It's Election Day, Even in the World of MMA
Maybe you don't know this because you spend all day on the internet reading about pro fighting and watching old Pride highlight videos, but today is election day in America. It's kind of a big deal. So much so that it even reaches over into the insular world of mixed martial arts, at least for a few hours.
Today Sherdog has an article that asks some notable fighters and trainers who they're voting for. The answers are as varied as you'd expect from a group of MMA types. Chuck Liddell is voting for McCain because he's rich and doesn't want his taxes raised. His trainer, John Hackleman, is undecided, but he's definitely voting against California's Proposition 8 (a ban on gay marriage), because he's got two fighters who are "half-gay." Eddie Bravo isn't voting at all because voting is an illusion and both candidates are working for the Illuminati. Thanks, Eddie. Things were getting a little too sane around here.
Just to prove how big time he is, yesterday Steve Cofield interviewed Barack Obama and asked him about, among other things, Matt Hughes' criticisms of him. Obama responded that Hughes obviously hasn't actually read his tax plan (no, Matt, watching Fox News doesn't count as reading).
Fortunately, Matt Hughes has posted another screed, this time an editorial for a local newspaper written by friends of his. The newspaper did not publish it in their print edition, but Hughes is kind of enough to re-post it on his website, a portion of which appears after the jump.
“A people that expects to be ignorant and free, expects what never was and never will be.” -T. Jefferson
We are engaged in a great struggle, not simply for an election but for a people. A people who are in the midst of a battle for freedom, which many thought won only to realize that freedom is paid for in installments, and every generation decides what part of that installment they are willing to pay. There are so many issues (1) Life/care of the disabled and elderly v. slaughter of the unborn/inconvenience of those unable to care for themselves; (2) Property rights/personal sovereignty v. oppressive taxation/redistribution; (3) 2nd amendment rights v. disarmed police state; (4) Holy marriage v. careless attitudes concerning marriage/alternative lifestyles; (5) faith of our founders v. secularization of government; and the question begs, can both sides be right?
The answer, according to Hughes' buddies, is no. Both sides can't be right. Guess which side they seem to think is right (hint: it's not those in favor of "careless attitudes concerning marriage/alternative lifestyles").
If I wanted to be a real jerk I'd point out the Thomas Jefferson quote at the beginning and then point out the "faith of our founders vs. secularization of the government" line at the end and follow it up with a Jefferson quote of my own:
"Millions of innocent men, women and children, since the introduction of Christianity, have been burned, tortured, fined and imprisoned. What has been the effect of this coercion? To make half the world fools and half hypocrites; to support roguery and error all over the world."
But that's unnecessary, right? I'm sure Hughes knows that we have Jefferson to thank for separation of church and state, just like I'm sure he and his buddies know they would not have gotten along with a French-loving, Enlightenment pansy like Jefferson, who they would have accused of being elitist.
My point is this, I love Matt Hughes the fighter. He's one of my all-time favorites. The way I got my dad to finally watch MMA was by showing him Hughes-Trigg II. But I could not disagree with Hughes' political and social views more. They make no sense to me. They seem rife with hypocrisy and arrogance, and strike me as antithetical to the goals of a free society.
And that's why I vote. Because it cancels out the vote of someone like Hughes. That's why this democracy stuff works. That's also why you should go vote, because somewhere in America today your exact political opposite is taking to the polls. If you don't drown out his voice, who will?
Login or register to post comments
DIGG THIS 
Comments
Mike Says:
I have no problem with celebrities speaking their mind or endorsing candidates because they are only doing what most of us would do in the same position.
However, UNINFORMED celebrities are dangerous, regardless of stances.
As Matt Hughes likely doesn't know, most of our founders were deists or atheists (Adams claled Jefferson an atheist in the papers during their battle for the oval office) so if Hughes advocates the faith of our founders, he is advocating atheism. thanks, Matt!
The other issue is that there are no laws being proposed to legislate HOLY marriage....that's a religious institution. What they ARE trying to do is stop a citizen of this country from enjoying the same pursuit of happiness as the other citizens......strictly because they are gay. This is insanely inconstituional which is why the bans are being overturned like crazy.
