Because of controversial remarks made by Senate Majority Leader in private discussions with the author of a book that characterized then candidate Obama as a “light skinned African American” able to speak without a “Negro dialect,” the political “news” world has been captivated for much of the last 48 hours with this story and nothing else. The President was quick to accept Reid’s apology and Reid was quick to give it – to the President and to every other minority organization he has ever been affiliated with in his career for that matter – and they have all resoundingly accepted his apology and commended him for his lifetime of service to their causes.
In case you need to be caught up on the controversy…
(December 5, 2009 - Photo by Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images North America)
I have to admit that I have some pretty strong feelings on this issue. The first being, this is not a Republican issue. Our elected officials need to stay as far away from this thing as they possibly can – leave it to the pundits and let the chips fall where they may. Secondly, is there a double standard? You bet there is, but Republicans doing exactly what Dems do to us doesn’t make the situation any better next time a member of the GOP has a slip of the tongue; and more importantly, it continues us on this path to a place where every questionably insensitive remark turns into a racial controversy. I fail to see how the racial conversation in America is in any way improved or enhanced through continuing on the ignorant politics of liberal race baiting.
As to Reid’s comments, I think they were poorly chosen and I feel that as a man who has seen this nation change dramatically over the course of the seven decades of his life, I would have hoped that he would have been more in tune with social mores and a sense of his stature before speaking in such a casually ignorant manner. That being said, I really don’t see that he has committed an unforgivable crime here. Political analysts and commentators made the same point a million times in a million different ways regarding President Obama’s candidacy. Granted, they masked their sentiment in less colorful language referring to his appeal to the “urban community” and how it hasn’t effected his “credibility with academia.” They unnecessarily mentioned his Hawaiian upbringing as if it had some relevance in his presidential credentials. These were all clever little ways to say the same thing – simply in a less offensive manner.
All that being said, I do not condone Reid’s behavior or his remarks. In fairness however, I was more offended by his attempts to compare Republican positions on health care to the institution of slavery – and he said that openly – not in a private conversation to an author writing a tell-all book. At the end of the day, the point is this… to paraphrase a line from former Arizona Cardinals Head Football Coach Dennis Green, Reid is who we thought he was – a rambling old man long past his prime if he really ever had one.
What does that mean for his place as leader of the Senate? Frankly, there is not one ounce of me that cares either way. If he resigns – awesome. If Dems run him out – awesome. If he stays there and reminds American voters what Democrats consider sound leadership – even better.
So where is this controversy heading from here? I think you know the answer to that. Republican pundits will hammer the hell out of him for the next few days. They will reference the double standard that exists regarding race and the treatment of these controversies between Democrats and Republicans, and the other side will deny, deny, deny. The first big example of this was the wonderful California super-lib, Senator Dianne Feinstein, this weekend.
As you might have seen in the Clips from the Sunday Circuit, Dianne Fienstein told Face the Nation that Reid’s case was distinguishable from the controversy that ran Former Republican Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott from office. She also said that she could not recall ANY Democrats who “jumped out” to condemn Trent Lott for his statements regarding Former Dixiecrat Strom Thurmond’s once candidacy for President saying “I know of NO statement by ANY Democrat criticizing Trent Lott.” Watch and read on…
That whole no one spoke out against Trent Lott thing… yeah, that was probably not the best path to head down on this one. Here’s a list of the most prominent Democrats who did “Jump Out” against Former Senate Majority Leader Lott. We will start with Senator Feinstein herself.
FEINSTEIN
“‘When connected to past comments and votes, this statement casts a dark shadow over Sen. Lott’s ability to be a credible party leader,’ Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., said in a written statement. Feinstein, the state’s senior senator, said she condemns any statement that holds segregation as anything but morally repugnant.”
PRESIDENT OBAMA
“The Republican Party itself has to drive out Trent Lott. If they have to stand for something, they have to stand up and say this is not the person we want representing our party.”
HARRY REID
“He had no alternative,” said Reid at the time claiming, “If you tell ethnic jokes in the backroom, it’s that much easier to say ethnic things publicly. I’ve always practiced how I play.”
SHEILA JACKSON
“It was shocking…a piercing voice through the fabric of black America”
JOHN KERRY
”I simply do not believe the country can today afford to have someone who has made these statements again and again be the leader of the United States Senate”
Check out a collection of them posted over at BLOGS FOR VICTORY…. here are a few.
