(Getty Images/Bill Pugliano)
Echoing the statements that former Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka recently made about “political correct idiots” fueling the Washington football team name change controversy, Sarah Palin weighed in on the issue.
Naturally, Palin defended Ditka in a Facebook post, saying that “he thinks the name should always be Washington [football team], as a source of pride? Take the word ‘Washington’ out and I’ll agree the team name is a great source of pride.” In a recent interview, Ditka came under fire for comments about the name change controversy, saying that “it’s so much horse shit it’s incredible. We’re going to let the liberals of the world run this world.” He explained that the team’s name is “said out of reverence, out of pride to the American Indian,” and added that the whole controversy “is so stupid it’s appalling.”
In her response, Palin also criticized the “liberal media” as well as other politicians who have called for owner Dan Snyder and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to change the team’s name. In May, 50 U.S. Senators signed and sent a letter to Goodell urging him to make Snyder change the team’s name.
Palin also said of Ditka that “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.”
You can read her full statement below:
Rush Limbaugh’s always on top of the pile. He’s ahead of issues, including this one where he gives a heads up that Coach Ditka may actually get fired for exercising America’s First Amendment.
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 [football team], 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 [Washington football team] 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 R*****n, 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 [Washington football team] are part of an American football history, and it should never be anything but the Washington [football team]. 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 [football team], as a source of pride? Take the word “Washington” out and I’ll agree the team name is a great source of pride.
– Sarah Palin
