The Washington Post's Dana Milbank apparently thinks President Obama is not allowed to answer questions about sports while the GOP hostage taking continues.
October 6, 2013

I don't know about anyone else, but I'm really tired of these beltway Villagers deciding what is and is not appropriate for President Obama to be weighing in on or answering questions about, just because the Republicans have decided to stage another self-inflicted crisis on our government.

No amount of grandstanding by Republicans is ever too much. No topic is considered "off limits" for them, but President Obama is expected to continually tread lightly as not to harm the delicate sensibilities of everyone around him at all times.

Here's Dana Milbank doing just that on this Sunday's Face the Nation over President Obama's comments that he'd think about changing the name of the Washington Redskins.

SCHIEFFER: I -- I want to play something here. I almost forgot about this. The president was asked during an interview if he thought the Washington Redskins ought to change their name. Here -- and here's what he said.

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: You know, I don't think there are any Redskins fans that mean offense. I've got to say, if I were the owner of the team and I knew that there was a name of my team, even if it had a storied history, that was offending a sizable group of people, I'd think -- I'd think about changing it.

SCHIEFFER: What's your reaction -- reaction to that?

IFILL: I don't cover sports, so I can say...

No, I call it the Washington football team. I don't use the name anymore because I think it's unnecessarily offense and what's the point? I have a lot of friends who are big Washington football team fans who are not happy with me about this.

But I -- I just don't understand what the point is. I know it's a nickname. What's the point?

SCHIEFFER: What about you, Dana?

MILBANK: Needless to say, he's on the front page of my newspaper with those remarks this morning. I think it's a fine point that the president should not be making in the middle of a crisis.

IFILL: It was the last question in an interview...

Got that Mr. President? You're not allowed to answer any questions about sports as long as this GOP hostage taking continues.

h/t David

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