Well, for all those people who are for NFL players taking a knee during the national anthem, Massachusetts Democratic Congressman Seth Moulton has a few words on that: he doesn’t like anyone disrespecting the flag. New York Times reporter Yamiche Alcindor asked Moulton about the recent controversy engulfing the NFL during Friday’s broadcast of MSNBC’s Morning Joe. Moulton said he agrees that taking a knee during the Star-Spangled Banner is freedom of expression, and that these players have that right—but their cause is lost since Americans see it as disrespecting the flag.
Of course, these players shouldn't be fired, suspended, or fined, but they do deserve to be kicked in the teeth by their fans—and they should expect it. No one care’s about police brutality, one of the issues these layers are tying to highlight, when the vast majority thinks you're being unpatriotic. The Left is explaining why this form of protest in football is necessary, but when you’re doing that—you’re losing. For Moulton, who served in the Marine Corps, it’s quite clear that he thinks there are better ways, more effective ways, to start a national conversation; national anthem protests are not one of them (via Free Beacon) [emphasis mine]:
"I listen to the players who are kneeling, and they are saying it's a conversation about police brutality," Moulton said. "The problem is that it's been distracted by this conversation about the flag. The players have every right in the world to kneel and protest. That's a right defended by the Constitution, but I'm not sure it's the most respectful or best way to bring this issue to light."
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I'm a veteran. I support the flag. It doesn't make me feel good to see people disrespecting the flag. But, I also swore an oath to protect and defend the Constitution," Moulton said. "Both as the United States Marine and as a member of Congress, I understand that free speech is protected, but let's make sure we're talking about the right things."