ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith has been busy lately, giving his take on sports and acting while delving more into politics. Despite his affinity for discussing what’s happening in the country with lawmakers, don’t expect to see him run for office anytime soon, thanks to how politicians have acted and the amount of money he stands to lose.
Appearing on Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” on Monday, Smith blamed politicians currently in office for much of the discourse in the country, adding that he had no problem calling them out, including President Donald Trump, for wrong decisions being made.
“I think that they have contributed to the demise of this country,” Smith said. “I don’t mind calling them out at all. I don’t give a damn who it is. It could be a councilman, it could be a mayor, it could be a governor, it could be a senator or a representative, the president himself. I couldn’t care less. Whoever needs to go needs to go.”
There have also been rumors that Smith has some interest in seeking office. However, he said he would not, mainly because of how much money he could stand to lose after signing his contract extension that will reportedly pay him $100 million over five years.
“People think I’m interested in being an elected official,” Smith said. “I have no desire to be that. I’d have to give up a lot of money to do that. The way I look at it is that the money that I have earned working my (bleep) off all of these years, now I would have to curry favor, which means I would be owned, and I’m not having that. I’m not interested in that at all. Having said that, like I’ve said to others, I want to be a major player in terms of being a voice and a conduit for change. I want to make sure that the BS has got to stop. I don’t mind doing that at all.”
“You want to be a hell-raiser,” Smith continued. “You want to make sure you make people uncomfortable and that they’re not going to get away with the BS that they’ve been getting away with. Because I believe white, Black, and everything in between, society as a whole, by and large, are a lot of great God-fearing individuals that can get along just fine. I think the politicians in this country have served to divide us and paint us against one another for their own selfish deeds.”
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Chris Franklin may be reached at cfranklin@njadvancemedia.com.