Payday Says:
I'll be so fucking happy when this election is over. Turn to a MMA blog to escape it for a moment and you get hammered over the head with McCain and Obama. Turned on the Xbox this morning to see Obama's face plastered all over the billboards in the fucking game (MX vs. ATV). Received campaign calls until 10:00 last night.
Looking at these two fucktards, I think I'll go wipe my ass with my ballot, piss in the ballot box, and go back to bed. Electoral College will take care of the electing for us anyway ladies and gentlemen.
mayhem420 Says:
I just read that artical and found that allot of the fighters that were posed this question seem to be voting for McCain...
I might be mistaken but wasnt this the guy who wanted to ban MMA cause it was like human cock fighting?
I undertsand that these fighters might not want to vote for Obahma cause he might raise taxes for the bracket that they fall in.... however I just cant seem to rationalize voting for the guy who wanted to ban my profession in the first place. That just seems dumb.
d0zer Says:
Everyone keeps bringing up the whole "McCain wants to ban MMA," thing, but a lot of people didn't see his interview where he corrected himself. He said that he had watch some old school MMA fights or something where there were like no rules and people were being curb stomped and shit. He said that he has no problem with the UFC and other MMA leagues today since there are more rules to ensure the safety of the fighters.
dinglefuck Says:
oboma sucks
xocgx Says:
dinglefuck Says:
November 4th, 2008 at 8:48 am
oboma sucks
Wow, I love when morons post moronic things...and spell names wrong. Self-inflected fail!
xocgx Says:
xocgx Says:
November 4th, 2008 at 8:51 am
dinglefuck Says:
November 4th, 2008 at 8:48 am
oboma sucks
Wow, I love when morons post moronic things…and spell names wrong. Self-inflected fail!
And I clearly pulled a lovely and timely typo on the word inflicted. Yay for my crappy timing!
ksgbobo Says:
Do some research mayhem420 before you start making ignorant comments. Yes, McCain years ago said MMA should be banned and called it human cock-fighting, but he was ignorant and did not know all the facts about the sport. He has come out publicly and stated that he did not know all the facts about the sport, and did not realize that there are rules and regulations. He supports MMA, he just made an ignorant comment because he did not know the facts just like you did.
And Ben, who you voting for?
Greg Says:
i read that sherdog article. the fact that Monte Cox is voting for Obama makes me think i've made the wrong choice
Truthy Says:
Payday, you are my hero.
kx Says:
The US needs more people to cancel out people like Matt Hughes.
knightrida Says:
I predict 147 comments by the end of the day.
d0zer Says:
its really pretty simple who the best choice is to vote for.
I don't like either candidate, but I always vote republican. Obama says "Republicans reward companies that send jobs overseas," but really, what they mean by that is: "Republicans give tax breaks to companies that are sending jobs overseas so that they can afford to bring jobs back to the US since 50% of their revenue is going to the democratically controlled Government (congress). Same goes for giving tax breaks to oil companies. It will bring the price of gas down. Do you think taxing the crap out of corporation will bring jobs back to America? No. They will be forced to send more jobs overseas because they can't afford to pay American employees. The democratically controlled congress has just as much, maybe even more to do with the shit hole economy that America is dealing with right now as Bush. Obama will only make matters worse by throwing my money at every problem.
Less tax = more money to reinvest in the economy
Scar Tissue Says:
ROFL at Seth Petruzelli's comments!
"That’s all we are hearing about is the presidential race. I guess it’s for a good reason. Well, some issues are important to me and, no, gay marriage isn’t one of them, a--holes."
Fucking awesome.
mmmiles Says:
Hey America, make the rest of the world feel proud to follow you again, vote Obama. A vote for discipline and intelligence is something we can all respect. Although - apart from the Palin pick - I cannot begrudge someone voting for McCain, he is a great american in his own right, and would probably serve the country quite well.
Obama by RNC, 4 mins into the 3rd.
He's lanky and has good jitsu.
