Right when I’m enjoying the political gossip in the new book, “Game Change” — like how Sarah Palin was so scatterbrained that she couldn’t remember not to call Joe Biden “O’Biden” for the debate, so her handlers told her to ask him if she could just call him “Joe” — up pops a controversy about racist remarks by Democratic Harry Reid.
“Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid apologized Saturday following reports he had privately described then-candidate Barack Obama during the presidential campaign as a black candidate who could be successful thanks in part to his “light-skinned” appearance and speaking patterns “with no Negro dialect, unless he wanted to have one.”
Journalists Mark Halperin and John Heilemann reported the remarks in their new book “Game Change,” which was purchased by CNN Saturday at a Washington-area bookstore. The book is slated for official release next Tuesday.”
Reid was quick to backpedal .. he told CNN:
“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.”
Of course, the GOP has jumped all over this — saying, “For those who hope to one day live in a color-blind nation it appears Harry Reid is more than a few steps behind them,” National Republican Senatorial Committee communication director Brian Walsh said in a statement.
Oh yeah? Well, where were they when Rush Limbaugh proudly played “Barack the Magic Negro” on his radio show .. or when other prominent Republicans described the President as a monkey?
Yes, Reid can be exasperating – even his Casper Milquetoast voice drives me crazy – but I don’t think there was any malice meant in his words. (I said the same thing about Republican Michael Steele’s use of “honest Injun” in a recent post.)
I have to say I’m surprised that a senator would use the word “Negro” in this day and age. Maybe that comes from hanging out with a bunch of old white dudes in Congress for 30 years. Or he could be Mormon-impaired .. I think they still used the term.
Whatever, the term is out-dated all right. But then again, it’s back on the census forms…
But my take on all this – as a Democratic Party leader, Reid was simply wearing a strategist’s hat .. speculating on Obama’s strength as a candidate.
He merely spoke out loud about a reality that exists — there are aspects of Afro-American culture that make white voters uncomfortable. Language is one .. remember “Eubonics”? PBS has aired programs about studies which showed more negative reactions to darker skinned blacks than lighter-skinned ones — from BOTH whites and blacks.
We all know the Presidency cannot be won without the support of a wide variety of the nation’s white voters. Reid was dead on about Obama’s lighter complexion and Midwestern accent helping him communicate with white voters.
And come on, what political junkie didn’t think about this during the campaign? We noticed how sometimes candidate Obama would slip into subtle “dialect” .. depending on his crowd.
And Obama’s situation is complex .. he has to negotiate so many stereotypes associated with powerful black men. He has to choose his words carefully so he won’t appear as “an angry black man” .. he can’t appear “uppity” or “arrogant.” Maybe he’s been overly mindful of this .. hence the criticism for being “dispassionate.”
But back to Reid .. folks, there’s enough REAL racism in the world without looking for it under every bed. Take a gander at the Teabaggers” — their signs and language are offensive, racist, and downright scary.
Ah well, if everyone can forgive Biden’s famous “clean and articulate” gaffe .. they’ll forgive Reid too.
