Torricelli on Michael Vick and the Eagles
When did we become such an unforgiving people? Former U.S. Sen. Robert Torricelli says he'll root for any team that plays the Eagles, now that Michael Vick is on their roster.

Torricelli on Michael Vick and the Eagles

By Robert Torricelli | August 20th, 2009 - 2:33pm
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The decision of who to support in this year's NFL match ups just got easier. I'm for anybody who plays against the Eagles.

Michael Vick is joining the team. The same man who just left a federal jail on felony counts involving the torturing and death of animals is about to reenter center stage. That's quite a message about the state of our culture and the role that NFL wants to play in our lives.

Homicide detectives sometimes track animal abuse because it's often the first act of mass murders. The same sociopathic behavior that takes pleasure in the suffering of an animal will migrate to the pleasure gained by harming a person. It's the same complete indifference to life. The killing of a helpless animal is not only unlawful but an act of depravity and sickness.

Think about Michael Vick. He trained dogs to maul and maim each other until death. When he was disappointed in them, he hung them by the neck. Their teeth were forcefully removed without anesthesia. Their torture became a means of his entertainment.

The talking heads on television describes him as a victim of "political correctness" and we're "denying him his right to make a living".  What a sick society.

Let the Eagles make their choice. You should make yours. Watch every company that advertises during Eagles games and refuse to buy their products. Decent people should have no part in this charade.  Sportsmanship used to involve more than athletic prowess. A sportsman was a person of character and a role model. It seems that the NFL has traded the notion of representing the best to allow the participation of the worst. 

People in glass houses

So if the team that employs Donte Stallworth, who killed another human being, plays the Eagles he'll be rooting for Donte Stallworth?

And speaking of drunk drivers who kill other people, what about his pal Ted Kennedy, who he endorsed and whose campaigns for re-election he supported? But then I guess it's ok to have a double-standard when it comes to rich, white liberal democrat politicians who get drunk, drive off a bridge, run away from the scene and leave their companion to drown like a dog (no pun intended). I wonder if Mary Jo Kopechnie's death was any less brutal than the dogs killed by Michael Vick.

And let's not forget Bobby's bosom buddy Danny Ortega, the dictator of Nicaragua, who probably didn't torture animals, just human beings.

The "Gonif State" makes the "Soprano State" look like the "Brady Bunch"

http://christiegonewild.blogspot.com/

Hypocrit/ Crook

Whatever happenned to his speech about when did we become such unforgiving people? You can't have it both ways?

And why are you so quite about the corruption here in NJ?

He who lives in a glass house....

Go Away!

Well Said

Solomon....very well said! Thank you for sharing!

Please stop...

If only Michael Vick threw this idiot into the dog pit!

He gets this one

Torch gets this one. The only thing that I can say where he is wrong is that, while Vick is responsible for his actions, and it should not be glossed over that he was responsible, he is after all a product of his environment. Vick didnt invent dog fighting, he was surrounded by it as a young man. Torch is right that we sacrifice our morals in the efforts of sportsmanship (more capitalism), but where Torch falls short is that it speaks even "louder" that a culture is allowed to exist that warps the minds of young people into being completely devoid of empathy. Vick is mearly the tip of the iceberg, this is a serious problem that way too many children and young people are exposed to, keeping Vick from playing football would do nothing to combat that problem. I do hope that Vick is remorsful and has been re-educated. Perhaps, he could then be a role model and an anti-cruelty advocate in a way that could not have otherwise been done.

No torch is the real problem...vick is only a dumb athlete

No torch is the real problem...vick is only a dumb athlete

SJ Blue

"keeping Vick from playing football would do nothing to combat that problem. I do hope that Vick is remorsful and has been re-educated. Perhaps, he could then be a role model and an anti-cruelty advocate in a way that could not have otherwise been done."

Evidently neither you nor Bobby T. bothered to listen to Eagles owner Jeff Lurie's apeech to the media when he introduced Michael Vick. First Lurie, unlike most NFL owners, is a social sctivist with a doctoral degree, not in business as you might assume, but in social policy from Brandeis University. He made it abundantly clear that a prerequisite to signing Vick was not only in showing remorse for his misdeeds but making a firm commitment to participate actively in the community on issues of animal abuse and cruelty.

Vick has already met with leaders of various animal rights groups, some of which have endorsed his signing with the Eagles, and has promised to take the lead in drawing attention to the problem, especially in parts of Philadelphia where dogfighting and other varieties of animal abuse are taking place.

The "Gonif State" makes the "Soprano State" look like the "Brady Bunch"

http://christiegonewild.blogspot.com/

I guess Torricelli is one of the decent people?

For a guy who had to leave the US Senate in disgrace, why is he commenting on such items as Michael Vick?

When did the roster of the Philadelphia Eagles become a topic of discussion on an insider political site?

Is Mr Torricelli suggesting Vick is a danger to society? Would it be fair to say that all football players by nature are dangerous in that the sport they play is a dangerous affair?

BTW, has this guy ever even played football?

Somehow, I don't think so.

Vote Column "A" - All the way!

How dont I get it?

What did I say that opposes what you said? I agree that this could be a step in the right direction and could help the situation overall. Where do we disagree

Torricelli opening his mouth

Torricelli opening his mouth is a big pot calling the kettle black. For a man of flawed ethics who had to resign mid way through an election calling out Vick for poor decisions he's not too far from the same himself.

http://lwschoolhouse.blogspot.com/

Torricelli=scumbag

I think that says it all.

CHARADE? DECENT PEOPLE?

CHARADE? DECENT PEOPLE?