Turd Ferguson Says:
Kx... the US needs more people like Matt Hughes that actually stand for something, instead of ignorant fucks like you who will vote for someone because of celebrity status. Obama will push America to socialism then to communism.
I pray you aren't voting today.
Jugger Says:
Man, the one website I thought I could come to today to get away from preachy political arrogance...
mayhem420 Says:
@ksgbobo -
Whoa buddy I didnt not make an "ignorant comment" as you so stated.
All I did was ask why so many fighters seem to be voting for a guy who HAD stated (by his own addmission mind you) that MMA was more like "Human Cock fighting" I am aware that he did change his opinion later on but I was still surprised that so many fighter would still be voting for him.
How did anything I say become an "ignorant comment"? Nothing I stated was a negative or positve or even a fabrication.
I never stated anything that was not already documented.
Maybe you should get off that soap box and read things before you fly off the handle and try to sound like your a step above anyone else. Or just wash that sand out of your vagina already.
fuck fail Says:
i hate ppl who use the word fail...and the word war....stop using it cause its stupid.
that is all
Armbreaker Says:
To the Author: I cancelled your vote, so Matt Hughes' vote wins the day.
kx Says:
@ Turd Ferguson
I voted twice. Hope you die of natural causes bitch!
Rem Says:
Eddie Bravo is correct.
mccain is old Says:
One of my many reason for voting for obama this morning, and i think the funniest, is mccain is old and if he dies we are stuck with that brainless twit palin who would run this country into the ground. She considers being next to russia as the alaskan governor to be extensive foreign affairs experience
dinglefuck Says:
dana white 4 prez
Toner Says:
I am voting for Obama because I want EVERYONE to be poor!
I want to bankrupt the coal industry!! I want to bring back welfare and communistic ideals!
My heroes are Rev. Wright, Mr. William Ayers and Karl Marx.
It's time for some change peoples.... vote Barack Hussein Obama!!!
mccain is old Says:
@ toner since you wanna drop names so much. why dont you talk about mccains involvment in the keaton 5.
here is a easy way to decide who you are gonna vote for. If you make under 250000$ a year you will get tax cuts under obama's economic plan. If you make over 250000$ a year your taxes will go up under obama's plan.
Canucklechuck Says:
So much good stuff in this comments section
first @ xocgx, too fucking funny man, why is that the moment one decides to flame someone else on a misspelling, there just has to be a typo in the flame. Nice catch though.
Then @ Turd Ferguson, easy dude, why is it that you think that everyone that is voting for Obama is doing so because of his "celebrity status". Can't it be because of his "intelligence and discipline" as stated above? Are you just jealous that he's more famous than your guy (I mean, your guy has 8 houses so he's still doing pretty good). Or is it because you really don't like it that a whole lot of people like the guy? That said your best line was "I pray you aren’t voting today.". That is too fucking funny man. Pray away dude. Because if it can't cure cancer, you might as well try voter suppression. "Dear God, please cut the brake lines of most, if not all, Obama supporters today so that John McCain can bring Sarah Palin to Washington. In the name of Jesus, I pray".
@ mahem420, My guess is that fighters can rationalize their votes because of thoughts similar to Dana', in that McCain was a major catalyst for regulation of MMA which has basically put the sport where it is today.
MKXii Says:
Dear President Barack Obama;
When you take office, (since you know I'm callin it now) despite Chuck Baldwin being the only real candidate, can you do one favor for me?
I believe the honorable and courageous Wesley Snipes should be pardoned for all wrong doing. This man has established himself as one of the greatest ass kickers of all time. I hold him in high regard following the Holy Trinity of Will Smith, Morgan Freedman and Blade himself. You must consider the consequences if he does not come back to the United States of America. One we will never see another Blade movie, sure we may get some shitty SpikeTV spin off but we won't have the true vampire hunting king. Also he's supposed to be the Black Panther in the Avengers, and who are you to decline my rights of seeing an Avengers movie a few years quick. President Obama, friend, countrymen, brothaa, hear me out. Bring back Wesley Snipes! Bring back the American Dream! (After all he was in that movie.)
woot Says:
someone stick a pinky in paydays ass
Toner Says:
HAHAHA looks like someone drank the Obama Kool aid!!
