The Washington Redskins' official Twitter account tried a new social media strategy on Thursday: trolling Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.). Reid is one of many who believe the team's controversial name is offensive to Native Americans and should be changed. Presumably hoping to get diehard Redskins fans to defend the team name on Twitter, those running the account posted a hashtag and urged the franchise's supporters to tell Reid what the moniker means to them.
It didn't take long for it to backfire.
Here's the tweet:
Here's just a sampling of some of the tweets that followed, ripping the team and its campaign.
Sad I can't support my home team RT @Redskins: Tweet @SenatorReid to show your #RedskinsPride and tell him what the team means to you.
— sarah (@sarahrodeo) May 29, 2014
This was probably a bad idea! RT @Redskins: Tweet @SenatorReid to show your #RedskinsPride
— chrismchaines (@chrismchaines) May 29, 2014
Who thought this up? #smh --> RT @Redskins: Tweet @SenatorReid to show your #RedskinsPride and tell him what the team means to you.
— Cameron Brenchley (@chbrenchley) May 29, 2014
The team's name is racist, Mr. Senator RT @Redskins: Tweet @SenatorReid to show your #RedskinsPride and tell him what the team means to you.
— Bill (@bflip33) May 29, 2014
.@Redskins @SenatorReid first thing that comes to mind is that rich sports team owners got no shame if they think their wallet's in danger
— Jonathan Bernhardt (@jonbernhardt) May 29, 2014
UPDATE: Reid's digital director, Faiz Shakir, told Dan Steingberg of the Washington Post that the Redskins' Twitter campaign "really made our day."
What we saw was a collective, overwhelming outpouring that was heavily critical of the team. I hope that causes the organization to reflect on why that occurred," Shakir said.