Reid Apologizes for Private Remarks on Obama- "light-skinned" African American "w/ no Negro dialect"

[jefferson_dem]

Ouch!

Reid Apologizes for Private Remarks on Obama

Senate Majority Harry Reid (D-NV) apologize for privately referring to Barack Obama early in his presidential campaign as a "light-skinned" African American "with no Negro dialect," as recounted in the forthcoming book Game Change.

Reid's statement: "I deeply regret using such a poor choice of words. I sincerely apologize for offending any and all Americans, especially African Americans, for my improper comments. I was a proud and enthusiastic supporter of Barack Obama during the campaign and have worked as hard as I can to advance President Obama's legislative agenda."

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2010/01/09/reid_apologizes_for_private_remarks_on_obama.html?utm_medium=pwire.us-twitter&utm_source=direct-pwire.us&utm_content=site-basic

[Parker CA]

1. Ouch.

[jefferson_dem]

3. That shit ain't spinnable.

Reid probably would love to do this -> :hide: <- right about now

[seeinfweggos]

2. that's awkward

[tishaLA]

4. "light skinned" is appropriate. "no negro dialect" though?

Negro, please!

[PearliePoo2]

18. using "negro" sets Harry's age......doesn't it?

Yes, light skinned may be accurate....but why did he even go there?
Now he will apologize 'til the cows come home because everyone is so outraged.
Just as everyone was so "outraged" by LimpButt's description of Obama as a "Half-Rican".
They sure were lining up demanding an apology from him, weren't they???
just in case this is needed :sarcasm:

[vaberella]

50. How is "light skinned" appropriate?! Do you know how problematic colorization is w/i the culture?

nt

[debbierlus]

5. Not surprising - they were looking upon him as a product to sell

The type of words one expects to hear when they reduce a person to a brand. Assess and describe how they will play and fit into their sales pitch to 'mainstream' Americans (ie racists).

[Igel]

46. Of course they were.

You can be that Hillary was likewise viewed as a product. That when Obama or Clinton was in the room with their campaigners it was very similar to marketing. What are the strengths? The negatives? How to play to their strengths, hit the other candidate on his/her negatives while reducing the impact of their own.

A lot of the rhetoric was openly like this. He just said behind what closed doors what others were saying behind closed doors--the difference being that he got quoted. Ultimately you have to sell a candidate, if you're the campaign manager; or, if you're the candidate, you have to sell yourself.

Take for instance the branding that Obama came up with. A nice logo, a nice slogan; buttons and billboards and advertisements. When it came to experience, he had less than most, but managed to convince many that running a campaign was all the experience necessary--something that just about any campaigner could say. He had bands open for him--just as a top marketer at a convention would have.

How is this not marketing? Even when considering the issues Obama (and all the rest) were sensitive to the latest buzzword on the left for marketing: Framing. Lakoff repackaged in new terminology Madison Avenue, without learning from Madison Avenue's failures. (Still, it was a neat rebranding and selling of stale merchandise with minimal upgrading.)

[alsame]

6. Yikes. And this is coming from our side.

[RC]

16. "our side"?

The republicans have so infiltrated and intimated the Democrats that it is hard to tell the difference anymore.

[alsame]

17. True, but I'm still shocked that the Dem Majority Leader would

say things like this. Out loud.

[nightrain]

7. knr. wow. That's just a horrible initial statement... Thanks for posting!

[MinneapolisMatt]

8. Ugh.

I didn't know about this. GROSS!

[Forkboy]

9. Jesus.

:crazy:

[krispos42]

10. "Negro dialect"

Yikes.



We'd better take up a fund to send Reid some spackle so he can fill in the palm-shaped impression in his forehead.


ETA:


I wonder what, exactly, he means by "Negro dialect". Modern urban? 19th-century slave patois? Jamacian?

[Eric Condon]

36. This?

[GreenPartyVoter]

47. Ah. Time for some jive talk.

[Arrowhead2k1]

11. *facepalm*

[Lilyeye]

12. This pisses me off! Esp since it came from our side.

[monmouth]

13. Inexcusable. I wonder about many things re Harry. But this???...n/t

[Sanity Claws]

14. What world does he live in?

I really could not imagine anyone saying something like that, except if he lived in the deep South.

