Seahawks: Blue Jerseys, Red Politics

The GOP is at its lowest point politically since the aftermath of Watergate, or so conventional wisdom goes. Erstwhile Republicans like Colin Powell, Meghan McCain, and Arlen Specter have shed the party label like so much dry skin in order to polish their tarnished historical legacy, gain a little media notoriety, or save their electoral bacon.

One constituency has remained true, though, standing behind the Grand Old Party despite being down by two touchdowns in the fourth quarter: members of the Seattle Seahawks. Head coach Jim Mora is scheduled to be the headline speaker at "Republican" county council member Kathy Lambert's re-election kickoff breakfast on May 29 in Bellevue. (All county offices are now nonpartisan, but Lambert has run on the GOP ticket in the past.) Mora is but one of a long line of 'Hawks who have donned the GOP jersey despite playing in an overwhelmingly liberal sports town.

In 2007, quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and fullback Mack Strong were center stage for a fundraiser at the Bellevue Hyatt, greeting then-President George W. Bush and presenting him with an honorary jersey. Despite having led the team to its only Super Bowl appearance, the duo's actions caused uproar among some of Seattle's more culturally sensitive denizens.

Other Seahawks have traded blue for red as well. Robbie Tobeck, a former Pro Bowl center for the squad, was the keynote speaker at two-time gubernatorial silver medalist Dino Rossi's 2008 campaign kickoff. Of course, topping them all is Hall of Fame receiver Steve Largent, who was a GOP congressman from Oklahoma from 1994 to 2002.