"I accepted Harry's apology without question and the book is closed"

[impik]

Obama: "Harry Reid called me today and apologized for an unfortunate comment reported today. I accepted Harry's apology without question because I've known him for years, I've seen the passionate leadership he's shown on issues of social justice and I know what's in his heart. As far as I am concerned, the book is closed."



What a great man.

http://www.politico.com/politico44/

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[tabatha]

2. There are far more worse things in this world to worry about....

People should learn from Mandela.

[impik]

5. So you think that he didn't take offense???

For crying out loud, it was about him! People say stupid things and Obama knows Reid for many years. He chose to accept the apology and he's moving on. He doesn't want any distraction in the final stretch of HCR. The ability to forgive makes him a great man, but i understand that for some on the Left, he's going to be a sellout whatever he'll do, no matter the issue.

Oh well.

[LovinLife]

7. I'm sure he was offended, so don't say something else. If he wasn't offended, I would really look at

him different. Good luck when he parades this guy in the black community and he needs votes from them in Nevada. The Dems need to find someone to primary this guy.

[unc70]

59. Obama made a similar statement about himself

Obama described his behavior included not making any unexpected moves that might alarm white people. Various other statements of that type.

In the primaries, he had to avoid being dismissed as the "next Jesse Jackson'. That is why so much was made of him drawing votes from the Reagan Democrats in Iowa. BTW once his viability was established, we started hearing how HRC was going right to appeal to that very group; funny.

[Hekate]

8. So you've decided to be pissed off at Obama because he won't be pissed off at Reid for you...

I like how that works. Do I get to decide who someone else should be mad at, and for what, or does that only work for you?

Hekate

[CTLawGuy]

40. Everything is Obama's fault

NT

[Hekate]

48. So I've noticed. At least someone finally got her pizza.

Maybe she can get together a whole pizza party after awhile. :eyes:

Hekate

[hlthe2b]

10. Obama's demonstration of "grace" is a sellout?

It was a foolish statement by Reid and undoubtedly represents the kind of unfortunate pragmatic attitude that many of his generation might have felt towards the odds of electing a black man as president. IMHO, Obama's response towards it will go much further in making these kind of attitudes unacceptable than any raging that some might support.

[cali]

12. bullshit. Obama looks gracious. What the fuck do you think he should have done, genius?

Demanded Harry's resignation? Called him a bigot? Damn, I get tired of idiocy.

[LovinLife]

15. What ethnicity are u? I really don't expect u to understand. I would love for Mr. Reid to

go to the local black community where he lives and call the first perosn he saw a negro. That really isn't the worst of what he said. He basically called Obama a safe negro that white people don't have to fear. But the rest of them are animals, Obama is civilized. That's exactly how I understood Reid's comments. If I'm in Nevada, I wouldn't vote for him. I wouldn't vote for the GOP, but I'd just stay more than likely.

[ProSense]

17. What a bullshit question.

You are the one who doesn't appear to understand.

These revelations smack of RW politics and an attempt to distract from health care.

Reid screwed up, Obama apologized. No one gives a shit.

[LovinLife]

18. This is why I don't talk race. The more I think things have changed, the more you

realize they're the same. I understand perfectly why I'm pissed about this, and for u to tell me I don't understand and try to sweep it under the rug is even more disgusting. Today is a good day to just step away from the internet. I'm out.

[ProSense]

20. That's your big problem. You're on the fucking Internet

making assumptions about people's race. What race is President Obama, the person who the comment was directed at and who accepted the apology?

"Today is a good day to just stop away from the internet. I'm out."

Hope it helps with your logic.

[cali]

19. It was offensive. why do you think he apologized? duh.

And what he was saying, I believe, is that the white American voter will not vote in sufficient numbers for a candidate that is "too black". I believe he was looking at what he perceives to be political reality and not saying that "the rest of them are animals".

Oh, and I'm white. I still can have an opinion, dear.

[frazzled]

16. Yeah, Obama should go over there and beat Reid up

Oh, yeah ... Reid is a former boxer. Better not do that.

So now you can call him a yellow-bellied sissy, too.

Jeebus. Try to remember Ghandhi, King, even Jesus (though I don't believe in him).

[Cha]

25. Ha! The post got removed.

[Little Star]

3. k&r This apology took from 2008 til now????? n/t

[monmouth]

4. Joe Biden called Obama "clean and articulate." The book closed...n/t

[Bolo Boffin]

6. "Heckuva job, Brownie"

Say goodbye to Harry Reid...

...or rather, make some room for him under the bus.

[Peacetrain]

26. The President could not be more gracious and you accuse him of throwing Reid under the bus???

That is just delusional..

[Bolo Boffin]

28. Somebody put a knife in Reid's back.

This comment was from years ago. Why are we just now hearing about it?

