Redskins Try To Hashtag Bomb Harry Reid, But It Backfires On Them

A detail view of a Washington Redskins helmet is seen prior to an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers at FedEx Field on Monday, November 25, 2013 in Landover, Maryland. (AP Photo/Aaron M. Sprecher)
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

The Washington Redskins asked their legions of fans to send a message Thursday to Harry Reid, who’s been on a campaign lately to shame the team and its owner into dropping its racially charged nickname. It did not go over well.

After the official Redskins Twitter account asked fans to to show the Democratic leader of the Senate their “#RedskinsPride and tell him what the team means to you,” several users instead lashed out at the offensive name.

Other users cringed at what immediately seemed like a clumsy P.R. move.

Reid has been aggressive in his criticism of the team name for the last few months. In March, he mocked Redskins owner Daniel Snyder’s foundation aimed at reducing poverty on Indian reservations.

“Dan Snyder, he’s got a great new deal,” Reid told the Washington Post. “He’s going to throw a few blankets to the Indians and get a tax deduction for it. I can’t imagine why the man doesn’t realize that the name is going to change. It’s only a question of when it’s going to change. That’s the only question.”

Last week, 50 senators, including Reid, sent a letter to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, calling on the league to “take action to remove the racial slur from one of its marquee franchises.”

Latest Livewire
Comments
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Associate Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: