Did President Barack Obama really offer his support of disgraced National Football League quarterback Michael Vick, who served nearly two years in prison for bankrolling an illegal dogfighting ring?
Yes, indirectly.
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First, some background in the Michael Vick story: On July 17, 2007, the Atlanta Falcons star quarterback was indicted by the federal government on charges he was tied to a dogfighting operation headquartered on property he owned in Surry County, Virginia.
Later that year Vick pleaded guilty to felony charges and served 21 months in prison, followed by two months in home confinement.
Despite a massive public relations backlash, the Philadelphia Eagles signed Vick to a two-year contract after his release from prison in 2009.
So where does Obama come in?
President Weighs in on Michael Vick
Sometime in 2010, Obama picked up the phone and called Philadelphia Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie. During the conversation, the topic turned to quarterback Michael Vick.
Obama thanked Lurie for giving Vick a second chance to play football again, according to published reports.
"He said, 'So many people who serve time never get a fair second chance,'" Lurie recalled of his conversation with Obama in an interview with Sports Illustrated columnist Peter King.
"[Obama] was ... passionate about it. He said it's never a level playing field for prisoners when they get out of jail. And he was happy that we did something on such a national stage that showed our faith in giving someone a second chance after such a major downfall.''
White House Clarifies Remarks on Michael Vick
Obama's remarks caused a bit of a stir when they hit the media.
Conservative thinker Tucker Carlson said he thought Obama's remarks were inappropriate and that Vick should have been executed for his crimes, but he later retracted the remark.
White House spokesman Bill Burton, who confirmed that Obama did indeed call Lurie, was quick to state that the president continued to condemn Vick's animal-cruelty and dogfighting crimes.
"He of course condemns the crimes that Michael Vick was convicted of but, as he's said previously, he does think that individuals who have paid for their crimes should have an opportunity to contribute to society again," Burton said of Obama.
Animal Rights Activists Weigh in on Michael Vick
In a statement, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals countered:
"The ASPCA would like to remind the public that Michael Vick pled guilty to helping torture and kill dogs because they didn't perform well in his dogfighting ring.
While we do believe in second chances, we also support the conditions of Michael Vick's probation, which prohibit him from owning, buying or selling dogs for three years from the date of his July 2009 release from federal prison.
Mr. Vick's performance on the gridiron may continue to attract attention and accolades, but we believe the final measure of his newly found compassion toward animals can only be borne out over time."