CALIFORNIA TRIES TO CANCEL FORMER OSU STAR FOR WEARING MAGA HAT

Editor's Note: The Columbus Dispatch recently published this editorial from Senator Steve Huffman backing former Ohio State Buckeye Nick Bosa and sacking the outrageous remarks from the Speaker of the California State Assembly. Huffman makes a larger point -- while the left's cancel culture seeks to divide us, the MAGA mandate is truly inclusive. Everyone is welcome to work together to make America great again.

No tolerance for dissent – the hallmark of every one-party state from the Soviet Union to Communist China.

And California.

Nick Bosa committed an unpardonable sin against the one-party rule in the People’s Republic of California.

He wore a MAGA hat.

And now the Speaker of the California Assembly wants to banish him.

Bosa is a superstar defensive end for the San Francisco 49ers and a former All-American at Ohio State. 

He was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2022 and Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year in 2017, among numerous outstanding career achievements.

Bosa crashed a postgame television interview two weeks ago and pointed to the “Make America Great Again” hat on his head. The NFL is still considering whether to fine Bosa for violating its rule on displaying political statements in a stadium on game days.

(Update: The NFL fined Bosa $11,255. "It was well worth it," he said. "I don’t think my position on speaking about it is going to change, so clearly the nation spoke. We got what we got." Bosa makes $34,000,000 a year on his 5-year contract worth $170,000,000.)

That isn’t good enough for Robert Rivas, Speaker of the California State Assembly.

"I hope [49ers CEO] @JedYork trades Nick Bosa to Mar-A-Lago. As a lifelong @49ers fan, I can say I’ve seen enough of Bosa in California," Rivas posted on X.

Maybe Rivas quickly realized the childish and dictatorial gist of his tantrum because he immediately deleted the post. But he has not publicly expressed any regrets.

I must say, though...I agree with Rivas. 

In part. 

Just don’t send Bosa to Florida.

Let the Buckeye come back to Ohio.

The Bengals or the Browns would welcome him with open arms, as would their loyal fans.

Here’s where I strongly disagree with Rivas – I would never ask someone to leave my district or state over politics.  

This is what is wrong with the political system today – so many people and politicians are far too intolerant of those who do not agree with their positions.

Heaven forbid a football player endorse a candidate for president not approved by California’s politburo.

The NFL has the right to fine Bosa for breaking a rule – but Bosa still has a right to free speech.  

Even in the People’s Republic of California.

And, even a demagogic politician like Rivas should know better than to demand punishment for any American who disagrees with his ideology.

Rivas would be well-advised to spend less time promoting cancel culture and censorship, and spend more time looking in the mirror.

As Speaker of the California Assembly, Rivas is one of those directly responsible for killing the Golden Goose that was the Golden State.

Under twenty years of one-party rule by Democrats, California now has:

     •  The highest poverty rate in the nation.
     •  The highest cost of living in the nation. 
     •  The highest income tax rate in the nation.
     •  The highest gas prices in the nation.
     •  The highest gas taxes in the nation.
     •  The worst business climate in the nation.
     •  The largest homeless population in the nation.
     •  The second-highest housing costs in the nation.
     •  The second-highest unemployment rate in the nation.

California has also:

     •  Lost more residents than it gained every year since 2000.
     •  Lost 817,669 residents in 2022. 
     •  Lost 352 companies who moved their headquarters out of California between 2018 and 2022.

It is not difficult to understand why, for the first time in its history, California is experiencing a mass exodus – one that began, not coincidentally, with the beginning of the Democrats’ one-party rule.

We know Bosa loves his 49ers teammates, but he may welcome an escape from the dystopia Democrats have created in California.

We would certainly welcome him back.

More importantly, now that this election is over we need to look forward in hope, not back in recrimination.

We need more real tolerance, not just platitudes. 

We don’t have to agree on everything.

But we must respect our differences civilly in order to work together.

Because we have some big tasks ahead – to restore the quality of life in California, to keep making Ohio the best place to live in the nation, and to make America great again.

Dr. Stephen A. Huffman represents Ohio’s Fifth Senate District. He was a three-year starter for the University of Toledo Rockets, a two-time all Mid-American Conference selection as linebacker and served as team captain in 1987.