McCain: I would have signed that Democratic letter asking the NFL to change the Redskins’ name

Hotair ^ | 05/23/2014 | AllahPundit

[SeekAndFind]

Of course he would. Among the public, this is a non-issue: Despite endless lefty blather about the name over the past year, including from The One himself, 79 percent side with the ‘Skins. (That’s especially dangerous to pols elected by the Redskins’ core fan base, which is why Virginia senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner refused to sign the letter.) Among the political class, though, it’s a proxy for ideology, an easy check-the-box way to polish your particular brand. That’s how this issue was able to accelerate from slow-news-day fodder on Slate last August to a cause celebre among fully half of the United States Senate. I’d be surprised if there are even five people in the chamber who’ve given this issue more than two minutes of thought, but when an opportunity to buy political piety this cheaply arises, anyone in the market for it is going to lunge. And Maverick’s always in the market.

Why didn’t Democrats ask him to sign, then?

On Thursday, Republicans dismissed the May 21 letter — signed by 49 Senate Democrats and sent to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell (Sen. Bill Nelson of Florida sent his own letter) — as a pointless exercise unlikely to change anything. GOP lawmakers said that they were never approached by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) or Washington Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), the former chairwoman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee who circulated the letter…

One Republican — Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), whose state has a significant portion of Native Americans — said he “probably” would have added his signature to the letter if he had been asked. That would have elevated the stature of the Democrats’ initiative by making it both bipartisan and endorsed by the GOP’s 2008 presidential nominee. McCain has joined Democrats on some social issues recently, advocating to end workplace discrimination based on sexuality and urging his governor to veto a bill that would have allowed businesses to deny service to gay customers.

“They didn’t ask,” McCain said, confirming he still opposed the “Redskins” moniker for the team. “It’s offensive to our Native Americans.”

Yeah, McCain would have been a solid “get” for Dems here. And I bet he’s not the only Republican who would have signed. Where Maverick goes, Lindsey Graham usually follows, and then you have the usual centrist Collins/Murkowski/Kirk coalition. Being able to say that a clear majority of the Senate was opposed to the Redskins name would have been a nice talking point for Democrats, “proof” that this issue was catching on among GOPers as well. Instead, they didn’t even approach McCain. Why? Because this is about moral posturing, not about actually pressuring the ‘Skins or the NFL to do something. And if you’re going to posture, why would you invite Republicans to join you? You plant the Democratic flag on the position that “Redskins” is abhorrent to all right-thinking people and salute. When they eventually send a letter to the Koch brothers asking them politely to commit suicide for the good of America, Republicans won’t be asked to sign that one either. This is about Democratic branding, nothing more.

Here’s Maria Cantwell making an impassioned plea to the chamber to give this shiny object the brief news-cycle attention it deserves. You’re next, Chief Wahoo. Exit quotation: ““The intent of the team’s name has always been to present a strong, positive and respectful image,’ the league said in a statement. ‘The name is not used by the team or the NFL in any other context, though we respect those that view it differently.’”

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[The_Media_never_lie]

Yes, but he won’t do a dang thing about border security, the national debt, etc. He is a traitor. Using Congress as a retirement home.

[Old Yeller]

The senate should be renamed the Cowardly Traitors.

[PATRIOT1876]

Juan, we got bigger problems here...

Nutjobs calling people with common sense and Scientific knowledge nutjobs and criminals because we expose the truth about the Global Warming/Climate Change?Disruptification Scam.

Millions of illegal invaders stealing jobs at a time when 57% of all working age adults are out of work.

A wildly out of control increasingly bloodthirsty anti-freedom anti-good economy Leftist government.

[Islander2]

[Redskin Potatoes — Go Spuds! The ‘Skins are Loaded this year!]

[Redskin Peanuts — Go Nuts!]

Now you’re talkin’

[DoughtyOne]

So many issues..., so seldom right.

Ramirez's latest political cartoon LARGE VERSION 05/23/2014: LINK  LINK to regular sized version of Ramirez's latest, and an archive of his political cartoons.
In this political cartoon, Ramirez presents, "China and Our Technology"

FOLKS, THOSE OF YOU WHO CAN, PLEASE CLICK HERE AND PENCIL IN YOUR DONATION TO HELP END THIS FREEPATHON.  THANK YOU!  We're over 79% now. Cool!
...this is a general all purpose message, and should not be seen as targeting any individual I am responding to...

[Islander2]

To throw in a few more who might be offended, keep the Red, insert neck, and keep skins.
There you have it: THE REDNECKSKINS

I will relinquish the copyright for this name.

[Vendome]

LOL

Was talking to the dodering old man from Arizon, who really, at this point, should have a nurse to wipe tbe drool from his face, as he makes idiotic pronouncement, as one might expect from an mind addled by alzheimers.

[SoFloFreeper]

Juan McInsane.

[5th MEB]

hey McQueeg: Please, just STFU and die.

[SamAdams76]

There are a lot of NFL team names that offend me and I demand that they be changed...

New England PATRIOTS - How dare this team appropriate this name, implying that they are patriots like my namesake Sam Adams. They have a player in jail right now for three murders. I think they should change their name to the New England MURDERERS.

New York JETS - Now this name is very offensive to those who lost loved ones on 9/11. Imagine having a New York based team with a name that reminds one of the two jets that slammed into the World Trade Center. They need to change their name to the New York HANG GLIDERS. I do not believe we've had any hang gliders that were crashed into NYC skyscrapers.

Green Bay PACKERS - Now this is just wrong and offensive to homosexuals. They need to change to the more politically correct Green Bay GAY PRIDERS.

I can go into the reasons the other 29 NFL teams need to change their names as well but I think you get my point.

[5th MEB]

you know; its probably been 30 years since I have heard their real given names used.

[Secret Agent Man]

cue captain obvious...

[DLfromthedesert]

I was replying to Post #6

[Verginius Rufus]

Is it still OK to call Muhammad Ali, Cassius Clay? Or Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Lew Alcindor?:)

Or Barack Hussein Obama, Barry Soetoro?