On Wednesday in an interview on ESPN’s “SportsCenter” with Sage Steele, President Biden addressed the pay gap issue in women’s soccer and sports in general. He was eventually challenged by Ben Shapiro, among other critics, for Democrat’s apparent selective outrage when he pushed equal pay for men and women players, stating, “I just don’t think it’s right. I don’t think it’s fair.”
“The idea that these women are getting paid – just overall women are getting paid 82 cents on the dollar, if you’re a black woman it’s like 55 cents on the dollar, generically just across the board – but the idea that women’s soccer players are getting paid so much less than the men, I just don’t think it’s right. I don’t think it’s fair,” Biden declared in the ESPN sit-down. “That’s why I’m such a big supporter of Title IX.”
Title IX is the Education Amendments Act of 1972 and it states: “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”
Biden and Democrats have been trying to use the definition of Title IX to apply to a much wider venue than educational programs.
(Video Credit: ESPN)
“The pay gap is real, and this team is living proof that you can be the very best at what you do and still have to fight for equal pay,” Biden intoned on Equal Pay Day at the White House. The president and first lady hosted soccer star Megan Rapinoe and her USWNT teammate Margaret Purce at the event.
“I’ve helped, along with all of my teammates virtually here today, one teammate literally here today, win four World Cup championships and four Olympic gold medals for the United States. And despite those wins, I’ve been devalued, I’ve been disrespected and dismissed because I am a woman, and I’ve been told that I don’t deserve any more than less because I am a woman,” Rapinoe said.
“You see, despite all the wins, I’m still paid less than men who do the same job that I do. For each trophy, of which there are many, and for each win, for each tie, and for each time that we play, it’s less. And I know there are millions of people who are marginalized by gender in the world and experience the same thing in their jobs,” she complained.
Mark these 2021 #EqualPayDay dates in your calendar!
March 9: AAPI Women's Equal Pay Day
March 24: All Women's Equal Pay Day
June 4: Mother’s Equal Pay Day
August 3: Black Women’s Equal Pay Day
September 8: Native Women’s Equal Pay Day
October 21: Latina’s Equal Pay Day— UnitedStateofWomen (@USOWomen) March 24, 2021
Biden’s statement on “fairness” concerning the pay gap issue drew snark from conservative political commentator Ben Shapiro who tweeted: “Totally agree. The Democrats must immediately sponsor federal legislation to force the NBA to redistribute all salary evenly between the WNBA and the NBA. Today. Anything less is full-scale white supremacist sexism.”
Totally agree. The Democrats must immediately sponsor federal legislation to force the NBA to redistribute all salary evenly between the WNBA and the NBA. Today. Anything less is full-scale white supremacist sexism. https://t.co/reUfL9BSXQ
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) April 1, 2021
Actor and comedian Michael Rapaport took issue with Shapiro’s tweet and shot back a biting response:
This paragrah is a rollercoaster.
Before getting started can we see you line up for a Free Throw? https://t.co/9anLS6ghvU
— MichaelRapaport (@MichaelRapaport) April 1, 2021
But others agreed with Shapiro’s sarcastic take on the pay gap issue:
Yes @KingJames makes $31 million a year and Britney Griner makes 221 thousand. Step up @KingJames and split revenue with the WNBA players and make your pay equal.
— Jeremiah Loren (@vtmiah) April 1, 2021
In the same interview, Biden also discussed his strong support for moving the 2021 MLB All-Star Game out of Atlanta due to strict voter protection laws being passed in the state.
Biden responded to Major League Baseball Players Association Executive Director Tony Clark when he stated that he “would look forward” to a discussion concerning moving the All-Star Game from Truist Park after the GOP-led laws were enacted.
“I think today’s professional athletes are acting incredibly responsibly. I would strongly support them doing that,” Biden noted. “People look to them. They’re leaders.”
Biden continued with his race and gender-based theme: “Look what’s happened with the NBA, as well. Look what’s happened across the board. The very people who are victimized the most are the people who are the leaders in these various sports, and it’s just not right.”
The president also took issue with the Texas Rangers opening up seats for attendance to baseball games during the pandemic. “That’s the decision they’ve made. I think it’s a mistake,” Biden cautioned. “They should listen to Dr. (Anthony) Fauci and the scientists and the experts. I think that is not responsible.”
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