Harry Reid Said What?!?!?!?! Calls Obama "Light Skinned" and "No Negro Dialect"

• Writerbuckeye

  

  Swamp Fox wrote: For the record, I was not happy with Trent Lott's reference to the need to go back to a time of segregation and hatred and all the other things associated with "the old" Strom Thurmond. I oppose those kinds of beliefs regardless of who is speaking. I think old Trent was in a spot where he felt like he needed to say something nice about the "old days" and frankly blew it. In the final analysis, what we have are two poeple from opposite sides of the political spectrum who both said incredibly stupid things in public. The way I see it, we can all continue to argue over who is less wrong, or we can act like adults and get past all the rhetoric on both sides, forget about it and move on, with the interests of the country holding sway over who's more right and less wrong between Lott and Reid. Frankly....who cares?

  The issue isn't Lott and Reid -- it's the total hypocrisy of Obama and the rest of the left.
• fish82

  

  cbus4life wrote: He isn't getting a pass on this at all, so can't really use the whining about the media thing, here.
  
  But, at least your wives/husbands can get some rest for the next few days, as you all are getting off pretty well on your own mentioning media bias again.

  Compared to Lott, he most certainly fucking is. To say otherwise speaks ill of your observational powers I'm afraid.
• Writerbuckeye

  

  Having watched the news tonight, I saw NOTHING that would resemble Reid being taken to task for his comments.
  
  Not. Even. Close.
• IggyPride00

  

  Dingy Harry in his post as Majority leader is the best thing the Republicans have going for them.
  
  He is one of the worst and most ineffective Majority leaders of all time, replacing him and putting someone competent in his place seems like it would do more harm than good.
• Hesston

  

  ou1980 wrote: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100109/ap_on_el_se/us_obama_reid
  
  Its time to resign Harry!! Pathetic comment and racist in tone! But rest assured folks, he will get away with it!!
  
  And just to ponder: "If John Boehner or any other House or Senate Republican would have said this..."
  
  Mark my words, WE WILL SEE THE DOUBLE STANDARD IN WASHINGTON WITH THIS!!!

  Agree with all of the above.
  Harry Reid is an idiot, and while I'm at it so is Nancy Pelosi oh and Feinstein, Barney Franks falls into this catagory as well.
  I guess I'm rambling now so I better quit, but there are more.
• Ghmothwdwhso

  I'm confused. Weren't these comments made 1.5+ years ago? If so, why is it news now, if it was 1.5+ years ago, why wasn't it news then?
  
  Two questions. Thanks.
• CenterBHSFan

  

  Ghmothwdwhso wrote: I'm confused. Weren't these comments made 1.5+ years ago? If so, why is it news now, if it was 1.5+ years ago, why wasn't it news then?
  
  Two questions. Thanks.

  
  Probably wouldn't have been good for the democratic campaigning going on.
• Ghmothwdwhso

  CenterBHSFan wrote:

  Ghmothwdwhso wrote: I'm confused. Weren't these comments made 1.5+ years ago? If so, why is it news now, if it was 1.5+ years ago, why wasn't it news then?
  
  Two questions. Thanks.

  
  Probably wouldn't have been good for the democratic campaigning going on.

  Exactly, H is a slave to Reid and Polosi.
• believer

  

  cbus4life wrote: He isn't getting a pass on this at all, so can't really use the whining about the media thing, here.
  
  But, at least your wives/husbands can get some rest for the next few days, as you all are getting off pretty well on your own mentioning media bias again.

  A. Leftist media bias exists and needs to be mentioned over and over until the problem is corrected. B. From what I see, the state-run media is barely slapping Reid with a wet noodle on this thing.
  
  Rest assured if Reid were Republican, the media would be having a field day with this issue.
• tcby99

  Little Danny wrote: He will get a pass for sure. If it were a Republican his career would be over, a lawsuit would be filed by the NAACP and ACLU, Rev. Al would call for a boycot of Las Vegas, the media would compare the man to Hitler, the Hollywood types would trash him every change they got and all of the above would call for his impeachment from office. He would resign in shame.

  Amen!!!!
• majorspark

  

  Ghmothwdwhso wrote: I'm confused. Weren't these comments made 1.5+ years ago? If so, why is it news now, if it was 1.5+ years ago, why wasn't it news then?
  
  Two questions. Thanks.

  No doubt the reason this comes out now is politiically motivated. Reid is trailing in the polls. I'm sure there have been suggestions from within his own party, that he take one for the team and allow another democrat who is more popular the chance to preserve the seat. Reid is arrogant so I doubt he sees it this way.
  
  This move reeks of the democrat party because of its timing. It comes out at a time when there is still opportunity to get someone else on the ballot and put a strong campaign together. If it were the repulicans it would be most advantageous for it to come out in the last couple of weeks of October.
• nmeccc

  ccrunner609 wrote: It would be interesting if Al or Jesse comes out on this one.

  Never happen! They only see red and blue, not black and white!
• cbus4life

  fish82 wrote:

  cbus4life wrote: He isn't getting a pass on this at all, so can't really use the whining about the media thing, here.
  
  But, at least your wives/husbands can get some rest for the next few days, as you all are getting off pretty well on your own mentioning media bias again.

  Compared to Lott, he most certainly fucking is. To say otherwise speaks ill of your observational powers I'm afraid.

  Ok...all i know is that i've been able to read about it and none are painting him in a good light...i've read the NYT, Washington Post, etc., etc.
  
  Not like no one is talking about it.
  
  You guys have every right to complain, as i've said numerous times. There is media bias, and i can see it, plain as day, in most things.
  
  But, in this case, i'm not really seeing it from "mainstream" media.
  
  Yea, maybe the commentators/comedians/etc., aren't jumping all over it, but i've been seeing plenty of coverage everywhere else, none of which is making excuses for the comments.
  
  There is bias, yes, but in this instance, i don't think it is huge.
• Prescott

  According to The Columbus Dispatch, the Democratic Party Chairman.Tim Caine, said of Reid's remarks that they were "clearly in the context of praising[Obama]".
  
  Can someone explain to me exactly how Reid's remarks are praise? If not, Caine should be sanctioned in some way.
• cbus4life

  Prescott wrote: According to The Columbus Dispatch, the Democratic Party Chairman.Tim Caine, said of Reid's remarks that they were "clearly in the context of praising[Obama]".
  
  Can someone explain to me exactly how Reid's remarks are praise? If not, Caine should be sanctioned in some way.

  He should just stop.
  
  Though, i do understand his line of reasoning, but just completely disagree with it.
  
  And, Reid may have been praising Obama, but that in turn also says that Reid has dormant racist views, as saying that he's a better candidate because he has "lighter" skin implies that he doesn't think a candidate with "darker" skin is a good candidate.
  
  Reid's views are eerily similar to colonialist views of Africans, of putting "lighter" skinned locals in positions of power, etc. The "more European looking" Africans were viewed as superior. Hell, you could blame that for the Rwandan genocide.
  
  Why can't the Dems just admit that it was a terrible comment, call him out on it, and move on? No sense defending him, IMO.
• RedRider1

  

  Little Danny wrote: He will get a pass for sure. If it were a Republican his career would be over, a lawsuit would be filed by the NAACP and ACLU, Rev. Al would call for a boycot of Las Vegas, the media would compare the man to Hitler, the Hollywood types would trash him every change they got and all of the above would call for his impeachment from office. He would resign in shame.

  Dont forget the requisite Oliver Stone and Michael Moore movies.
• Writerbuckeye

  

  majorspark wrote:

  Ghmothwdwhso wrote: I'm confused. Weren't these comments made 1.5+ years ago? If so, why is it news now, if it was 1.5+ years ago, why wasn't it news then?
  
  Two questions. Thanks.

  No doubt the reason this comes out now is politiically motivated. Reid is trailing in the polls. I'm sure there have been suggestions from within his own party, that he take one for the team and allow another democrat who is more popular the chance to preserve the seat. Reid is arrogant so I doubt he sees it this way.
  
  This move reeks of the democrat party because of its timing. It comes out at a time when there is still opportunity to get someone else on the ballot and put a strong campaign together. If it were the repulicans it would be most advantageous for it to come out in the last couple of weeks of October.

  Okay, this is a little too tin foil hat for me -- I think the timing is not that surprising since it coincides with the release of a book on political campaigns. This is about selling books, nothing else.
  
  That said, it doesn't excuse the comment or the hypocritical reaction.
• Upper90

  I don't like the comments.
  
  I don't like the reaction.
  
  I namely dislike the "No Negro Dialect" part of it, as I've had a few old(er) white people tell me, and think nothing OF telling me, that I "don't talk black".
  
  And, I mean, I don't want the guy lampooned, and I often think that a line has to be drawn when it comes to these things, as the lynch mobs (no pun) come out heavily. BUT, I can't dig some dems passing this off as "no big deal".
• BCSbunk

  ou1980 wrote: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100109/ap_on_el_se/us_obama_reid
  
  Its time to resign Harry!! Pathetic comment and racist in tone! But rest assured folks, he will get away with it!!
  
  And just to ponder: "If John Boehner or any other House or Senate Republican would have said this..."
  
  Mark my words, WE WILL SEE THE DOUBLE STANDARD IN WASHINGTON WITH THIS!!!

  What is the context of these comments? Without knowing the context those are not racist in the slightest.
  
  What now if you use descriptives dark skinned, light skinned, no negro dialect to describe people you are a racist?
  
  Totally ridiculous.
• superman

  BCSbunk wrote:

  ou1980 wrote: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100109/ap_on_el_se/us_obama_reid
  
  Its time to resign Harry!! Pathetic comment and racist in tone! But rest assured folks, he will get away with it!!
  
  And just to ponder: "If John Boehner or any other House or Senate Republican would have said this..."
  
  Mark my words, WE WILL SEE THE DOUBLE STANDARD IN WASHINGTON WITH THIS!!!

