The Washington Redskins have been in the press lately for reports on Robert Griffin III's knee and his status for the season, but they also have been getting lots of headlines for people calling on Dan Snyder to change the team's name, as many Native Americans find it racist.
Now Snyder is taking a step to try and quell that notion, as he hired Republican pollster and professional spinner Frank Luntz to hold focus groups to see what people "really" think of the name. According to the Atlantic, Snyder hired Luntz and his company Luntz Global to do a focus group in June about the name, offering money for people's participation.
Luntz is known for his work on making up climate change instead of global warming and doing a number of other things, including with taxes, and now he will try and help the Redskins figure out what to do with their racist team name, which by the way for anyone wondering, is racist, as the word Redskin is considered derogatory. Dan Snyder has rebuffed members of Congress and Native Americans since the Redskins team name is worth too much money and now he is trying to get the PR on his side too.
Lawsuits have been filed and while many feel that the name should be changed, Snyder has refused and said it never will. The name is racist, the team had a racist owner and was the last team to integrate in the NFL. Check out the history of the name, it's not good.
An email showed some of the questions: Five questions in the survey ask directly about the Redskins. "Which of the following best reflects your opinion of the NFL team name 'Washington Redskins'?" the 20th question asks, offering "I find the name offensive and they should change it" or "I don't find the name offensive and they should keep it as is" as the possible answers. The next question asks respondents, "In a word or phrase, please describe the ownership of the Redskins."