’t been political? Of course.”

Hoping to minimize friction, the Boy Scouts of America, which is based in Irving, Texas, issued what Stephenson called “stringent guidelines” to adult staff members for how the audience should react to the speech.

“You can help make the president’s visit a success by ensuring that any reactions to the president’s address are, as we state in our Scout Law, friendly, courteous, and kind,” the guidance said. “This includes understanding that chants of certain phrases heard during the campaign (e.g. ‘build the wall,’ ‘lock her up’) are considered divisive by many members of our audience, and may cause unnecessary friction between individuals and units.

“Please help us ensure that all Scouts can enjoy this historical address by making sure that your troop members are respectful not only of the president, but of the wide variety of viewpoints held by Scouts and Scouters in the audience tonight,” the guidance said.

Stephenson, who was not in attendance at Trump’s speech, said the guidance wasn’t followed impeccably.

“There were some areas where perhaps they were not in compliance with what we instructed,” he said. “There’s probably criticism that could be leveled.”

Would the Scouts invite Trump back to address the next national jamboree if he wins re-election?

“I don’t see why we would break with tradition, whoever is holding office,” Stephenson said. “We are not to going to censor or edit the president of the United States. That’s beyond our pay grade regardless of who it is.”
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A

AlteredBeast

Fork 'em, Sparky!
I am glad that my church is pulling out of scouts next year. Any organization that continues to support this fool, knowing full well what he is capable of and the type of person he is does not deserve my support.
 
A

Arkeband

Banned
Expecting the CEO of AT&T to be anything other than a ghoul wearing human skin is setting oneself up for disappointment.
 
H

h1nch

Member
Randall Stephenson is a fucking embarrassment, as is their official response to the disaster that was Trump's speech.

They deserve to have their reputation negatively effected by this event.
 
L

LegendofJoe

Member
So the CEO of AT&T is a coward, I'm glad I don't do business with them.

A deranged moron is our commander in chief. If that isn't bad for business AND Boy Scouts morale then I don't know what is. When are the supposed 'elite' in this country going to grow a backbone and stand up to Trump?
 
K

kess

Member
Stephenson noted that every U.S. president since Franklin Delano Roosevelt has been invited to address the jamboree and said the Boy Scouts leadership gave “a lot of thought about Donald Trump coming to speak.”
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Just like the good old days...

GTFO
 
B

Balphon

Member
I was willing to give the BSA the benefit of the doubt and believe that Trump put them in a bind by giving one of his crazy rally speeches at their event.

But it turns out they're just stupid.
 
S

Steve Youngblood

Member
Balphon said:
I was willing to give the BSA the benefit of the doubt and believe that Trump put them in a bind by giving one of his crazy rally speeches at their event.

But it turns out they're just stupid.
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Eh. I mean, don't get me wrong. There's been a lot to criticize about this organization over the years. But this is something where even though Trump is Trump and it's silly to not expect him to be Trump, I still put the blame squarely on his shoulders for not being able to enact a filter even when speaking to children as opposed to expecting them to make an exception to the tradition of inviting POTUS to speak.
 
K

Korigama

Member
The Boy Scouts of America anticipated President Donald Trump would spark controversy with a politically tinged speech at its national jamboree in West Virginia but felt obliged to invite him out of respect for his office, its leader said Wednesday in his first public comments on the furor over Trump's remarks.
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...HE doesn't even have respect for his office, dumbass.
”I don't see why we would break with tradition, whoever is holding office," Stephenson said. ”We are not to going to censor or edit the president of the United States. That's beyond our pay grade regardless of who it is."
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As spineless as any other corporate executive. Can't lose out on that precious merger, now can we?
 
M

Madness

Member
Laevateinn said:
How many chances does this terrible organization get?
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Stephenson noted that every U.S. president since Franklin Delano Roosevelt has been invited to address the jamboree and said the Boy Scouts leadership gave “a lot of thought about Donald Trump coming to speak.”

“Anyone knows his speeches get highly political — we anticipated that this could be the case,” Stephenson said. “Do I wish the president hadn’t gone there and hadn’t been political? Of course.”
Click to expand...

Not seeing the issue here? Donald J. Trump is 45th President of the United States ans Commander-in-Chief. They've invited every President since FDR. The guy says he wishes Trump wouldn't have gotten political. What makes them a terrible organization here? Why isn't the blame on Trump who yet again brought up his damn red map vs blue map? Again, it is a private organization that leans conservatively as it is heavily involved with christian/religious groups. But it does a lot of good for young boys. You can't blame 12 year olds for booing when they have the President speak that way. The Scouts' dads probably talk down about Hillary nonstop to them too.

The Boy Scouts need US Presidential support. Someone like Trump wouldn't necessarily come if his speech had to be censored or blocked. Just shows how people will bend over for a popular demagogue as well. I honestly believe Trump is senile now. His twitter rants, dumb speeches. If I was foreign politician I would be lauging with glee as to how easily he is played like a fiddle.

Edit: like the comment below. The leadership is trash but organization as a whole does great work for boys and teens learning valuable skills. Shame such a partisan and innappropriate speech was used. He isn't in a boardroom. He disgraces the office of the Presidency sometimes.
 
B

BlueWord

Member
Speaking as an Eagle Scout here, this shit is absolutely disgraceful and not at all in accordance with the core values of the organization. I hope people can recognize and distinguish between the fucks at the top and the actual good work scouting does at the ground level.
 
Laieon

Laieon

Member
As an Eagle Scout I've been thinking about returning my badge for awhile now. This organization is completely embarrassing and not one I enjoy being associated with too. Really sucks too because I was in it from 3rd or 4th grade up until I graduated High School. Lots of great memories.

A Scout is Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, and Reverent. Not many of those (if any) describe the actions of Trump right now.
 
S

Stumpokapow

listen to the mad man
Madness said:
Not seeing the issue here? Donald J. Trump is 45th President of the United States ans Commander-in-Chief. They've invited every President since FDR. The guy says he wishes Trump wouldn't have gotten political. What makes them a terrible organization here? Why isn't the blame on Trump who yet again brought up his damn red map vs blue map? Again, it is a private organization that leans conservatively as it is heavily involved with christian/religious groups. But it does a lot of good for young boys. You can't blame 12 year olds for booing when they have the President speak that way. The Scouts' dads probably talk down about Hillary nonstop to them too.
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Every decision the Scouts make should be guided by asking "What do our core values demand we do?" -- if their core values lead them to support, tacit or otherwise, for the message Trump gave them, then that's the organization they are. If their values are in opposition to the message Trump gave them, they should be asking how they can best represent their values.

Ryuelli said:
As an Eagle Scout I've been thinking about returning my badge for awhile now. This organization is completely embarrassing and not one I enjoy being associated with too. Really sucks too because I was in it from 3rd or 4th grade up until I graduated High School. Lots of great memories.
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It's precisely because you believe in the values of the organization that this troubles you. You aren't rejecting the Scouts, they are rejecting their own values, and by extension, you. I'd make your voice heard as loud as possible in your local troop. It's not about Republicans or Democrats, it's not even about Trump, it's about an organization that is supposed to stand for kindness, respect, and decency.
 
Z

Zolo

Member
Stumpokapow said:
Every decision the Scouts make should be guided by asking "What do our core values demand we do?" -- if their core values lead them to support, tacit or otherwise, for the message Trump gave them, then that's the organization they are. If their values are in opposition to the message Trump gave them, they should be asking how they can best represent their values.
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Or at least come out to say that Trump's actions are against their values. Trump may not come back, but fine.
 
M

massoluk

Banned
He is not conforming to the value your organization is supposed to stand for, it is perfectly ok to fucking have a spine in this case
 
S

Snowman Prophet of Doom

Member
They were fucked either way, so they should have just done the decent thing and not invited him.

At the same time, it is 90% Donald Trump's fault, here, given he is the one that chose to be a fucking disgrace at a goddamn Boy Scout gathering, whereas one could conceivably argue that looking to a post-Trump world requires continuing to accord the office some measure of respect that exists independently of the buffoon currently holding it.
 
O

old manatee

Banned
Next year he should fuckin get someone to talk some scout shit at the kids like how to tie knots and sell cookies, and maybe go light on letting fascists hose them down with nonsense.
 
C

Cow Mengde

Banned
Say what you will about Trump, but these boys will probably vote for him if they turn 18 when he's running for reelection. These kids are probably being brainwashed by this orange turd.
 
S

Steve Youngblood

Member
I'll add to my last post. I don't necessarily think inviting Trump was a mistake. But I do agree that a tepid "meh" *shrugs shoulders* response is inadequate here in response to what was certainly a stupidly inappropriate campaign-style speech from Trump. This really needed to be one of the times where he has someone write a speech for him and he doesn't deviate from the prompter at all.
 
B

Balphon

Member
Steve Youngblood said:
Eh. I mean, don't get me wrong. There's been a lot to criticize about this organization over the years. But this is something where even though Trump is Trump and it's silly to not expect him to be Trump, I still put the blame squarely on his shoulders for not being able to enact a filter even when speaking to children as opposed to expecting them to make an exception to the tradition of inviting POTUS to speak.
Click to expand...

I don't really criticize them for following their tradition and inviting the President to speak. I just find it incredible that their strategy for dealing with the situation was to hope they could control a few thousand teenage boys in a festival atmosphere enough so that it wouldn't look so bad.

I would feel more sympathy to the national organization if they had maybe solicited assurances that Trump would tone it down and felt blindsided by the tenor of the speech. But from Stephenson's comments it feels like he just threw up his hands and walked into a buzzsaw.

Naturally, however, I agree that the real blame here lies with Trump.
 
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