[Lilyeye]

15. Believe me, this stuff isn't just said in the deep south.

[Triana]

19. Just 'cause we've got a Black President now doesn't mean racism is dead

It isn't - FAR from it.

And I certainly hope no one thinks it is.

[AspenRose]

24. And it SURE doesn't mean it's limited to just republicans.

How sad is it that for every Barack and Michelle Obama, Eric Holder, Colin Powell, Condoleeza Rice, Barbara Jordan, Susan Rice, Valerie Jarrett, James Earl Jones, Bill Cosby, Sidney Poitier, Michael Steele (yes, even him) ...gosh, I could go on...white people STILL default to thinking all black people sound like they're from the "hood," and act so SHOCKED when that's not the case. :banghead:

(Ditto for Hispanics who (surprise!) don't sound like Desi Arnaz or Speedy Gonzales. "Man, they sure speak English well." Aaaargh!)

[Karenina]

30. BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

Well, obviously few ;-) have noticed O-Man's distinctive registers, depending on his audience. Obviously Henry had and put that on his list of positives. The register switch was a survival tactic for me. (As a teenie I was physically attacked because of my speech patterns. It was NOT fun.)

I'm not in the least disturbed by Reid's expressions. Can you imagine the references in other quarters about the invasion of the ingenue? Oh to be a fly on the wall! :rofl::rofl::rofl:

[hileeopnyn8d]

37. I agree with every single word you said!

The past couple of years have really been eye opening. And maybe it's just me, but I have had it with people whose sole reaction to the President speaking, is to call him arrogant. There is a reason that word is used so often, but don't anyone dare to actually say why.

[Hippo_Tron]

64. Speedy Gonzales, you mean Rapid Dave right?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HY0VTXLPHNo

[RichGirl]

58. You are absolutely right....racism is alive and well.

But doesn't jumping on the things Reid said dilute real, true, hateful racism? Seems like he was making an observation that maybe didn't need to be made since it is obvious, but it wasn't hateful. Shouldn't we save our outrage for things like what Imus said???

I've often been told that I don't look German because I'm small/thin and not blue eyed, blonde hair. People have often commented on my parents german accents. I just don't get why these things would be considered racist.

I live in the south. Sometimes I'll point out to a native that they don't sound southern, they talk northern. Just an observation that has never offended anyone. In fact, pointing out a country accent has never offended anyone.

We are all different...what's wrong with noticing?

[ORDagnabbit]

20. I hope Reid resigns. He is pretty useless. n/t

[d_b]

21. is this a joke?

wow.

[impik]

22. Oh man! And Obama supports him with all his power

[jefferson_dem]

23. Nevermind.

Assuming I've misinterpreted your comment.

[DevonRex]

25. Reid "I do not work for ...Obama." "If he steps over the bounds I will tell him." Makes you go hmm

in light of this statement.

He talks about not rubber stamping Obama's goals and ideas. This was either right before or right after the inauguration.

link:

http://content.usatoday.com/topics/post/Surgeon+General/60984084.blog/1

Huffington Post also has a story about it from back then but USA Today's is more comprehensive.

[Diamonique]

26. Feel free to jump all over me for this,

but I actually agree with what Reid said.

No it ain't pretty, but unfortunately that's where this country is at right now.

And when it comes to picking a candidate to run for president, we have to be painfully honest about their chances or opportunities, because it *is* a product that we're trying to sell to the masses. That's politics after all.

Senator Reid was just calling it as he saw it. I know I said the same thing myself when Obama announced his candidacy.

When party leaders aren't honest with themselves about a candidate's pros and cons, they end up with a Sarah Palin. Our party leaders took the blinders off. They knew exactly what they were doing.

I'm a 57-year-old Black woman, and I don't have any problem with Reid for saying that.

YMMV

[DevonRex]

31. See my post right above yours. In that context it DOES make me wonder.

And since Reid has NOT done what Obama asked of him regarding HCR, Reid obviously meant it. Now I wonder why.

