fergy1370
Team Owner
Michael Waltrip makes no apology for urging citizens to ''support our President'' during a TV interview following last Sunday's race at Las Vegas. Nor should he. If a women's basketball player at Manhattanville College can use her sport to make a political statement —shamefully turning her back on the U.S. flag during the national anthem — then there's nothing wrong with Waltrip doing the same. Waltrip said he had received ''a little criticism'' for his comments at a time when the nation is sharply divided over U.S. military intervention in Iraq. ''Nobody has said anything to me personally, but I've heard some things second-hand,'' said Waltrip, the Winston Cup points leader going into today's race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. ''I've also gotten a lot of support. A lot of people agree with what I said — that we need to support the leader of our country at a critical time like this. That's all I said, and I don't see anything wrong with it.'' Atlanta Journal-Constitution media critic Mike Tierney does. He wrote: ''[TV] interviewers should keep drivers focused on race matters. When Michael Waltrip turns the discourse toward the President and the pending war in Iraq, the questioner must take the wheel and guide him back.'' While Tierney got his nose bent out of shape, NASCAR doesn't have a problem with what Waltrip said or where he said it. ''NASCAR is supportive of the drivers, owners, crews and other constituents in our sport,'' said Herb Branham, communications manager for the NASCAR Winston Cup Series. ''They have the ability to express their personal views.'' In other words, NASCAR has no intention to muzzle Michael. Denny Darnell, spokesman for the Winston Cup Series title sponsor, likewise said there is no problem with the points leader speaking out as Waltrip did — even though many of Winston's customers may be on the opposite side of the emotional debate. ''We are proud of all of our drivers,'' Darnell said. ''They are entitled to express their opinions.'' NASCAR has historically been a conservative sport and the Waltrip family has longstanding close ties to the Bush family. Michael's older brother Darrell campaigned actively for Bush in the last election and earlier for Bush's father. Darrell also has been a guest of Bush on Air Force One. That association aside, Michael said his comments were about patriotism, not politics. ''This is not about Democrats or Republicans,'' he said. ''It's about being an American and respecting and supporting our President, no matter which party he represents. I'd feel the same way if the President were a Democrat; he'd be the leader of our country and I would support him. 'These are difficult times. Think about all the pressure the President is under. I don't see how he sleeps at night, how he breathes. I think the least we can do is let him know he has our support. That's all I said, and I stand by it. I don't apologize for it.'' Waltrip doesn't equate voicing his support for the President with the disrespect the women's basketball player shows when she turns her back on the flag during the national anthem. ''It hurts me to see that,'' Waltrip said. ''That flag represents us all.'' But, he added, ''I guess that's her right if she wants to do it. I don't agree with it, but maybe she thinks she's making a point. 'If she can do that, it's my right to express my viewpoint too. I'll continue to support my president and my country and our soldiers who are in harm's way.'' Waltrip admitted that last Sunday's comments, broadcast to millions of fans nationally on the Fox Sports broadcast, were no entirely ad-libbed. ''The situation had been on my mind,'' he said. ''I had given it some thought, and I felt like it was something that needed saying. I said it, and I don't regret it.
HOORAY FOR MIKEY 