“‘The sentiments expressed by Senator Lott’s words last week have no place in today’s America,’ Sen. Blanche Lincoln, a Democrat, said in a statement. ‘If he truly believes a Strom Thurmond presidency would have been good for the country, then he is out of touch with the U.S. Senate and certainly with a great majority of Americans. ‘Senator Lott owes the nation a thorough explanation of his words recorded in 1980 and again last week. Racism and bigotry once divided America and we cannot tolerate words that might send us back there.’” (Paul Barton, “Lott’s Remarks Draw Arkansas Reproach,” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 12/12/02)
Senator Debbie Stabenow
“Sen. Debbie Stabenow, a Democrat, described Lott’s comments as ‘outrageous’ and ‘completely inexcusable.’ ‘Those kinds of comments have no place in our society and should be repudiated by every American,’ Stabenow said in a statement. ‘At this point, the Republican caucus in the U.S. Senate needs to think long and hard about the kind of values they want their leadership to represent.’” (Katherine Hutt Scott, “Mich. Delegation Members From Both Parties Criticize Lott Remarks,” Gannett News Service, 12/14/02)
Senator Dick Durbin
“‘We need political leaders who are healers, not dividers,’ Durbin said. ‘I hope that Senator Lott’s apology will translate into action and that he will advance policies that bring us together as a nation rather than pull us apart.’” (Dori Meinert, “Fitzgerald, Simon Support Lott In Racial Controversy,” Copley News Service, 12/13/02)
Then-Senator Hillary Clinton
“One Democrat, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York, said the GOP must decide whether Lott ‘represents the views of the majority of Republicans in the Senate and in our country.’” (Ron Kampeas, “Some Republicans Say Lott’s Apology Should End Controversy,” The Associated Press, 12/14/02)
Senator Evan Bayh
“Democrats, who had spent much of the last two weeks criticizing Lott’s statement, praised his decision to resign and pledged to work with the next Senate Republican leader. ‘There is a standard for all of us in public life that must be met, and his ability to lead was severely damaged. The American people expect and deserve leaders who share their values,’ Democratic Sen. Evan Bayh of Indiana said in a statement. ‘As we move forward, I hope we can use this unfortunate incident as a springboard to continue the civil rights progress that we have made over the last forty years.’” (Craig Linder, “Ceding To Controversy, Lott Says He Will Not Be Majority Leader In Next Congress,” States News Service, 12/20/09)
Senator Barbara Boxer
“More typical were comments from Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., who stopped short of calling for Lott to leave. ‘His apology does not take away the sting of his divisive words, nor the pain inflicted on millions of African Americans under segregation,’ she said.” (Edward Epstein, “Bush Calls Lott’s Remark ‘Wrong,’” The San Francisco Chronicle, 12/13/02)
I thought you might want a quick search for what other conservatives are saying about the controversy. I have posted a few of my favorites below. Its pretty safe to say that we’re all over the board on this one.
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Whited Sepulchre
Do Reid and Clinton really prefer having the light-skinned guys bring their coffee?
The Other McCain
Was Harry Reid Wrong?
Red State
Harry Reid Among The Race Hypocrites
Michelle Malkin
Dem leader who compared Republicans to slavemasters referred to “light-skinned” Obama and “Negro dialect;” Obama accepts apology, praises Reid on “social justice”
Ed Morrissey (Hot Air)
Reid apologizes for questioning Obama’s racial authenticity;Update: Apology accepted, says Obama; Update:Sharpton backs Reid, of course; Update:Obama 2002: The GOP must drive Lott out
Allahpundit (Hot Air)
Bill Clinton 2008 on Obama: A few years ago, this guy would have been getting us coffee
Ace of Spades – Gabriel Malor
Whoa: Reid Said Obama Could Win Because He’s “Light-skinned” With “No Negro Dialect”
Another Black Conservative
Harry Reid will pay no price for his Negro comment
Big Government – Ron Futrell
Harry ‘Pinky’ Reid Goes Off-Color
Frugal Cafe
Black Caucus & Rev. Al Sharpton Forgive Harry Reid’s Racist Comment… Ann Coulter Challenges Sharpton on Democrats’ Race Card Double Standard (video)
Harry Reid And The Movie “Airplane”…
Just days after Henchman Harry Reid was left defending himself for comments he made about Barack Obama’s race during the 2008 presidential elections, new information has come to light that might provide some clarity regarding his racist statement. In …
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