And I DO think what Reid said was totally inappropriate.

[Diamonique]

32. Yes I saw your post.

And I understand what you're saying about the HCR thing. I didn't like the statement he made about that.

I still don't have a problem with this recent revelation, though.. simply because I always thought the same thing.

[HipChick]

34. I agree..if anything I might see ignorance rather than racism

[vaberella]

52. I'm tired of people using "ignorance" as an excuse.

Reid is in a position where he can't use "ignorance" as a bloody excuse. He works with Blacks, he's arond them. So excluding Obama does he find his other Black coworkers to have some sort of "negro" dialect? Because he seems to make Obama a special case within the government.

[vaberella]

51. I'm a 29 year old Black woman with a lot of issues on Reid's statement.

And for me to see other Blacks being a bit complacent about this annoys me as well. Because it's that sort of impression we should be fighting against overall.

[mstinamotorcity]

63. Whoa hold on

You are twenty nine. That is relatively young. Most people who are fifty or better are not as offended by the word Negro. For the major part of our lives that is what was in front of us in all paperwork.When we accepted the word Negro we had just gotten from being called colored. I know some of you don't understand why it is that people think that we are giving Harry Reid a pass. We are not giving him a pass for not knowing how to characterize the statement in other words.Ahh but a rose is still a rose.In his time and generation the word Negro was used to describe African Americans. Personally I have always liked being called black.But just as i got comfortable with being called black someone said that it was not politically correct.And was told that I was now considered African American.Look the problem with Harry Reid's comments are that they may now be used against him to put fire in the Democratic Party.This way we will be in fighting like that which has gone on with the health care bill. There is nothing wrong with having an opinion but i think history should always be considered when dealing with issues in ethnic cultures and diversities.The bums that put out the book want to make money.The repugs want to make enemies.Haven't you noticed it was mostly on what Harry Reid has said.And we know that they have said worse during our Presidents campaign.So don't let the media hacks get to you,it is only a ploy to throw us off our game.

[windbreeze]

27. makes me wonder

what good it did to bring this to light?...what purpose did it serve the author?...was this really something we needed to know?...somehow, I don't think so...wb

[Diamonique]

33. That's what I've been wondering about all of these "after-whist" books.

There have been several that supposedly tell the inside stories of things that went on during the campaigns.

Like you I don't think it does any good to bring all that stuff out. Political campaigns are nasty, vicious fights. We all know that. I don't think we need to know the nitty gritty inside details. It only serves to hurt people.

[hileeopnyn8d]

39. The purpose

it serves is to sell books. The book is written by Mark Halperin and John Heilemann and is apparently full of gossip about all the candidates from the primary to the general.

I agree with you though, from what I've seen so far, it serves no other purpose but to make money. There are some personal things in the book that I just really think are better left unspoken, especially when it comes to John and Elizabeth Edwards.

Marc Ambinder has a copy:
http://politics.theatlantic.com/2010/01/the_juiciest_revelations_in_game_change.php

[Diamonique]

40. Agree totally. nt

[Sultana]

28. STEP DOWN MOTHERFUCKER

What a racist!

[Sebastian Doyle]

29. Considering the context of Reid's religious upbringing, it could have been worse

Not so long ago, he might have referred to Obama as a descendant of an angel who was too lazy to fight Satan. (Which was the "traditional" Mormon theology explanation of where the Black race came from.)

[DeschutesRiver]

35. Just when I thought nothing else could make my mouth drop open any further

I mean, WTF? This is one of those days that I am ashamed to be a freaking white person.

Fuck Reid. Who says shit like this, from a position of power? He regrets his "poor choice of words?" How about some regret that he has the thinking ability of a f'g pet rock, and should likely not be in an elected position where he is responsible for making decisions that affect our whole nation? That'd be the WHOLE nation, you know, including those light skinned african americans with no Negro dialects.

Oh geez, just saying that has wound my ass up even tighter. I need to step away from reading news for a minute - I am starting to not want to know what goes on, or at least take a break.

