Opinion: Democrats waste time battling team's racist mascot


The logo for the Change the Mascot campaign

Writer doesn't think Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nevada), the Senate majority leader, and other Democrats should be fighting the Washington NFL team's racist mascot:
According to a recent Gallup poll, the economy is the number issue on the minds of Americans. Ninety one percent of Republicans and 87 percent of Democrats say it is the most important issue facing the nation.

So how is Democrat Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and 49 of his Democrat colleagues spending their time?

Writing to National Football League commissioner Roger Goodell asking that the NFL pressure Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder to change the name of his team.

According to Reid, the Redskins name is a “racial slur”, with his letter drawing a parallel to the recent incident of racially charged remarks made, in private, by Donald Sterling, owner of the Los Angeles Clippers basketball team.

The NBA is forcing Sterling to divest his ownership of the Clippers.

“We urge you and the National Football League to send the same clear message as the NBA did: that racism and bigotry have no place in professional sports,” wrote the Senators to Commissioner Goodell.

Get the Story:
Star Parker: Harry Reid threatens private property in America (Urban Cure 6/2)

Also Today:
Dan Rather: Redskins name should not change (The Washington Post 6/2)
American Indian high schools cling to ‘Redskins’ nickname (The Washington Times 6/1)

Related Stories
Naomi Brisley: NFL's team mascot dehumanizes Native people (6/2)
Courtland Milloy: NFL team makes profit off a racial stereotype (6/2)
Battle Mountain chairman was asked to attend NFL event in DC (5/30)
Leader of NFL players union opposes Washington team's name (5/30)
Deadspin: Another social media backfire for Washington team (5/29)
Column: Team wasn't named in honor of alleged Indian coach (5/29)
John Kane: Lawmakers pull a publicity stunt with letter to NFL (5/28)
NFL team claims ex-NCAI president designed Indian head logo (5/27)
Senate Democrats urge NFL to take action against racist mascot (05/22)
New York Assembly backs bill against use of racial slurs in sports (5/21)
John Kane: Racist mascots a sign of racist government policies (05/13)
Peter d'Errico: Challenge to racist trademarks shows potential (05/12)
Jeffrey Ian Ross: Dropping team name makes economic sense (05/12)
Time: Player accuses NFL of not being concerned about racism (05/09)
Sen. McCain calls on NFL team owner to address racist mascot (05/02)
Lawmakers demand action over use of racial slur by NFL team (05/01)
Nicholet Deschine: The reality of eliminating a racist mascot (04/30)
Oneida Nation urges discipline for Washington NFL team owner (04/30)
NCAI slams racist comments attributed to owner of NBA team (04/28)