These are times when your country should come before your brand.

This is not a normal Presidential election. Much is at stake. These are not two serious-minded, highly qualified people with differing opinions about the direction of our country. Donald Trump is the first candidate in my lifetime who was not fit to hold the office of President (or any position in government). If I did not speak out against this ignorant, racist, xenophobic, misogynist in order to curry favor with both sides of the political aisle and sell a few more books, I couldn't live with myself.  

For this reason, I cannot stand to see celebrities - sports figures, TV and movie stars, talk show hosts, musicians - sitting on the sidelines, keenly aware that half of their audience is Republican and conservative and choosing to protect their brand by remaining silent.

This time it's different.

This is why I admire the hell out of celebrities like Beyonce, Jay-Z, Amy Schumer, Justin Timberlake, Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi, Robert DiNero, Lady Gaga, Colin Powell, George Clooney, Elton John, Brian Cranston, JJ Abrams, Steven Spielberg, Scarlett Johansson, Kerry Washington, Sam Jackson, Jaime Foxx, Stephen Curry, Mark Cuban, and many, many more. These are celebrities who are willing to risk the ire of a large constituency in order to do what is patriotic and right.  

I've never been a fan of Lebron James, but after his avid and active support of Hillary Clinton, I have to admit that even he is growing on me. He may never be a better ballplayer than Michael Jordan, but he might be a better patriot than the man who famously makes donations to both political parties in equal amounts and avoids talking positions on politics whenever possible.

Jordan began his history of sideline sitting in 1990 when he inexplicably chose not to endorse black North Carolina Democrat Harvey Gantt in his Senate race against openly racist incumbent Jesse Helms and has continued to remain relatively silent in terms of politics ever since.    

To his credit, Lebron James hasn't placed his brand ahead of his country, and I admire him for that.

And I love the hell out of this guy, who could probably benefit professionally by walking the middle of the road but has chosen to take a stand as well. 

Brilliantly so.