It's not Harry Reid who should be apologizing

[liberal N proud]

His remarks about Obama, however indelicate, carried an unfortunate truth. The real scandal is comparing him to Trent Lott, as Republican Michael Steele did.

Harry Reid doesn't owe me an apology.

Sure, it was a little odd to see the term "Negro" used outside of a history class or documentary. Sounds like Reid is stuck in the last century.

But the Senate majority leader didn't say anything many Americans -- especially us Negroes -- don't already know.

If you're black, it is easier in this country to be light-skinned.

That's borne out not just by anecdote and experience, but by research documenting favorable treatment for fair-skinned blacks in criminal cases, employment prospects, even social and romantic liaisons.

<snip>

I think the next apology ought to come from Michael Steele -- the light-skinned, dialectically flexible African American head of the Republican National Committee.

Steele has called for Reid to step down as majority leader, likening him to Trent Lott, the former Mississippi senator rebuked in 2002 for saying he was "proud" that his state had supported a segregationist candidate in the 1948 presidential election.

That candidate was Strom Thurmond, who famously declared during his White House campaign: "All the laws of Washington and all the bayonets of the Army cannot force the Negro into our homes, our schools, our churches."

Either Steele is playing politics with a combustible case, or he thinks Americans are so incapable of thinking intelligently about race that we can't tell the difference between Lott and Reid.

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/newsletter/la-na-reid-banks11-2010jan11,0,3725336.column

[JohnnyLib2]

1. Thank you.

That last sentence is extremely thought provoking.

[monmouth]

2. There are times many of us find Harry very, very frustrating but to

think he would purposely say something to hurt or demean someone in a nasty way is laughable. As someone else said, a tin ear with a heart of gold. Harry may not think on his feet as fast as he should but I'll never believe he speaks with malice. I think the President also realizes this and closed the book on it.

[secondwind]

3. I told my husband this morning that Reid was talking TO racism (in Americans)...he wasn't

talking like a RACIST. His comments translated as follows: This guy is perfect. Skin color light, he will be accepted by Americans, and he doesn't have that black "dialect" (that would turn off some folks)....

Just my take on this... I happen to have a light-skinned half-brother, so no offensive replies please.

[murray hill farm]

5. Reid was making a comment about

electability in this country and about the racism in this country. It makes the racists in this country so uncomfortable..soooooo uncomfortable to hear this truth that they must scream for his resignation in order to keep their own racists heads from exploding.

[Beartracks]

15. Agreed. It was a remark borne of observation. n/t

[hughee99]

4. Exactly, it's a term that no one even uses anymore...

When Reid was little, sad as it may be, this was the terminology that was acceptable. Can we really get mad at someone for using a term they were taught was acceptable when they were little? Remember how forgiving we all were with George Allen in the "macaca" incident even though most people had never even heard that word before.

[Clio the Leo]

6. Steele needs to apologize for aligning himself with a party....

.... who hasn't done anything for African Americans since the end of the 19th century. .... a party that STILL hasn't done anything under his leadership.

(And then he needs to apologize to the world for speaking to us as if it were 1991 and he was on the set of "Yo! MTV Raps!")

[Brewman_Jax]

7. Hey, Mikey Steele

where's that outrage for your too-often-caught fellow racist repubs, eh? :grr:

[zulchzulu]

8. Does Michael Steele think Strom Thurmond would want him head of the GOP?

That's the biggest joke of this whole thing.

[Cha]

9. That's right..steele sticks his big ol nose

in and comes up looking a racist bigot.

[SeattleGirl]

10. The right is reacting as if Reid said the "N" word, and not

Negro. The word does sound strange to me, but it's not a racist, hateful word like the other word definitely is.

But then, the right is nothing but hypocritical. Right, Mikey?

[Generic Brad]

11. Maybe Steele is incapable of thinking intelligently about race

He's incapable of thinking intelligently about anything else. Why should the subject of race be any different with him?

[graywarrior]

12. Steele is so out of touch with reality.

He makes me feel embarrassed watching him.

[johan helge]

13. K & r

[Number23]

14. Michael Steele is "light skinned?"

"I think the next apology ought to come from Michael Steele -- the light-skinned, dialectically flexible African American head of the Republican National Committee."

:wtf:

THIS man??

Aw hell, I'm all confused now...