WASHINGTON — A former candidate for president is weighing in on the Washington Redskins name controversy.
Arizona Sen. John McCain spoke on the Dan Patrick Show Friday about the name, which some find offensive. While he said the power is in the owner Dan Snyder’s hands, he’d change if it were up to him.
“I’m not the owner and he has the rights of an owner. But frankly I would probably change the name,” McCain told Patrick on the show.
But the senator said he personally takes no offense.
“Myself I’m not offended. You’re not offended (Patrick). But there are Native Americans who are.”
McCain went on to say that if he were Snyder, he’d sit down with leaders from the Native American community and ask them what they wanted.
“If I were him I’d have a dialogue.”
The Washington Redskins have expressed determination to keep the team’s name, which it’s had since the Boston Redskins moved to Washington in 1937.
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