The video showing Rutgers basketball coach Mike Rice abusing his players offended many, but his behavior actually inspired praise from some on the right. "We need a little more discipline in society," said Sean Hannity.
Most Americans seem to have been outraged by the video of Rutgers basketball coach abusing players, a tape that shows him shoving and screaming at players and using gay slurs during practice.
The video was shocking enough to force Rutgers to fire Coach Mike Rice within a day of the tape’s airing.
Even New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who’s been called a bully himself, said he was “disturbed” by the video. “The way these young men were treated by the head coach was completely unacceptable,” he said.
But not everyone agrees with Christie on this one, especially some conservative pundits.
According to Fox’s Eric Bolling, Rutgers’ decision to fire Rice represents “an example of our culture in free fall.”
“There’s no question he should never have used gay slurs. That’s against all rules. But I’m not sure that’s what got him fired. I think going after one of the kids is what got him fired,” he said Wednesday. “Listen, it’s time to toughen up. I talk about the wussification of America, the wussification of American men. This is it.”
Sean Hannity took a similar angle. After criticizing some of the physical abuse, he said, “I kinda like old-fashioned discipline… These are adults. If they don’t want to play for that team, they can leave.”
“Maybe we need a little more discipline in society. Maybe we don’t have to be a bunch of wimps for the rest of our lives,” he added. “My father hit me with a belt. I turned out okay.”
As Rev. Sharpton said on Thursday’s PoliticsNation, whether or not Hannity “turned out okay” is “highly debatable,” adding that “what’s not debatable is this kind of abuse.”