Try reading his economic plan sir... seriously read it... it aint 250K, recently it had been dropped to 200, then 150, then 120... looks like Barack really is for change...
Do you define tax cuts as giving a "welfare" check to 40% of americans who do NOT pay income taxes???
btw, since I never heard of the "Keaton 5" (which sounds so much like the Keating 5) I will just chalk that up to the big bowl of FAIL you had for breakfast this morning.
ruckus Says:
First off. Taxing or not taxing oil companies will not necessarily have an effect on your oil prices. For instance, if I gave the oil industries in a country 10 billion dollars as a gift today, by what reasoning do you think they would reduce prices tomorrow? They won't have to. Taxes are a little more complicated than that, especially with a good like oil.
Second, what we have here is an interesting example of something called cognitive dissonance. People say they believe that Obama will change their great democracy into a communist state, arguably one of the most dangerous and tragic forms of government to ever exist. They mention people like Ayers and Rev. Wright, admitting that they think that Obama has some deep seeded hatred for America. Then, they go out and vote (or maybe even they don't) as though it is a regular election.
If you truly believe any of the above you really should go over to Matt Hughes house, get some guns and protect your country.
But you don't. Part of your brain knows its ridiculous... part of your brain knows that those risks aren't really involved in what will happen today.
So weird.
Canucklechuck Says:
@ Mmayhem420, on second thought, maybe their thought process goes something like this "If McCain wins, he’s old, and if he dies, who’s gonna be the president? A woman? The world is already mad at us." Oh man, you just gotta love that Karo. Vote Obama Bro!
Dave Says:
Simply because every mainstream article on MMA includes John McCain calling it "human cockfighting" I won't vote for the guy.
Farthammer Says:
I hold the following truths to be self-evident:
-Anyone commenting about politics on Cagepotato should be shot
-Anyone getting worked up about hick-ass god-monkey Hughes' views should be shot
-We should spend more time talking about Juicemonster Lesnar Vs. Oldman Couture
BBOYD Says:
You call Hughes arrogant while you make personal attacks on him because of his political views? That makes you the worst kind of liberal. The one who thinks that because someone disagrees with you they are stupid and should be degraded and called names. And to show your ignorance, your vote doesnt "cancel out" his unless you live in the same state. Get a life.
ruckus Says:
Oh, and by the way. The next president of the United States will not be cutting your taxes. I can promise you that.
A lot of what Bush has done will most likely be reversed considering what just happened to the economy. But beyond that... the only thing that can be predicted about the next four years is that you will not be getting a tax cut.
mayhem420 Says:
@Canucklechuck
Hahahaha!!!! You know either way this election is History in the making.
Either we get the 1st black president (I know his mom was white) or we get the first women in the white house thats not married to the president.
Either way we are making history as we speak right now.
Karo's comments were funny but Eddie Bravo was just on another plane with his thoughts.
TB Says:
@ruckus
I think that most Americans who are concerned at Obama's friends (Ayers, Rev. Wright, Rasheed Caliti, Tony Rezko, Louis Farakhan, etc.) are more concerned at his judgment and who he chooses to associate with. It is these people who helped shape his political career. I think most people do not think he has a "deep seated hatred" for America, just that he is very radical.
His associations, combined with Marxist statements of spreading the wealth should cast some doubt whether he will make the correct decisions as president.
It is a healthy thing to haul over and scrutinize the next potential president.
lastemperor85 Says:
I just lost a lot of respect for some fighters. It's clear now that Chuck only cares about his money. And the fact that a few said they weren't voting makes me sick. Bravo sound like a fuckin conspiraciy theorist and Lutter is just an idiot. Bravo sounds like the friend that you get high and the rants and raves and geeks out with his theories about life.. moron. Point is, if you are not going to vote you waive your right to bitch and complain. If you didn't vote then kindly shut the fuck up
dollarhotdogs Says:
@ Dave - If you're only voting based on MMA, that's really sad.
