On the same Kelly File show in which Glenn Beck preached the need for America to “come together,” he later repeatedly smeared those who want the Washington Redskins team to change its name. Beck didn’t just argue against the name change, he suggested those who feel differently are anti-American and – in a page from Karl Rove’s Hillary Clinton playbook – suggested Sen. Harry Reid is suffering from brain damage for advocating the change. Beck concluded this display of “unity” by suggesting the team rename itself the Washington Benghazis.
“I feel sorry for Harry Reid and I mean this sincerely.” Beck said – right before suggesting Reid is brain damagned. “Harry is, I’m sure, a nice guy… but I really think that there’s something wrong with him. I think he slipped or something. I don’t understand it.”
There was no pushback from Kelly over such an outrageous and baseless claim.
Beck continued his Kelly File “unity” tour by suggesting that Reid – and everybody else who wants the Redskins name changed – is anti-American.
What made America unique is the Trademark and Patent Office. That’s who we are. That’s an American idea, that you get to keep your idea. …And when the government can come in and say, “You know what? I don’t like that. You don’t get to keep that. I’m sorry, we can take your $2 billion or $3 billion business and just flush it down the toilet. Because we’ve decided, we’ve decided we don’t like it. I don’t even understand that. I really don’t.
Kelly murmured her approval as he spoke.
Beck continued:
90% of Native Americans – 90%! – are OK with this. If you know the history of the Washington Redskins… it was named “Redskins” after the first coach, while the first coach was there, who was a Native American.
Well, kinda sorta. Here’s what CBS DC reported about the name’s origin – which Kelly either missed or ignored:
It was a white man who applied it to this particular football team: Owner George Preston Marshall chose the name in 1932 partly to honor the head coach, William “Lone Star” Dietz, who was known as an Indian.
…Marshall, however, had a reputation as a racist. He was the last NFL owner who refused to sign black players — the federal government forced him to integrate in 1962 by threatening to cancel the lease on his stadium. When he died in 1969, his will created a Redskins Foundation but stipulated that it never support “the principle of racial integration in any form.”
And Dietz, the namesake Redskin, may not have even been a real Indian. Dietz served jail time for charges that he falsely registered for the draft as an Indian in order to avoid service. According to an investigation by the Indian Country Today newspaper, he stole the identity of a missing Oglala Sioux man.
Kelly did note that the 90% figure comes from an old poll (from 2004, according to CBS). She also pointed out that “a significant subset” of Native Americans find the name offensive. She began, “And under the law, they look at whether it can be considered ‘disparaging to a substantial subset...”
Before she finished, trying to add that that was the basis for the ruling, Beck interrupted. He said derisively, “Are the Blackhawks going? Are the Cleveland Indians going? I mean, are we going to rename Oklahoma? This is insane and everybody knows it. Look, this is not a partisan thing. This is really not."
What this is about, according to Beck, is some kind of effort by the left - spearheaded by Sen. Brain Damage, I presume – to distract from the important issues. Beck “explained”:
Why, why is this happening? …The Middle East is on fire. You just found the guy in Benghazi? Right (said sarcastically, to signal something fishy going on about that). …We’ve got 60,000 people – children! – (entering this country illegally). Really? Out of all of these things? Inflation? Milk? Food? That’s important? This is something that the left and the right should be able to agree on. Come on, guys….Stop! Stop it!
Kelly didn’t challenge the conspiracy theory. She said sympathetically, “You’re talking about property rights that are being taken away by the government.”
Beck called that “one of the worst things, Megyn.” He concluded by saying, “If Congress only pays attention to the names of football teams, then maybe we should name them the Washington Benghazis.”
Yeah, that’s really working to bring the country together. By demanding we do things his way and smearing those who don’t!
But Kelly gave him a complete pass on that. “Where will it stop?” she asked sympathetically. She gave him one of her winning smiles and closed with, “It’s great seeing you.”
For the record, I am not comfortable with the government revoking the trademark, either. But if the name is offensive, why not just change it?
Oh, and if Beck feels the name is so flattering and insignificant to Native Americans, I challenge him to go to a reservation and throw the term around. Take some video and prove us all wrong, Glenn!
“He is patently offensive, yet I cannot look away.”
The man seriously needs therapy for his emotional issues. Look at him! He’s a complete mess. He cries way too much which is a sign of a troubled man.
NOTE TO HARRY REID
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