Mitt Romney has been using Friday Night Lights’ signature phrase “Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose” as part of his campaign, despite strenuous objections from the show’s executive producer, Peter Berg. In fact, after Berg’s angry letter, rather than back down, the Romney campaign actually started selling Livestrong-style bracelets containing the slogan on its website (which beyond being a pretty un-chill thing to do, may have violated Berg’s trademark and opened Romney up to legal action).
But now he really went and did it. OH, NOW HE HAS DONE IT, INDEED. He pissed off Mrs. Coach, y’all.
In an op-ed in this weekend’s USA Today, Connie Britton (who played Tami Taylor on the show) had this to say about the whole situation:
“Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose,” was the battle cry for the high school football teams of Dillon, Texas, on the TV show Friday Night Lights for five seasons. But the show wasn’t just about football. And “Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can’t Lose” wasn’t just about winning games. Rather, it was a rallying cry of hope and optimism in a community where everyone had a fair shot — no matter their background, no matter their parents, no matter their gender. And no matter their politics.
So it has been surprising that the phrase has been usurped and co-opted by Mitt Romney and his campaign for their gain. And it got us thinking: What would the women of Dillon think about this?
Dillon is a classic American town filled with hard-working, middle-class Americans, who just want to lead productive, healthy lives. And the women we represented on the show — the women we are in real life — are like the millions of women across the nation. Women who want to make our own health care decisions. Women who want to earn equal pay for the work we do. Women who want affordable health care. [...]
So as women, let’s take “Clear Eyes, Full Hearts” back and use it as it was always intended — as a motivator for progress, power, and greatness. Let’s use our clear eyes and full hearts to vote early. Let’s use our clear eyes and full hearts to tell every friend, family member and neighbor about what’s at stake for women in this election. What’s at stake for all of us.
If we women make ourselves aware of the issues and make our voices heard, we most certainly cannot lose. [USA TODAY]
And, in case there was any doubt:
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![[image]](http://cdn.uproxx.com/wp-content/thumbnails/130/110/2012/12/coach-taylor-thumb-420x236-55499-150x150.jpg)
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Dillon was a redneck shithole in Texas. I’m sure most of the women there would have voted Romney.
That’s what I think is the delicious irony of this story. Not only am I from a small Texas town, I’m from the same town and went to the same high school that the original book was based on. Small Texas towns like the fictionalized Dillion would TOTALLY be on board with this.
I love her.
The Dillon Panthers wore predominantly blue (maybe it was kind of purple, but definitely blue-ish purple) and were the “good guys” until Coach Taylor got put in charge of the East Dillon Lions. They wore predominantly red and the blue guys became the bad guys.
Blue – Democrat, Red – Republican.
Someone more clever than me use this as an analogy for politics.
Wait, let me get this straight: a Hollywood actress doesn’t want people to vote for Romney? Where have these people been for the last four years? Why haven’t they been giving us the benefit of their wisdom until now? I didn’t know what to do until I read her brilliant essay!
After the SEALS in Benghazi begged for help three times and they were turned down, even though rescue teams were ready, General Ham disobeyed orders and tried to help them. He was relieved of command immediately. After fighting for their lives for six hours, four Americans including our ambassador died. But this washed up actress has important news to share with us in a USA Today Op Ed. I can’t wait for more political advice from these idiots.
I’m always confused when people pull the whole “actors should stick to acting/athletes should stick to sports” argument. The thought that these people aren’t qualified to talk about politics loses any merit if you (random commenter on the internet) then go on to talk about politics. DON’T YOU SEE THE LOGICAL FALLACY OF YOUR STATEMENTS?!?!?!
The point is pretty simple: because she’s on TV (or was, or whatever) USA Today gives her space for an essay. She has no other qualifications other than nice legs and a TV show, but the people at Gannett know they’ll get attention and ad dollars.
OFBCM, in this instance yes, USA Today (the People of newspapers) gave her some space, but this reaches beyond that. This kind of argument is really prevalent on Twitter, where #sticktosports and #sticktoacting are capital ‘T’ Things. That’s not okay, but it’s okay for you, OFBCM, to put political leanings on what you say on WG? I’m not knocking what you’re saying, just that the difference isn’t as large as you might think it is.
You may, or may not, have any other qualifications other than your aforementioned physical characteristics, but you still get a platform.
Now as The Evil Twin said above, the irony of it all is that I’m pretty sure Odessa/Dillon is/would be firmly in the Romney camp.
The difference is that Connie Britton has a forum because of who she is, not because she has something worth saying. The whole #stickto movement is rubbish in the opposite way. Actors appear to believe their opinions are important because they are actors, while the #stickto people believe their opinions are completely irrelevant because they are actors. The reality is the middle where comments are judged on their merit, which would be nice but is a pipedream really. Britton says nothing of consequence, the same kind of shitty pandering Romney is doing, but she’s being lauded here, and probably vilified elsewhere. Stupid.
Geez, that op-ed from Tits McGee totally changed my vote.
I agree with the attractive lady.
Very well stated but very far off the mark considering her character lost her job for daring to mention abortion to a student.
I don’t have an issue with her stating her opinion. I’m actually glad she has one. I don’t agree with her nor do I think Obama has done enough in the last 4 years to be re-elected. She and I can disagree which is why I would like to have a one on one with her at my place so we can have an adult conversation about politics over a nice glass of wine while laying naked in bed.
“nor do I think Obama has done enough in the last 4 years to be re-elected”
Your casual ignorance is why us Europeans really fear for the result of these next elections.
Gauli, I’m sure his wife (or mother) gets annoyed when HE spills his milk and then gets mad at HER for not cleaning it up quickly enough.
