The co-host of Fox & Friends on Monday made it clear that they disagreed with those who saw the name of the Washington "Redskins" NFL football team as a slur.
During his commentary at halftime of the game between the Washington football team and the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, NBC announcer Bob Costas said it was time to change the name, which he called an "insult" and a "slur."
"Ask yourself what the equivalent would be, if directed toward African-Americans, Hispanics, Asians, or members of any other ethnic group," Costas explained. "When considered that way, 'Redskins' can’t possibly honor a heritage, or noble character trait, nor can it possibly be considered a neutral term. It’s an insult, a slur, no matter how benign the present-day intent."
On Monday morning, Fox & Friends co-hosts Steve Doocy, Elisabeth Hasselbeck and Brian Kilmeade reacted to Costas by opining that there were not enough people offended to warrant a name change.
Doocy pointed out that President Barack Obama had recently said that he would consider changing the naming if a "sizeable group of people" were offended.
"Is a sizable group of people, are they offended?" Doocy asked, noting that Washington Redskins attorney Lanny Davis had insisted that only 5 percent of fans were opposed the name and only 10 percent of Native Americans were offended.
"Here's my question, they've been the Redskins for 81 years, why is everyone offended now?" Kilmeade wondered.
"Well, a lot of people were asking that same thing about Bob Costas," Hasselbeck chimed in. "Over 30 years in the business, has he spoken up and said anything before last night?"
For his part, Kilmeade defended Costas' right to speak out on the subject.
"I just don't agree with him here," Kilmeade said. "If you did this in 1977 when he broke in, when he was in the ABA calling play-by-play -- 'By the way, I'm offended by the Redskins' -- then I agree."
"For those Native Americans, if you feel that way, why now?" the Fox News host added.
Watch this video from Fox News' Fox & Friends, broadcast Oct. 14, 2013.