Obama couldn't be more gracious while shifting in fourth gear, I agree. I wonder who Rahm has picked out to replace Reid. At least Lieberman is out of the running, right?

Right?

[hileeopnyn8d]

30. What the fuck are you smoking?

This was in a book written by Mark Halperin, a book that contains a shit-load of unseemly information about the presidential candidates from the primary to the general election, and you think it was all orchestrated by Obama or Rahm?

JFS

The book, in my opinion, is designed to make ALL Democrats look bad. I haven't seen anything earth shattering released about the Republican candidates yet. That is what we should be suspicious of, not turning it around and somehow blaming Obama for a comment he didn't know about until a book was published.

Unbelievable.

[Bolo Boffin]

35. Somebody told Mark Halperin. Who? n/t

[Pirate Smile]

32. It must be Rahm's fault.

:rofl:

[Bolo Boffin]

34. I don't think I said that

I said I wonder who Rahm's got ready to replace him. Subtle difference, but there nonetheless.

eta: You don't think Rahm's got a candidate ready to back when and if Reid goes down? Really?

[cadmium]

38. what has this got to do with Rahm? Do

you know something? Seems like it has to do with Reid and Obama (and hack reporter Halperin) and they are ok with it.

[Bolo Boffin]

61. I'm comparing it to what happened with Trent Lott. n/t

[vaberella]

53. You're conpiracy theory is that Rahm set this up?!

Oh my fuckin' God. I think I sense a migraine coming on. Fine. Rahm is the illumanti---there were thought to be legion---but there was always ONE=Rahm.

[Bolo Boffin]

60. Again, that's not what I said. n/t

[inna]

9. good on Obama, bad on Reid.

what an asshole. :shrug:

[FrenchieCat]

11. The case is closed.....

and those who don't want it to be,
too bad.

If this is about attempting to replace Reid with a Republican,
fuck that shit.

Obama understands politics better than many of us ever will,
and he's not about to give up the majority leader
over what I guess should he his hurt feelings.

Thank God we have a grown up in the White House.

[DeschutesRiver]

21. Ditto. nt

[Better Believe It]

37. Not for me it isn't! Reid does not represent the majority.

Reid's not a majority leader.

He represents the minority of Wall Street sharks, insurance industry, big Pharma and corporate tycoons who run this country.

Not us.

[HughMoran]

41. "Wall Street sharks, insurance industry, big Pharma and corporate tycoons"

The 'pat' language that you throw around - which doesn't actually have any meaning except to slander politicians you disagree with - is the laziest, most pathetic type of argument here.

[Better Believe It]

44. You're right. Any attack on Wall Street and their political whores is uncalled for.

The United States is a classless society. The wealthy have no more political power and influence than working people.

We're all just people who put on our pants on, one leg at a time.

Thanks for your in depth analysis of how this economy and government actually work.

Now let's all join brothers Ben Bernanke and Timothy Geithner and let's show them our love in a nice singalong.

You lead HughMoran!

Ahh one and ahh two and ahh three ......

WE ARE FAMILY!

http://www.songagram.com/A_songAgram_For_You/wearefamily.htm


We are family
I got all my sisters with me
We are family
Come on everybody, sing
Anyone can see we're together
As we walk on by
And
And we fly just like birds of a feather
I won't tell you lie
All of the people around us they say
"Can they be that close"
Just let me state for the record
We're givin' love in a family dose
We are family
Come on everybody, sing
Living life is fun and we've just begun
To get our share
Of this world's delights
High
High hopes we have for the future
And our goal's in sight
No
No, we don't get depressed
Here's what we call our golden rule
Have faith in you and the things you do
You won't go wrong, oh no
This is our family jewel
We are family
I got all my sisters with me
We are family

[HughMoran]

46. Reductive Fallacy, False Dichotomy

Nice try.

[Better Believe It]

57. Mumbo jumbo reply that sidesteps and ignores the facts

That's the best you can do?

[Name removed]

13. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[AVID]

14. K&R

[Dr Fate]

22. We all have to constantly make up excuses or apologize for why Reid sucks. n/t

n/t

[ShortnFiery]

23. Good point! This isn't good reason, but I'd love it if we could fire Harry Reid as majority leader.

:shrug:

[Dr Fate]

27. It's another straw ont he camel's back. Reid must be one of the worst leaders I've ever seen.

We need a true believer, not a "centrist" deceiver.

[Cha]

24. I went to LBN to see what happened ..

and sure enough..Good on President Obama for being the ever classy guy he is and..Reid..not so much.

