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President Barack Obama waded into the controversy over the Washington professional football team, telling the Associated Press that would consider eliminating the racist mascot.

"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 sizeable group of people, I’d think about changing it,” Obama told the AP.

Obama, an avid sports fan, is the first sitting president to discuss the controversial issue. His comments come as the owner of the team, Dan Snyder, faces increased pressure to get rid of a symbol that nearly every major Indian organization has determined to be offensive.

“Any other group or ethnic group would not tolerate this kind of language being used about them that’s so denigrating and dehumanizing,” Oneida Nation Representative Ray Halbritter, who is leading a media campaign against the name, said on Meet the Press on Sunday.

As part of the tribe's Change the Mascot campaign, the tribe is hosting a symposium about the mascot in Washington, D.C., today.

Get the Story:
Obama says he’d think of changing Washington Redskins name if he were the NFL team’s owner (AP 10/5)
President Obama says, ‘I’d think about changing’ name of Washington Redskins (The Washington Post 10/6)
Obama: ‘I’d think about changing’ Washington Redskins team name (The Washington Post 10/6)
Obama Points to ‘Legitimate Concerns’ Over Redskins’ Name (The New York Times 10/6)
Oneida Nation’s Ray Halbritter on 'Meet the Press' for Redskins Controversy (Indian Country Today 10/6)

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Opinion: Broadcasters must take stand against racist mascot (10/4)
Oneida Nation to host symposium on racist NFL mascot in DC (10/3)
Column: Washington team name leaves stain on our culture (09/30)
Opinion: Addressing the harmful effects of Washington mascot (09/27)
Washington football franchise considered third most valuable (09/25)
Protesters call on end to racist mascot in professional sports (09/16)
Editorial: Listen to fans who hate use of racial slur as mascot (9/13)
NFL commissioner appears to shift position on racist mascot (9/12)
Oneida Nation council member backs protest against R-word (9/11)
Tribal members in Wisconsin to protest R-word at next game (9/10)
Opinion: What happens when ESPN refuses to use the R-word? (9/9)
Column: It's time for Washington football team to drop mascot (9/6)
Oneida Nation launching ad campaign against use of racial slur (9/5)
Mike Wise: Playing 'Injun' isn't an act for 72-year-old football fan (9/4)