  What is the context of these comments? Without knowing the context those are not racist in the slightest.
  
  What now if you use descriptives dark skinned, light skinned, no negro dialect to describe people you are a racist?
  
  Totally ridiculous.

  The context was that he would make a better candidate because he was light skinned and didn't use "Negro dialect."
• Little Danny

  

  I think Reid's comments were akin to the comments penned by David Ehrenstein (himself bi-racial by the way) in a Los Angeles Times op ed column of March 19, 2007. if you recall he referred to Obama as "Barack the Magic Negro" (later lampooned and credited to Rush Limbaugh). According to Ehrenstein, the magical Negro is a non threatening black hero in the popular media, usually the cinema, who was invented to ease feelings of white guilt over slavery and racial injustice. He is noble and devoid of sexual motives, and appears suddenly, out of nowhere, to magically solve the problems of white people.
  
  If black and white americans face reality, the truth of the matter is there is some truth to what Reid said. The fact that Obama is a light skinned African American male who speaks in a manner pleasing to white people helped him secure the votes of many white people who would not have been as comfortable voting for someone with a darker complexion or who spoke not as eloquently (in the Limbaugh skit, Al Sharpton).
  
  However, the issue at large is the notion in this country that prejudice and sterotypes are traits only of the right and how the mainstream media and academia perpetuate this myth.
• QuakerOats

  Little Danny wrote: He will get a pass for sure. If it were a Republican his career would be over, a lawsuit would be filed by the NAACP and ACLU, Rev. Al would call for a boycot of Las Vegas, the media would compare the man to Hitler, the Hollywood types would trash him every change they got and all of the above would call for his impeachment from office. He would resign in shame.

  Exactly, but ................................. when you're a democrat, its different.
  
  More ........................................................ change we can believe in....
• BoatShoes

  I have to say...I don't think he's gotten a pass on it and I'm tired of hearing about it personally. I'm sure the right will think he should get it way worse and the left will say he's nothing like Trent Lott blah blah. I didn't realize at first that he'd said this and then it was printed in a book. I mean, eh, I think people ought to be able to say whatever the hell they want. It's about time we get politicians who call a spade a spade. This was not a politically correct statement...and those on the right are supposed to hate political correctness anyways....He's a kooky 70 somethin year old man...it's weird he used the word "negro"...but hey...the essence of what he said was true...BHO was the perfect "black guy" to sell white america because he's not as dark as midnight and he don't speak jive, ya dig?
  
  Chris Rock's been sayin the same thing for years. And no, I don't think Senators and Reps should be any different...I don't personally care if they speak as fowly or as offensively as comedians, etc.
  
  I thought Juan Williams on O'Reilly tonight had some good insight on it.
• majorspark

  

  BoatShoes wrote: I have to say...I don't think he's gotten a pass on it and I'm tired of hearing about it personally. I'm sure the right will think he should get it way worse and the left will say he's nothing like Trent Lott blah blah. I didn't realize at first that he'd said this and then it was printed in a book. I mean, eh, I think people ought to be able to say whatever the hell they want. It's about time we get politicians who call a spade a spade. This was not a politically correct statement...and those on the right are supposed to hate political correctness anyways....He's a kooky 70 somethin year old man...it's weird he used the word "negro"...but hey...the essence of what he said was true...BHO was the perfect "black guy" to sell white america because he's not as dark as midnight and he don't speak jive, ya dig?
  
  Chris Rock's been sayin the same thing for years. And no, I don't think Senators and Reps should be any different...I don't personally care if they speak as fowly or as offensively as comedians, etc.
  
  I thought Juan Williams on O'Reilly tonight had some good insight on it.

  For the most part I agree. In my initial post on this thread I chalked it up to arrogance not any racist intent. I found Juan's comments fair as well. In the next few months, once the "healthcare" bill is settled, I see Harry Reid finding the need to spend more time with his family.
• fish82

  

  BoatShoes wrote: I have to say...I don't think he's gotten a pass on it and I'm tired of hearing about it personally. I'm sure the right will think he should get it way worse and the left will say he's nothing like Trent Lott blah blah. I didn't realize at first that he'd said this and then it was printed in a book. I mean, eh, I think people ought to be able to say whatever the hell they want. It's about time we get politicians who call a spade a spade. This was not a politically correct statement...and those on the right are supposed to hate political correctness anyways....He's a kooky 70 somethin year old man...it's weird he used the word "negro"...but hey...the essence of what he said was true...BHO was the perfect "black guy" to sell white america because he's not as dark as midnight and he don't speak jive, ya dig?
  
  Chris Rock's been sayin the same thing for years. And no, I don't think Senators and Reps should be any different...I don't personally care if they speak as fowly or as offensively as comedians, etc.
  
  I thought Juan Williams on O'Reilly tonight had some good insight on it.

  Mostly agreed. In fact, the statement itself was probably factually correct. And if you look at the Reid incident by itself, then yes, he hasn't received a complete pass on it.
  
  It's when you place it next to the Lott episode that the hypocrisy and comparative "pass" become glaringly apparent.