Sarah Palin has weighed in on the Washington Redskins nickname debate, and unsurprisingly the former Alaska governor and vice president nominee sides with Mike Ditka in believing the nickname should stay.
Palin shared her thoughts on the nickname after being inspired by political commentator Rush Limbaugh, who predicted that Ditka could be fired by ESPN for voicing his support of the nickname. Palin expressed disappointment with the notion that Ditka could be fired and went on to defend the Redskins name.
[Previously: Mike Ditka bashes liberals, thinks Redskins name debate is stupid]
Here’s what she wrote on her Facebook page Friday:
Nothing should surprise us lately; but when the Politically Correct Police bust Ditka, they hope the silent majority will cower under leftist control. My goodness, Ditka merely spoke his mind. This accomplished and esteemed coach knows there are big issues to be addressed in America today; there’s no intent to offend by referring to a team by the name they’ve proudly worn since day one and chose with pride in our native ancestry and obviously had absolutely no intent to insult; and the liberal media’s made-up controversies divide our country. The government’s intent to force any owner of anything, in this case an NFL entity, to change a name is the antithesis of the American way of working through differences. Ditka said he actually likes the Washington Redskins, and he’s a man full of commonsense and admired patriotism. Still, I must disagree with Coach Ditka after reading his full statement:
“What’s all the stink over the Redskin name?” Ditka said. “It’s so much [expletive], it’s incredible. We’re going to let the liberals of the world run this world. It was said out of reverence, out of pride to the American Indian. Even though it was called a Redskin, what are you going to call them, a Proudskin? This is so stupid it’s appalling, and I hope that owner keeps fighting for it and never changes it, because the Redskins are part of an American football history, and it should never be anything but the Washington Redskins. That’s the way it is. It’s been the name of the team since the beginning of football. It has nothing to do with something that happened lately, or something that somebody dreamed up. This was the name, period. Leave it alone. These people are silly — asinine, actually, in my opinion.”
He thinks the name should always be Washington Redskins, as a source of pride? Take the word “Washington” out and I’ll agree the team name is a great source of pride.
Yes, that’s Sarah Palin saying “Washington” is the most offensive part of the Washington Redskins name. Wait til the liberal media gets a hold of that one!
For what it’s worth, Ditka later said he could understand changing the name if American Indians found it offensive, but that they shouldn’t change it just because liberals declared it offensive. No word on Ditka’s opinion if he found out some were lobbying for the change on behalf of American Indians who told them the name was offensive.
Helmet smack to Shutdown Corner
