Media Duck and Cover, Ignore WashPost Poll on Native Americans Not Being Offended by ‘Redskins’

May 24th, 2016 2:36 PM

The Washington Post released late Thursday for Friday’s print edition a surprising poll that 90 percent of Native Americans were not offended by the term “redskins” which dealt the apologist liberal media a massive blow in their quest to force the NFL’s Washington Redskins to change their name. 

In the days since, the “big three” networks of ABC, CBS, and NBC saw no reason to inform their viewers of this survey that was a blow to their narrative that such terminology is not only offensive but extremely hateful.

On the cable networks front, CNN has not covered it on their airwaves whereas the Fox News Channel has discussed on multiple programs ranging from Fox & Friends to Special Report with Bret Baier

MSNBC gave next to no time on the Redskins poll, but in a somewhat miraculous turn, Hardball host Chris Matthews was the lone soul who broke ranks to spend roughly 35 seconds of his May 20 program on the findings. 

“Well, there`s been a lot of public controversy lately over the name of the football team here in Washington, the Redskins. Now, a new poll by The Washington Post found that nine in ten Native Americans say they aren`t offended by the Redskins` name,” Matthews revealed.

Upon explaining the parameters of The Post’s survey, Matthews also noted that the NFL team has been “in a legal battle...with the Federal Trademark Office over whether the name was offensive” with President Obama voicing his personal preference for a name change

“But team owner Dan Snyder celebrated the results of The Post poll and continues to say the Redskins name will never change,” Matthews concluded. 

While the major broadcast networks didn’t cover it on their morning or evening newscasts, ABC relegated the findings to their 4:00 a.m. news program America This Morning. Co-host Kendis Gibson read the following in a 20-second news brief: 

A new Washington Post poll found that 90 percent of native Americans are not offended by the Washington Redskins name and an overwhelming majority considering it an unimportant issue. The Redskins owner that you saw there, Dan Snyder, has maintained he won't change the name which, once again, became a prominent issue since the 2012 season.

Turning lastly to print publications (other than The Post), the Los Angeles Times and USA Today both have published one story each on their websites while The New York Times has done the same with theirs appearing on page one of Sunday’s print edition.

The relevant portion of the transcript form MSNBC’s Hardball on May 20 can be found below.

MSNBC’s Hardball
May 20, 2016
7:47 p.m. Eastern

CHRIS MATTHEWS: Well, there`s been a lot of public controversy lately over the name of the football team here in Washington, the Redskins. Now, a new poll by The Washington Post found that nine in ten Native Americans say they aren`t offended by the Redskins` name, aren`t offended. The Post surveyed Native Americans in all 50 states over a five-month period ending last month. The Redskins are in a legal battle right now with the Federal Trademark Office over whether the name was offensive. Even President Obama said the team should think about changing it. But team owner Dan Snyder celebrated the results of The Post poll and continues to say the Redskins name will never change.