Nobody does self-righteousness better than Democrats.
Congressman calls for Redskins name change on House floor – WaPo Sports Blog
The Redskins team name has been discussed on the House floor several times by Eni F.H. Faleomavaega, American Samoa’s non-voting delegate.
And several outspoken members of Congress have talked about the issue in several different venues.
But a new advocate took to the mic on the House floor Tuesday morning: Rep. Dan Maffei (D-NY). […]
Rep. Dan Maffei (D-NY): Mr. Speaker, I am proud to represent Central New York, home of the Six Nations of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. This is also known as the Iroquois, and it includes the Mohawks, the Oneidas, [the Onondagas], the Senecas, the Cayugas and later the Tuscarora. It spreads across New York, and was one of the earliest civil governments in territory that now lies within the United States and Canada.
“Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Oneida’s leader, Ray Halbritter’s efforts to change the name of the Washington D.C. National Football League team. The name of the Washington football team is derogatory to the Native Americans of this country. For many Native Americans across the land, the name of the Washington Football Team is a deeply personal reminder of a legacy of racism and generations of pain. The current campaign to change the team’s name is supported by many groups and individuals, including Native American organizations, civic and government leaders, editorial boards, and many leaders, including my colleagues Rep. Betty McCollum and Tom Cole, and many others in a non-partisan effort. President Obama said recently ‘If I were the owner of the team, and I knew there was a name of the team, even if it had a storied history, that was offending a sizable group of people, I’d think about changing it.’
“I wholeheartedly join this effort. I also believe the owner of the Washington team and other NFL owners should meet with the Oneidas, as they have requested. How can we achieve mutual understanding unless they are willing to meet?