Reid apologizes for 'Negro Dialect' comment about Obama

By PHILIP ELLIOT, Associated Press Writer Philip Elliot, Associated Press Writer – 1 hr 12 mins ago

WASHINGTON – The top Democrat in the U.S. Senate apologized on Saturday for comments he made about Barack Obama's race during the 2008 presidential bid and are quoted in a yet-to-be-released book about the campaign.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada described in private then-Sen. Barack Obama as "light skinned" and "with no Negro dialect, unless he wanted to have one." Obama is the nation's first African-American president.

"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," Reid said in a statement released after the excerpts were first reported on the Web site of The Atlantic.

"For nearly 150 years, the Mormon Church had taught that ALL blacks were cursed. Hence, a black Mormon male could not hold the highly regarded LDS." “But let them apostatize, and they will become gray-haired, wrinkled, and black, just like the Devil" (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, vol. 5, p. 332

Read more: http://www.christiandefense.org/mor_black.htm

Bill Clinton on Obama: 'A few years ago, this guy would have been getting us coffee'...

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0110/Teddys_anger.html

Obama in '02: 'The Republican Party itself has to drive out Trent Lott'

Well let's hope the people in 2010 and 2012 have better memories than they did in 2008.

One of my students works for a Republican congresswoman, and he said about 6 months ago that Obama was shaping up to be another Carter and that Republicans in DC were growing hopeful. I dismissed that as wishful thinking. I may have been wrong.

I just finished watching Paul Krugman trying to excuse Harry Reid for his comments because he 'didn't me it that way.' Liz Cheney put him in his place. I found it funny.

And yet if any of us oppose healthcare "reform" because of long lines and waiting times in Canada we're knuckle-dragging racists. Why does this milquetoast little Mormon get a free pass?

OC,

I share your frustration. Joe Biden and Harry Reid can utter their gems (and they are stupid and forgiveable, so I think it is right not to dwell too much on them) and yet any time conservatives oppose Obama we are racist.

It is a double standard and I've heard it verbalized by Bill Maher. When he was asked about Joe Biden's "clean" statement, Maher said something to the effect of "well we know that Biden doesn't REALLY think that way, so it is different from when a Republican says something like that."

The question is when Americans will finally tire of the Democrats' double-standards and deceptions, and I figure it is when unemployment hits 13%.

I can see you are tired of this subject and don't wish to beat it to death. Let me just point out one more observation: (maybe two more)

Harry Reid didn't make "comments" about Obama. He wrote them in a book. They were subject to question by his editors. The comments cannot be retracted or washed away. They remain for all to see.

What Mr. Reid did not say was that African Americans who are dark and have a "negro" dialect are hopelessly lost and will be left behind by society.

To say he did not mean these comments is just silly.

Armon Ayers wrote:Bill Clinton on Obama: 'A few years ago, this guy would have been getting us coffee'...

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0110/Teddys_anger.html

How many blacks, fair-skinned or otherwise, served in Clinton's cabinet--and survived?

OC,

I'm not so much tired of the subject as I am aware of the dangers of playing a game the Dems are darned good at. Reid said (or wrote) something profoundly stupid, but surely we are much more concerned with his socialism than with his verbal foibles?

And yet if any of us oppose healthcare "reform" because of long lines and waiting times in Canada we're knuckle-dragging racists. Why does this milquetoast little Mormon get a free pass?

Why does Willy get to discriminate against gays and unmarried couples?

Religious freedom, bitches.

Yes, TerryRC, and I actually believe in it, unlike you. I think the Mormons should believe as they wish and live their lives accordingly--I do not think I have the right to work for their aid organizations, housing, missionary arms, churches, etc. They are entitled to live out their practice in every way that does not infringe on my life, liberty, or property. As they do not do so (and are not the only source of housing, food, or social services), their first amendment rights are more important than my 'right' to infringe my 'non-mormon ethics' on them.

Just as Cato should have the liberty to live out his faith through what he does with his own property, as should a Nation of islam leader be able to do what he wants with his own property also.

So Utah, for instance, should be able to keep blacks out of public office?

After all, what about the religion of the state majority?

Religious rights are not a carte blanche to treat others like sub-humans.

Utah is a state and not an individual property owner or manager. It is also not a church. So the comparison is not valid.

If Utah wants to go "that way," however, I do not see why anyone of sound mind would wish to stay there. If Utah wants to get wacky, why not let it and let the rest of us stay the heck out of there?

TerryRC wrote:And yet if any of us oppose healthcare "reform" because of long lines and waiting times in Canada we're knuckle-dragging racists. Why does this milquetoast little Mormon get a free pass?

Why does Willy get to discriminate against gays and unmarried couples?

Religious freedom, bitches.

I don't get your point, Terry. Are you saying Reid gets a pass because he's Mormon as opposed to Baptist or Lutheran?

Reid is an idiot who suffers from a severe case of foot-in-mouth disease. It says something that he's the guy the Democrats chose to be their leader in the Senate. Pathetic.