Relationships, Money, and the Question of Jay Feely

It would be an interesting question to ask various media and sports figures why they are financially supporting Jay Feely. Feely is a former broadcaster and former football player for the Arizona Cardinals who is now running for congress in the 1st congressional district of Arizona after switching his campaign from the 5th district of Arizona.

To date he has been financially supported by figures such as the iconic CBS sport commentator Jim Nantz, former NBA player and commentator Charles Barkley, former NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, golfer Fred Couples, the Haslam Family and many other sports affiliated individuals.

In the case of Jim Nantz, CBS has neither confirmed nor denied that it has allowed Nantz to endorse Feely. CBS has traditionally prohibited its commentators from endorsing political candidates which includes contributions to their campaigns. Perhaps under Bari Weiss, who is now editor in chief of CBS News, the policy has changed.

“Is it because those in corporate positions have become enfeebled or is it that those who have hid for years behind the facade of corporate legitimacy have decided it's okay to finally reveal their true selves?”

Tony Aguilar

Feely has been endorsed by President Trump which has raised legitimate questions as to how several of these individuals can endorse a man who has blamed immigrants for the high cost of living and has gone against birthright citizenship. It is also said that Feely favors ending the 14th amendment which made birthright citizenship legal.

Has it become a safe political bet to be willing to back a man who has seemingly reversed course in order to represent the highest income district in the state where the medium household income is $102,000 and per capital income is $71,000?

It must be remembered that Feely was not always a supporter of President Trump even though he said "I was a supporter of President Trump before it was cool, all the way back in 2016." In 2016, Feely actually endorsed Marco Rubio and Jeb Bush. In 2024, he categorized January 6th as "a failure in leadership and a huge mistake." His comments about the January 6th insurrection in response to whether the president should have pardoned people who assaulted police officers was quite evasive when he said "if you assaulted people and you did things that were against the law then you should pay the consequences. but I also think that they were arbitrary and capricious when they went through the legal system and if something is arbitrary and capricious, and you aren't held to the same standards." The problem with his answer is that he answered a general question without answering the specific question about the actual pardon.

On the Square Off news program in Arizona, Feely made the following comments about the false rumors that Haitian immigrants in Ohio were eating pets: "I thought we had interesting conversations with the two Haitian men that came and you know when you go down there in Haiti and you spend a lot of time like I have you understand that when somebody has no food at all that they're going to find whatever it is whether it's a dog or cat anything in Haiti. I don't want to be derogatory about people, I think that's where President Trump and I differ is that I think you can articulate your values and your beliefs without being derogatory about others. I'm saying that the Haitian man that we brought here we talked about they said yeah, I can see that happening and somebody who did that in Haiti and comes here and sees a swan and says oh that might make a good meal." His obfuscating statement about Haitians eating pets in Ohio could leave you at the very least leary about the Feely campaign.

The question of what led to sports icons supporting Feely is a legitimate question.

The district is considered a competitive district and is considered a toss up by Cook Political Report, Inside Election, and Sabatos Crystal Ball.

While Republicans have an edge in registered voters, independents have an edge which could decide the election.

His opponents in the Republican primary consist of John Trobough and former state legislator Joseph Chaplick. Feely presently has a 2% lead over Chaplik for the Republican primary which takes place on July 21st. The previous congressman Republican David Schweikert resigned to run for governor leaving an open race for congress.