【2020 Archives】

Colin Kaepernick — who sparked a major protest of racial injustices by kneeling during the national anthem this season — didn't vote in Tuesday's election.

020 Archives49ers quarterback called both Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton "proven liars" last month, but given the gravity of his protests and how much backlash he's endured while still continuing to kneel, it's a bit surprising that he wouldn't vote.

From Stephen A. Smith's perspective, though, "surprising" puts it lightly.

The ESPN personality absolutely destroyed Kaepernick on Wednesday, calling him a "flaming hypocrite" for not voting. Asked if Kaepernick "betrayed his cause" on ESPN's First Take, Smith didn't hold back.

"For him not to vote...as far as I'm concerned, everything he said meant absolutely nothing!"

- @stephenasmith on Colin Kaepernick pic.twitter.com/gShvVfVoAt

— First Take (@FirstTake) November 9, 2016

“After all this noise that you made, even though you didn’t intend to do so, by offending our military servicemen and women, and pointing out about how you wanted to bring attention to racial injustices and beyond in this country, to turn around and not even take your behind to the polls to vote for a particular candidate, it is shameful!" Smith said. "Absolutely shameful!”

The rant goes on for almost two minutes, but you get the idea.

Kaepernick's protests began late in the NFL preseason, and soon gained support from fellow football players, athletes in other sports and athletes of all ages. Though he began the season as San Francisco's back-up, Kaepernick earned the starting job last month, giving his cause both a second wind and a resurgence of backlash.

But none of it matters now. At least according to Smith.

"For him not to vote, as far as I'm concerned, everything he said meant absolutely nothing," Smith said. "I don't want to hear another damn word from him."

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