[Freddie Stubbs]

38. Reid's Macaca Moment?

He was already in serious reelection trouble.

[davidpdx]

49. No kidding

I have to wonder if he was taped during the conversation. If that leaks, it makes him look worse. Given there is a high Hispanic population in Nevada, they have to wonder what he says about them. If in mass they decide to vote for someone else or more likely not vote at all, there's the ball game.

[HughMoran]

41. I have a feeling if he loses his re-election bid that few will miss him

...on either side of the aisle. I'd like to have a more robust Majority Leader - this fellow is just too difficult to get excited.

[Honeyporter735]

42. Attack Reid but...

why does Joe Biden get MULTIPLE passes on the same type of behavior?

[onefreespiritedchick]

43. I'm speechelss. n/t

[Dr Fate]

44. Reid is useless. I'm tired of having to make excuses for why he sucks.

n/t

[depakid]

48. I stopped making excuses when his name came up for the position

and warned folks that he'd be sell us all out and look like a fool time and time again.

[formercia]

45. When Harry was in Grade School

Introduction to Sociology was watching 'Song of the South' and 'Birth of a Nation.'..and Mormons thought that dark pigmentation was the 'Mark of Cain.'

[totodeinhere]

56. That's no excuse. Around that same time Robert Byrd was a member of the KKK.

But you don't see Byrd talking that way now. Shame on Harry Reid.

[vaberella]

53. I'm not surprised by any of this.

And there is nothing I can say...His statements are not defensible, there is absolutely no justification or understanding that I can comeup with in order to apologize for his statements. And to be honest, I would never have had the inclination to do such a thing in the first place. This is not surprising because I think many people thought this in power and I'll even go as far as to say I susspect that even soe Afro-Americans may have thought the same----particularly in the "light skinned" section considering how contentious colorization is within the Black community.

Ugh, I'm disgusted.

[OneBlueSky]

54. "such a poor choice of words" . . . yeah, right . . .

whenever someone apologizes for a "poor choice of words," you can be damned sure that the sentiment expressed by those words accurately reflects how he or she feels . . .

[thesquanderer]

55. apologizing

re: ""such a poor choice of words" . . . yeah, right . . ."

I guess he's apologizing for saying Negro instead of Black or African-American

Other than that, he might as well apologize for being honest, which, of course, politicians are not supposed to be.

But the fact is, does anyone not think Obama would have been much harder to elect if he spoke more like Al Sharpton?

We criticize our politicians for not speaking honestly, then pounce on them when they do.

(As an aside, it might not hurt to remember that Negro was a non-bigoted, preferred term for the first 30 or so years of Reid's life. Although I wonder if we should be wondering about Reid's mental capacities, since I believe that reverting to common terminology of one's youth is one symptom of aged dementia/early alzheimer's...)

[totodeinhere]

57. You may have hit on something with the "dementia/early alzheimer's" comment. n/t

[politicasista]

59. More out of ignorance

Very few people use the word "Negro" in the 21st Century.

[Clear Blue Sky]

60. Harry should go sit on a porch somewhere with Trent Lott...nt

[Phx_Dem]

61. Harry, Harry, Harry. Negro? Really?

I don't believe that Reid is a racist, in the true sense of the word (dislikes or feels superiior to blacks). This seems more about racial stereotypes and about Harry Reid being completely out of touch in today's world. Negro? Really Harry? Let me double check my calendar but I'm fairly certain it's not 1950 anymore and the term Negro, while once considered a polite reference, is no longer part of our venacular. Talk about living in a bubble.

As a white person, I'm not in a position to forgive Harry's stupidity, but I am in a position to say . . . cut the ignorant shit, Harry.

That said, Bill Clinton's alleged remark about "getting coffee" is FAR more offensive. That one ain't so much stereotyping as it is flat out racist. After considering Bill's other remarks (and that of some of their staffers/supporters during the compaign), I'm wondering if Bill isn't a closet racist. I'll reserve judgement on that, though, considering Mark Halprin is the source of the report.

[truebrit71]

62. Bye Harry! Don't let the door hit ya were the good Lord split ya!

...What an IDIOT...