“Oh, you’re doing your best mom? Then how come you haven’t gotten the milk under the fridge? And look some is still dripping out of the tipped over cup. YOU’RE MAKING THE MESS WORSE!”
wow. The ignorance was displayed beautifully with the two replies above mine.
even if you think obama hasn’t done enough, what type of judges do you want being appointed in the next four years? if you value basic human rights, maybe you should reconsider. just saying.
Gauli- provide a detail of the long list of Obama accomplishments. “Us Europeans fear for the results of these nest elections”? Get out of here with the nonsense. Do you think Romney is going to hop in a tank and roll down the streets of France? WTF do people think he is going to do? I guessing he may balance the budget and hopefully get America headed towards a more reasonable spending policy, a spending policy that America can actually afford (not “a-ford” since TFB assumes I’m an ignorant neck from Texas).
Obama came into a President’s wet dream with house and senate in his favor. I don’t believe he has acheived the number of items he said he could. Unemployment, jobs over seas, Corporations are working around him and thus the American people are on the short end of the results.
Oh that reminds me. Gauli- Europe is a financial mess. I really don’t think name dropping that you are European furthers your case, just saying.
Uh huh. Well done, Mr. Irony. Stay dry, y’all.
“Hey, we’re in a mess and this guy hasn’t done everything he said he would despite half his term being faced with an obstructionist congress…..clearly the only solution is to put someone in there who will work with congress TO ENACT THE EXACT SAME POLICIES THAT GOT US INTO THE MESS IN THE FIRST PLACE.”
If you don’t want people think assume you’re an ignorant neck….maybe try applying critical thinking now and then as opposed to spewing the “He hasn’t done enough” centrist dissident mantra.
[www.youtube.com]
Howard Stern actually breaks it down pretty well. If you think someone who made billions of dollars outsourcing jobs (which you just blamed on Obama), and “investing” money that wasn’t even his into businesses and then bleeding them dry is going to somehow “balance the budget” (which we had when Clinton left office if you’ll recall) without violating numerous laws (which, aside from tax laws, he has somehow been able to do thus far on a smaller scale) well then go for it. We’ll all eagerly await the results.
(If you want for comparison take a look at Rick Scott in Florida, another guy who cheated his way to an untold fortune….and who has already damaged the state in irreparable ways and violated federal law pretty much on a daily basis).
That is what you get when you put shady business men in charge of things….they line their pockets and send your jobs to China.
TFB- Yep, some of the companies went belly up but some haven’t… STAPLES??? And investing other peoples’ money, is what our government is doing. Romney was the head of a investment company, his job was to make Baine Capital successful and he did it. He found ways to grow the company and his “batting average” for picking winners was extremely high. One could say, he has great judgement, his business acumen is truly remarkable. As for having invested (not sure why you used “” around invested, his job was to use peoples’ money by “”Investing”"” “into” “Companies”; see what I did there. Fancy) money into companies which had jobs over seas, well that was what he needed to do for his company. Most often he “invested” (did it again for you) into companies based in USA (check your facts). Even Obama said he was worried about bringing back the lower level manufacturing jobs into the US…. (during the last debate). Romney’s goal is to even the playing field between the usa and the other countries currency so it will be more even handed and that companies can afford to manufacture in the usa.
I won’t get in the debate about the extreme conservatives or about the extreme liberals. Anyways. Vote your way and I’ll vote mine.
Enjoy your day at Occupy Wall Street
TFB- You get your news and opinions from Howard Stern? Dude, really? I love Stern and listen daily but even he would tell you to make up your own mind.
Yep, some of the companies went belly up but some haven’t… STAPLES??? And investing other peoples’ money, is what our government is doing. Romney was the head of a investment company, his job was to make Baine Capital successful and he did it. He found ways to grow the company and his “batting average” for picking winners was extremely high. One could say, he has great judgement, his business acumen is truly remarkable. As for having invested (not sure why you used “” around invested, his job was to use peoples’ money by “”Investing”"” “into” “Companies”; see what I did there. Fancy) money into companies which had jobs over seas, well that was what he needed to do for his company. Most often he “invested” (did it again for you) into companies based in USA (check your facts). Even Obama said he was worried about bringing back the lower level manufacturing jobs into the US…. (during the last debate). Romney’s goal is to even the playing field between the usa and the other countries currency so it will be more even handed and that companies can afford to manufacture in the usa.
I won’t get in the debate about the extreme conservatives or about the extreme liberals. Anyways. Vote your way and I’ll vote mine.
Enjoy your day at Occupy Wall Street
“The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people’s money. ”
― Margaret Thatcher
I posted the clip because Howard is summarizing an article.
The most important part being after the initial investment, that investment becomes part of the company’s liability….and who do they pay first? Mitt.
So even if the company fails, HE still gets paid. That is not an investment. It is a rape. Particularly when it’s not even HIS money in the first place.
Your right. Thanks for taking the time to explain. I am now voting for Obama.
There is no doubt Dillion, Texas would be much more annoyed if Obama used it as a tagline
I played football in Texas from the age of 8 to 18 and everyone is voting Romney.
It’s the state that elected Rick Perry for crying out loud.
I wouldn’t care if she tattooed Obama on her forehead and quoted from the Communist Manifesto, as long as she did it while wearing this same outfit she wore on Spin City:
[i.imgur.com]
Yes, but then the sex would have to be doggie style. Or as my girlfriend calls it: “game of thrones style” (familial relations not necessary).
“Hey did you read that Op-ed in USA today?”
- no one, ever
Seriously, 99% of USA today’s get shoved under motel doors and then 97% of those get shoved in the bathroom trash can.
Or used as an umbrella when it’s pouring down rain because I’m afraid to carry a real umbrella on an airplane, lest I be confused with a terrorist of some sort.