Media React To “Insane,” “Atrocious,” “Absolutely Off-The-Rails” Statement From North Carolina GOP

Party Was Responding To NCAA’s Decision To Move Games Out Of North Carolina

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Written by Rachel Percelay

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A spokesperson for the North Carolina Republican Party responded to the NCAA’s decision to move this year’s championship tournament games out of the state because of HB 2 with a statement that media figures and outlets are calling “insane” and “absolutely off-the-rails.” Multiple reporters even fact-checked the statement to ensure its authenticity and confirm that it didn’t come from “a parody account.” 

NCAA Moving Championship Games Out Of North Carolina In Response To HB 2

The NCAA Announced It’s Moving All Championship Tournament Games Out Of North Carolina In Response To HB 2. In a September 12 statement, the NCAA announced it is moving seven championship events out of North Carolina for the 2016-2017 year due to the state’s anti-LGBT bathroom bill. The law, commonly known as HB 2, prevents localities in the state from passing nondiscrimination protections for LGBT people and bans transgender people from using public restrooms that do not match the gender listed on their birth certificate. The decision comes after the NBA moved its 2017 All-Star Game out of the state in response to the anti-LGBT legislation. From The New York Times:  

The N.C.A.A., responding to a contentious North Carolina law that curbed anti-discrimination protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, will relocate all championship tournament games scheduled to take place in the state over the coming academic year, the organization announced Monday night.

Among the events affected is the Division I men’s basketball tournament, the N.C.A.A.’s most prominent annual event, which had six first- and second-round games scheduled to be played in Greensboro in March.

The announcement followed the N.B.A.’s decision in July to move its 2017 All-Star Game out of Charlotte but was seen as a particularly substantial blow to officials in North Carolina, where college basketball is central to the state’s culture and pride. North Carolina has hosted more men’s basketball tournament games than any other state, an N.C.A.A. spokesman said.

In a statement explaining the decision by its Board of Governors, which is largely made up of institutional presidents and chancellors, the N.C.A.A. said: “N.C.A.A. championships and events must promote an inclusive atmosphere for all college athletes, coaches, administrators and fans. Current North Carolina state laws make it challenging to guarantee that host communities can help deliver on that commitment.” [The New York Times, 9/12/16] 

North Carolina GOP Spokesperson Issued A Statement Juxtaposing The NCAA’s Decision To Its Handling Of The Baylor University’s Sexual Assault Scandal. North Carolina Republican Party spokesperson Kami Mueller issued a statement in response to moving the tournament games out of North Carolina, contrasting it with the NCAA's response to the 2015 sexual assault scandal at Baylor University. Mueller also called the NCAA’s decision an “assault to female athletes across the nation” and stated that the NCAA should now “make cheerleaders and football players share bathrooms.” From The Washington Post:

“This is so absurd it’s almost comical,” North Carolina Republican Party spokesperson Kami Mueller said in a statement Monday. “I genuinely look forward to the NCAA merging all men’s and women’s teams together as singular, unified, unisex teams. Under the NCAA’s logic, colleges should make cheerleaders and football players share bathrooms, showers and hotel rooms. This decision is an assault to female athletes across the nation. If you are unwilling to have women’s bathrooms and locker rooms, how do you have a women’s team?

“I wish the NCAA was this concerned about the women who were raped at Baylor,” Mueller continued. “Perhaps the NCAA should stop with their political peacocking — and instead focus their energies on making sure our nation’s collegiate athletes are safe, both on and off the field. [The Washington Post, 9/12/16] 

Media Call The Statement “Insane” And “Absolutely Off-The-Rails” And Fact-Check To Make Sure It Didn’t Come From “A Parody Account”

The News & Observer’s Andrew Carter Confirmed The Statement Did Not Come From “A Parody Account.” In a series of tweets, News & Observer reporter Andrew Carter called the statement “colorful,” confirmed that he had made sure it did not come from a “parody account,” and noted that he’d also thought “it couldn’t be real.”

[Twitter.com, 9/12/16]

[Twitter.com, 9/12/16]

[Twitter.com, 9/12/16]

AP Reporter Aaron Beard Tweets That “AP Legislative Writer Confirmed
Authenticity Of Statement.” Aaron Beard, a reporter for The Associated Press, tweeted last night that an AP legislative writer had “confirmed authenticity” of the North Carolina GOP statement: 

[Twitter.com, 9/12/16]

BBC Reporter Anthony Zurcher: Statement “Reads Like It Was Written By Jesus Quintana.” BBC senior North America reporter Anthony Zurcher tweeted that the statement “reads like it was written by Jesus Quintana,” referring to a character from the 1998 film The Big Lebowski:

[Twitter.com, 9/12/16]

ESPN.com’s Keith Law: “This Is An Atrocious Statement.”

 [Twitter.com, 9/12/16]

Sports Illustrated Reporter Seth Davis: “This Is The Single Worst P.R. Statement I Have Ever Read.”

[Twitter.com, 9/12/16]

Deadspin’s Kevin Draper: North Carolina GOP Statement Is “Truly Insane.” Deadspin writer Kevin Draper called the statement “truly insane” and shared tweets confirming that the statement “is real” for readers who were wondering. [Deadspin, 9/12/16]

Vice Sports’ Sean Newell Slammed The Statement As “Absolutely Off-The-Rails.” Vice Sports’ Sean Newell assailed the statement in a September 13 blog, calling it an “insane,” “absolutely off-the-rails,” “snorted-all-the-cocaine-in-the-world” response:

As you might expect, from the political party that drafted, passed, and signed into law a bill governing who uses what bathroom, the GOP released an absolutely off-the-rails, snorted-all-the-cocaine-in-the-world statement in response. Please read these words from Kami Mueller, and know that it is a real thing a professional political operative released into the world.

[...]

In the most preposterous sentences of this or any life, the statement concludes “I wish the NCAA was this concerned about the women who were raped at Baylor. Perhaps the NCAA should stop with their political peacocking—and instead focus their energies on making sure our nation's collegiate athletes are safe, both on and off the field.” Let's put aside for a moment the idea of using rape victims to score a political zinger—so concerned about the assault to females!—and just bathe in the irony of a deranged spokesperson grousing about blowback to a law that literally deals with bathroom usage by going to the “focus on the important stuff” well. [Vice Sports, 9/13/16]

Contributor For The Guardian Called Statement “Rambling, Over-the-top” And Noted That Mueller Had Tweeted That She Was Drinking Before She Issued The Statement. The Guardian contributor Hunter Felt called the statement “rambling” and “over-the-top” in a tweet, and also noted that Mueller had tweeted that she was drinking before sending out the statement:

 [Twitter.com, 9/12/16]

 [Twitter.com, 9/12/16]