Watch every company that advertises during Eagles games and refuse to buy their products. Decent people should have no part in this charade.

THE ONLY CHARADE IS THIS ARTICLE... AS A KIND OF SUBTERFUGE FOR WHAT TORCH IS REALLY UP TO THESE DAYS; AND IF YOU HAVE ANY CLUE, AND MANY DECENT PEOPLE DO, THEY WILL AVOID, AND VOTE AGAINST, THE COMPANY HE KEEPS.

Torch is undeniable correct

Regardless of what you think of Sen. Toricelli, he's absolutely, unarguably correct. (Those that make what he did, albeit a betray of the public trust akin to what Vick did are idiots; he did not kill anything, let alone tortune defenseless animals).
The Eagles and the NFL are both dead wrong hypocrits. They're both pimps. This was not Vick's first indiscretion--from pot smoking to double fisted middle fingers to fans, he's a punk, and NFL/Eagle Fans who condone him playing are too. He "did his time" for dog fighting, not for murdering dogs.
Boycott anything and everything associated with this team until there is new ownership and Vick is long gone.

I am puzzled.

Why is this article on the PolitickerNJ.com? Why does anybody care what Torch has to say about politics in general and any other subject in particular? The man has no standing in any situation. The man should not be asked for any opinion on any subject unless it is on his own blog. My advice to the PolitickerNJ.com is: kick the Torch out of here and let him find his own place for his comments. He could always sign up with you guys and make comments just like everybody else.

It sound like a good idea to me.

S&S

The difference is Vick paid for his crime. Torch did not. And we all know this scumbag is guilty. Poor David Chang (sarcasm) got jailed but Torch runs into parked vehicles, blames it on women and gets away with it.

Torch, good dog food? Nah...your pets deserve better

Another attempt at reinventing/reframing the face of one of the most corrupt, disgusting politicians ever to grace the state of NJ.

If anyone is not familiar with what a complete slime the author of this comment is, please do a search on the New York Times website.

This jerk and his lawyers sent a defenseless single mother (David Chang's assistant) up the river, while this complete lowlife was paid off for a political appointment by a judge he helped appoint (again see NY Times story).

If you see this guy in your neighborhood, lock your doors!

BRAVO!!!!

Bravo, Mr. Toricelli! You are absolutely correct. Vick is a ruthless, cold-hearted, sociopathic dog torturer and murderer who actually admitted to LAUGHING while he and his equally demented and disgusting pals drowned, hanged and electrocuted innocent dogs who were struggling and screaming in pain. And this guy is "entitled" to a second chance? This monster "deserves" the priviledge of making millions of dollars a year and acting as role model for children? This scumbag p.o.s. simply "made a mistake" and his slate should be wiped clean because he practiced really hard at acting sincere and delivered his PR talking points on national television? I think not. The only thing that Vick deserves is to be strung up and beat to death. Inner city thugs who are following in their "hero" Vick's footsteps are not simply going to turn around and stop fighting dogs because Vick delivers some lame forced comments to them. They know that Vick is only saying he's "sorry" because he's being forced to. He's only "sorry" because he got caught. He could care less about the dogs he brutally tortured and murdered. No one needs Vick to deliver his forced crap to inner city youth. What we need is tougher laws. Anyone caught fighting or murdering dogs -- whether they are minors or not, should get 25 to life. Period. No second chances. Then maybe these little scumbags would think twice before they started down this path.

Wow

What about those who kill humans? Say like a recently dedeased Senator from the Boston area?

to Jenni13

Sadly, I doubt the person whose name appears next to the article, wrote it (or even read it). The source is likely a PR agent hired to try and repair his public image. (They may even pay the website publisher to allow him to write on this website, but I don't know that to be true.)

Are you aware who Robert Torricelli is? He and his lawyers did some very very reprehensible things to a single mother (David Chang's assistant). Please read about this lowlife (see NY Times website)before you praise him. He is a truely despicable person.

Torch should stay away from "right" and "Wrong" issues...

Well now, we have a peice of shoe scum staring down from his high horse, trying to feign outrage over Vick's animal transgressions. Hey Torricelli, nobody (but Politickernj.com) cares what your position is on anything. You're a joker with 0 credibility. Go walk your own dog and just go away. You've had your 15 minutes already.

Torricelli on Michael Vick

I agree completely with Robert Torricelli and his comments on Michael Vick. I am glad that Vick was punished and I hope that all the articles about what he did will wake a few more people up. Sadly, I do not believe that Vick is truly sorry. I'm sure he is pretending, but time may tell. What Vick did was planned and malicious. As Robert Torricelli said, “The killing of a helpless animal is not only unlawful but an act of depravity and sickness.” It doesn’t matter where a person is raised. They should understand the law. And, somewhere in the process of growing up, they should have learned about compassion for living beings. After reading the many unkind comments hurled at the thoughts of Robert Torricelli, I can only shake my head and wonder if many of them were written by people who, like Michael Vick, also have no compassion for living beings and kill for “recreation.”

Foxy

There is a BIG difference - Vick paid his debt to society. Torricelli did not. Two other individuals went to prison for his crime. He is a scumbag.

links of london Nice@@

Bravo Indeed!

Stay on point. The subject is Michael Vick. I agree with the post that he should get life in prison.

At the very least, if this sociopath wants to play football, he should do it for a modest wage and donate the rest to grassroots animal-based charities in the tri-state area. These organizations speak for animals who are desperate for a second chance. Do it, Vick.

Imagine how great life would be for all of us if every animal was treated with compassion and respect.

I long for that day, but in the meantime, I love when I read articles that speak up for animals. Gives me hope.

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