He's the one who said in the beginning of Obama's term that he didn't work for Obama..which I thought was a bit gratuitous.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/07/harry-reid-i-dont-work-fo_n_155838.html

[struggle4progress]

29. ... "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," Reid said in his apology ... The book also says Reid urged Obama to run for president, perceiving the freshman senator's impatience in Congress ... Steve Schmidt, a senior adviser to McCain, is quoted telling Palin's foreign policy tutors: "You guys have a lot of work to do. She doesn't know anything." While flying home to Alaska to see her son off to war, she told her team: "I wish I'd paid more attention to this stuff" ... http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/09/harry-reid-negro-comment-_n_417406.html

[krawhitham]

31. No Drama Obama

even if he is pissed we will never know it

[Cha]

33. We know it a

little bit but this is nothing as you know. Not even a blip on the radar.

[TicketyBoo]

51. I know.

Don't you just love it? (I do.)

[Better Believe It]

36. Obama may have to accept Reid's lame apology but we don't have to!

Reid's apology was required. Had he not made a formal apology his political career would be over and done with.

I think the guy is a bigot and hasn't dropped his old Mormon racist values.

[Enrique]

39. why bring Mormon into it?

that comment could have been said by anyone of any religion.

Anyway, I don't think you're bigoted against Mormons. I just think you're trying to stir shit up about dems.

[Better Believe It]

42. Because Mormon leaderships political ideology is reactionary on many issues.

It''s not just a christian religion. Look at their operation against Gay Rights legislation in California and look at their Senatorial representatives in Utah .... the most right-wing state in the United States. Their most effective political spokesperson is Mitt Romney.

Do you also think the right-wing christian fundamentalist organizations are just as harmless and should not be subject to criticism?

[Enrique]

43. none of that has anything to do with what Reid said

the attitudes Reid expressed are common in people of all faiths and people of no faith.

[Better Believe It]

45. It was obviously a racist comment. Do you talk that way about Black people?

Do your political associates and friends talk that way about Black people or President Obama?

I'd say that's unlikely.

Do DU'ers talk that way about President Obama including those who have policy disagreements with him?

No!

And why is that?

Because we're not bigots.

I don't accept Reid's apology as sincere. How can the person who heads up the Democratic Party in the Senate talk in those terms?
One who have never left their bigoted Mormon leadership training behind them.

[Enrique]

49. I've seen much worse at DU

that comment by Reid showed he had some condescending attitudes about black people, but he didn't mean any harm and he was actually trying to compliment Obama.

Racism is a million times worse when you use race to attack people, when you use it AGAINST political opponents. I've seen that here against Michael Steele and especially against Clarence Thomas.

And I call bullshit on the Mormon thing. Biden's comment was worse, did you say it's because of Catholicism? I'm sure Catholic haters could come up with proof that Catholic leadership is bigoted.

[vaberella]

54. I'd have to agree with you on this. However, I think I unerstand what BBI is saying.

Shocker of all shockers. I believe in mormon doctrine there is an underlying racism. It's believed, if I'm not mistaken that Blacks are inherently, not to say evil, but damned. They are not able to be saved and in essence lesser beings. It's always been implied there is a racist tinge.

But then again...Columbus' spread of Christianity in the New World---could be seen as heavily racist as well.

[cherokeeprogressive]

50. Harry Reid is a Mormon from Nevada. It's almost expected that he'd say what he said.

Not many people of color in Searchlight, NV... Its current population is 95% white and the population is less than 1% African American. 576 residents. Do the math. What's really stupid on his part is for him to have said what he did to someone who'd repeat it to someone else.

You can't tell me that people like Harry Reid don't use racial epithets when they KNOW there isn't a chance in hell of it being repeated outside the room. Well, you can tell me, but don't think me so stupid as to believe it.

I have acquaintances in/from the south (AND the northeast for that matter) AND Mormon who are true-blue Democrats with a capital D and don't hesitate to toss the word nigger around like it was a frisbee.

Lots of Mormons, lots of people from the south, and lots of nor'easters can be considered to be bigoted, AND at the same time believe themselves to be "Good Democrats". They can live in states that are so blue they could be called NAVY blue, and be bigoted but still believe they're good Democrats. To think otherwise means you've either never been to the south, the northeast, or never known any Mormons.

Way go go Harry, you dick.

[eleny]

47. It takes a big person

And a side benefit - his forgiveness gives the right wing aggravation.

[Name removed]

52. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[vaberella]

55. Woah. You're a special type of petty aren't you? n/t

[katkat]

56. I can't believe anyone in DU is wasting their time on this.

Healthcare? Wars? Gay rights? Huge Wall Street Bailout with 7-8 figure bonuses coming? And you idiots are chasing after a media/Repig rabbit.

[potone]

58. Obama's reply was the only possible response he could make.

That doesn't mean that other people shouldn't be offended. I dislike Reid for other reasons, but this certainly doesn't help. I wish he weren't the majority leader.

[Sultana]

62. Obama may have accepted Reid's apology...but I won't

Racist piece of shite needs to GTFO!

[Adelante]

63. Gracious as always

:thumbsup: