Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada called on the National Football League to change the name of the Washington Redskins as a response to long-standing charges that the name is racially offensive. This move is linked to the example set by the National Basketball Association in penalizing the team owner of the Los Angeles Clippers.

Reid, a Democrat, stated that Redskins owner Daniel Snyder is using tradition as an excuse to retain his team’s name during a Senate speech on Wednesday. Reid has criticized the Redskins’ name in the past, and urged Snyder to “do what is morally right” by changing it immediately. In March, Reid told The Washington Post that he believes the team’s name will be changed within a three-year period.

Its not the governments job to force the Redskins to change its name. If people were really offended you’d see it in a drop in ticket sales

— Logan (@Capt_Morgan1440) April 30, 2014

Somebody please tell me how the Washington redskins name has anything to do with the clippers situation these dumbass people never give up

— Chris Rye (@Chrisrye88) April 30, 2014

Solution to Redskins problem: Keep the warrior logo. Change name to “Washington Americans.” Because… the first Americans. You’re welcome.

— Jonathan Glick (@jonathanglick) April 30, 2014

When it comes to Dan Snyder, money is what keeps Redskins name intact. When it came to Don Sterling, money is what led to his dismissal.

— Drones Are Terrorism (@kim_tastiic) April 30, 2014

Snyder has not showed any signs of heeding the senator’s advice since he declared to USA TODAY last year that he would “never” change his team’s name – not even if he loses a federal trademark case in court. Moreover, Snyder does not share the senator’s sentiments regarding the offensive nature of his team’s name. Prominent Native American organizations have also expressed their outrage over Snyder’s refusal to acknowledge the racial connotation of the name.

Reid praised the NBA’s move to impose a lifetime ban and a $2.5 million fine on Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling, after he made racist remarks that caused a fury of firestorm since becoming public several days ago. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, who issued the penalty, received immense support from other NBA team owners, players, and other individuals connected to the league.

Love the ousting of Donald Sterling. Now could NFL players threaten to boycott if they don’t change the name “Redskins”?

— Scott Stratten (@unmarketing) April 30, 2014

Senator Harry Reid slams @redskins name, again. This name has not caused natives any problems, nor will changing it solve anything.

— No Name Change (@NoNameChange) May 1, 2014

In his speech, the Nevada senator went on to add that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell ought to do something to eliminate this “hateful term” from the league’s vocabulary in order to rid it of “racism and bigotry”.

NFL team owners have yet to react to Snyder’s stance on the Redskins name.

Image via Redskins, Twitter