@ Farthamme - Huge irony fail with your first truth.
dollarhotdogs Says:
@ Dave - If you're only voting based on MMA, that's really sad.
@ Farthammer - Huge irony fail with your first truth.
dollarhotdogs Says:
@ dollarhotdogs - Huge re-post fail. Dammit.
Canucklechuck Says:
@ TB, speaking of Marxism, did you know that in Alaska the government takes some of the profits of the oil companies and gives it directly to the citizens. It's a fact, a Marxist fact, but a fact nonetheless. And how about the recent partial nationalization of your banks enacted under Comrade Bush. Those "Marxist, Socialist and Communist" tags are just red herrings man, and you know it. And to haul out the "radical" idea yet again is to be completely disingenuous as to your reasons to vote McCain. I say, you are either a Repub towing the party line and trying to rationalize that fact, or you have some kind of other deep-seeded issue with Obama, and are as a result, willing to cling to these farcical smears created by the right. Either way, it's kinda sad.
ruckus Says:
TB:
A fair point, but I think you're using the term friends rather loosely.
We could play the guilt by association game all day and John McCain would lose simply because of the fact that he's older and has been in politics longer. Any name you can bring up that makes one side look bad, you can find a counter-name for the other side. I think whats more telling is which side has relied more on this tactic.
You forgot to mention Rashid Khalidi, the most recent name that has been trotted out by the McCain campaign to try and make people scared of Obama. And no, Khalidi is not a terrorist, despite what Gov. Palin tries to suggest in her speeches. As usual things are a lot more complicated than they would like you to know, look him up. (my point being here is that if they are willing to use a person like Khalidi to discredit Obama, then the whole name-association game is clearly meaningless)
I also don't really remember Obama making any Marxist statements during the campaign.
Iki Says:
Last Emperor - I hear you, and kind of agree, but at least he's honest about it. In my opinion, the only 2 reasons to vote for McCain would be that you're making 250k + a year and don't want your taxes raised, or you're just anti-abortion to the point where you'll do anything to see it criminalized again.
What I don't get are people who vote for McCain when it's completely against their best interest to do so, both financially and socially. These people have basically let themselves be brainwashed by right wing media.
I actually stand to have my taxes raised, but in looking at the larger picture, my tax bracket doesn't mean anything if the dollar continues to plummet due to our standing in the world because of a loss of confidence in our leaders.
I voted Obama with a clear conscience. I'll sleep well tonight.
dinglefuck Says:
vote for the old man and the hot chick
dinglefuck Says:
vote for the old man and the hot chic
TB Says:
@CanuckleChuck
1st thing: I love your face
2nd thing: citizens of a resourceful state like alaska sharing in the rewards is a bit different than giving people who don't pay taxes a welfare check.
3rd thing: The Bailout is an EPIC FAIL and both canditates are dipshits for backing it... by the way it was a majority of DEMS who voted for it and mostly the GOP who voted against it (it's called doing your homework). I agree it IS socialism.
4th thing: for those of us who believe in the free market and capitalism, it isn't a red herring to bring up these things broseph. They are legitimate concerns for a LOT of people
5th thing: Mccain is not my choice, but in the interest of saving any remainder of the free market and smaller government, he is better than the Messiah Obama
and the last thing, Obama will likely win so you will have the last laugh
P.S. I love your face
TUF Guy Says:
If I wrere president the wurld would be such a badass place. I'd start of by sending anyone who can't benchapress 200+ lbs. to labor camps till they can. Fo real. I'd make them work to fix our roads, clean our rivers and work in factories for free! Anyone who can bench 200+ lbs. would be making sure those pussies stay in line.
I would also write a new constitution that would decide the next president in a MMA match, that would pretty much guarantatee my kind of people to stay in power for eavaer.
bpd Says:
A guy living off a legacy who hasn't done anything in eight years but tarnish said legacy vs. a Hawaiian with an impossibly brilliant ground game.
John McCain is Ken Shamrock, Barack Obama is BJ Penn.