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mahatmakanejeeves

(56,713 posts)
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 08:39 AM Jun 2014

Virginia lawmakers launch ‘{Washington football team} Pride Caucus’

Last edited Tue Jun 24, 2014, 12:18 PM - Edit history (3)

ETA, at 12:16 p.m.: it was posted in LBN yesterday: Va. legislators want to create a ‘{Washington football team} Pride Caucus’

Virginia lawmakers launch ‘{Washington football team} Pride Caucus’

Monday, Jun. 23, 2014 by Trevor Baratko

The week after a federal trademark board ruled the {Washington football team} nickname is “disparaging of Native Americans” and that the team's trademark protections should be canceled, three Northern Virginia state lawmakers today launched the {Washington football team} Pride Caucus in Virginia's General Assembly.

Republican state Dels. David Ramadan and Jackson Miller, of Loudoun and Manassas, respectively, and Democratic state Sen. Chap Petersen, of Fairfax City, said in their announcement the {Washington football team} Pride Caucus is founded on four principles: “providing a voice for {Washington football team} fans and season tickets holders;” supporting the {Washington football team} franchise, a Virginia-based business headquartered in the Loudoun community of Ashburn; “opposing the inappropriate involvement of Congress in issues surrounding” the {Washington football team}; and “supporting commercial freedom” in Virginia and “the rights of businesses to their own brands and intellectual property.”
....

Del. Ramadan said to him the term represents a “great football team” and is “not disparaging to Native Americans.” An immigrant himself, Ramadan said he's sensitive to concerns of minorities and race.
....

When asked what the difference is between his weighing in on the team's name and the comments from Sen. Reid that he scorned, in terms of free speech, Ramadan said: “The difference is this a Virginia franchise, and we are Virginians. We are season-ticket holders. We are creating a voice that are going to defend our team and a Virginia business.”


And, from the "Honorable" Eugene Delgaudio (I need to stock up on those scare quotes that the Washington Times likes so much):

Virginia Legislators Form "Redskins Pride Caucus" To Fight Harry Reid And {Washington football team} Haters

June 23, 2014

Sen. Petersen, Del. Miller and Del. Ramadan Announce "{Washington football team} Pride Caucus"

Today, in Richmond, State Senator Chap Petersen (D-Fairfax City), Delegate Jackson Miller (R-Manassas) and Delegate David Ramadan (R-Loudoun) announced the formation of the "{Washington football team} Pride Caucus," a bipartisan group of Virginia state legislators representing professional football fans in the Commonwealth.

The {Washington football team} Pride Caucus (RPC) also announced its founding principles which are --

#1- Providing a voice for {Washington football team} fans and season tickets holders.

#2- Supporting the {Washington football team} franchise, a Virginia-based business that generates hundreds of millions of dollars in taxable revenue for schools, roads, public safety and other important public services in the Commonwealth.

#3- Opposing the inappropriate involvement of the United States Congress in issues surrounding the {Washington football team} franchise and its supporters.

#4- Supporting commercial freedom in the Commonwealth of Virginia and the rights of businesses to their own brands and intellectual property.

Senator Petersen, Delegate Miller and Delegate Ramadan will join other legislators today, before the House of Delegates convenes, at 3:30 p.m. in the House Briefing-Media Room of the General Assembly Building to hold a press conference announcing the formation of the {Washington football team} Pride Caucus. All are welcome to attend.


Speaking of the Washington Times:

Va. lawmakers form ‘{Washington football team} Pride Caucus’ to fend off name change

By Alan Suderman - Associated Press Monday, June 23, 2014

RICHMOND, Va. — A small group of Virginia state lawmakers announced Monday they have formed a “{Washington football team} Pride Caucus” to defend the {Washington football team} that’s been under increasing pressure to change its name.

At a news conference at the state Capitol lawmakers took turns praising the team and recalling long-ago victories against arch-rival, the Dallas Cowboys.
....

Lobbying firm McGuireWoods, which represents the {Washington football team}, provided lawmakers at the news conference with {Washington football team}-themed ties. But Ramadan and Peterson said the lobbying shop wasn’t responsible for the formation of the new caucus.


Well, of course not.

Great comments here:

3 N.Va. legislators announce {Washington football team} Pride Caucus

Virginia News
Posted: Monday, June 23, 2014 11:01 am
BY RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH

....
With cameras rolling and {Washington football team} lobbyists from McGuireWoods in attendance, lawmakers from across the commonwealth stepped up to the microphone one by one to pronounce their love for the team and recall moments from their childhood linked to past {Washington football team} glory.
....

{Washington football team} owner Daniel Snyder opposes a name change. He has lined up his own PR blitz, including the Richmond-based legal firm McGuireWoods and public relations guru Lanny Davis, who aided then-President Bill Clinton during his impeachment.


Skip to the comments:

Brian Hamrick Jones · Top Commenter · Partner/Attorney at Barnes & Diehl, P.C.

As Mr. Ramadan is Arab, I guess he wouldn't mind a change of name to the Washington Towel Heads or the Washington Camel Jockeys. Let's face it, {Washington football team} is a perverse name for an athletic team. Some traditions should be respected; others discarded. Discard this one and let's move into the 21st century. And I like Chap Peterson, but he is wrong on this one as others have pointed out.

Jim Robinson · Top Commenter · Richmond, Virginia

I vote for the Camel Jockeys. Just think of having camel races at half time and fried sheep eyes for snacks.
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