Joe Manchin: Owners Shouldn’t Tolerate NFL Players Kneeling for National Anthem

Joe Manchin: Owners Shouldn’t Tolerate NFL Players Kneeling for National Anthem (Washington Free Beacon)

West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin (D.) told voters on Monday evening that he thinks NFL owners should step in and tell players protesting during the national anthem they won't tolerate it.

"This is something the owners have to address," Manchin said during a Facebook town hall. "The owners of these football teams, that have these contracts with these players and the conditions these players are going to be playing under, has to step in here and say, ‘I'm not going to tolerate it."

Manchin also floated the idea of boycotting the league over the protests.

"The only thing that you and I can do right now is turn off the TV if you don't want to watch, don't go to the game if that's a team you don't respect for whatever reason," he said.

"I think everyone should stand and show respect for the flag that represents the greatest nation on earth that's shed more blood and lost more lives for the cause of freedom that you and I enjoy," Manchin concluded.