Posted on 05/22/2014 7:40:04 AM PDT by Sub-Driver
May 22, 2014, 09:39 am 50 senators call for Redskins name change
By Mario Trujillo
Fifty Democratic senators are pushing the NFL to change the name of the Washington Redskins.
In a letter sent Thursday to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on Thursday, the group urged him to follow the lead of the NBA in punishing Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling for making racially insensitive remarks.
"The despicable comments made by Mr. Sterling have opened up a national conversation about race relations," said the letter spearheaded by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.). "We believe this conversation is an opportunity for the NFL to take action to remove the racial slur from the name of one of its marquee franchises."
Reid and other Democratic leaders have long called for a name change, but the letter signals the largest collective call in Congress.
The senators pointed to a number of federal laws that protect Native Americans. And they lamented the "racial slur" that Native Americans are made to watch on Sundays.
"Every Sunday during football season, the Washington, D.C. football team mocks their culture," the senators said.
"The NFL can no longer ignore this and perpetuate the use of this name as anything but what it is: a racial slur. We urge the NFL to formally support and push for a name change for the Washington football team," they added.
Only five Democratic senators did not sign the letter, including both Virginia senators, Mark Warner and Tim Kaine. Sen. Mark Pryor (D-Ark.), a centrist lawmaker who is locked in a tough reelection fight, also did not sign the letter, along with Sens. Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.).
This story was updated at 9:52 a.m.
I sure hope this happens.
My preference would be the San Antonio Redskins.
” BFD”!
When are they going to crack down on the Minnesota Vikings?
Hang on for a minute! Does this mean that for all that time that Hanoi Jane was doing the tomahawk chop....
By the same logic, the Philadelphia Eagles should change their name because Eagles are federally protected.
They could just shorten it to “Washington Reds”.
That works, too.
With all the problems we have, and they spend their time on THIS???
Boston Celtics, Notre Dame Fighting Irish, are obvious ethnic slurs too, if we’re going down that road.
50 Sin atores trying desperately to change the subject from the feckless regime’s incompetence and Hairless Reid enabling of same.
That the Senate got involved in this is ridiculously over the top.
The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame? Crickets.
This is Saul Alinksy bull blank.
Never let a crisis go to waste. They are piggybacking on the Donald Sterling situation, to try to force a Redskins name change.
SQUIRREL!!!
“My preference would be the San Antonio Redskins. “
I prefer the San Antonio Bandits. There logo would be the Rodeo San Antonio hat.
Idiots. All 59 senators.
There was a Tampa Bay Bandits, in the USFL, the Old Head Ball Coach was their coach.
If we’re saying sports team names are offensive, there are so many we can discuss.
San Diego Padres-offensive to the Catholic Church.
Ditto New Orleans Saints, and Los Angeles Angels.
Seattle Mariners is offensive to real sailors.
Pittsburgh Steelers is offensive to real steel workers.
Green Bay Packers is offensive to real meat packers.
New York Yankees is offensive to southerners and the legacy of the Civil War.
New England Patriots violates political correctness, because we’re not supposed to celebrate patriotism, we’re supposed to celebrate diversity.
All of the animal nicknames are offensive to the animals, aren’t they?
Pittsburgh Pirates and Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Oakland Raiders celebrate criminal activity. Those names have got to go.
San Francisco Giants, New York Giants, are offensive to those with the giantism disorder.
Chicago White Sox is racist of course.
Where does this end, if we open this door?
Or Red like Van Jones
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