Professional sports teams have collected over $53 million from the Department of Defense for patriotic displays that cheer the U.S. military. Two U.S. senators who wrote a report on the practice decry it as unnecessary and wasteful “paid patriotism.”
Let’s not end displays that recognize the sacrifices of men and women in the U.S. military. But if costs are involved, sports teams, not the Department of Defense, should pay for them.
The report by Sens. John McCain and Jeff Flake, both Republicans from Arizona, found that heart-warming displays such as honor guards, giant flags and ceremonial first pitches – even the singing of “God Bless America” – came with a bill. Payments were made to professional baseball, football, basketball and hockey teams, as well as to NASCAR.
No one can question McCain’s patriotism; a Navy aviator for 22 years, he was a prisoner of war in Vietnam for over five years and chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee. But he is appalled at the payment of tax dollars to wealthy sports franchises – as every American should be.
The NFL has already asked its teams to stop accepting tax money and said it will conduct an audit and possibly return the funds to the Defense Department. Better, as McCain has suggested, is to donate the money to veterans’ causes.
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