Harry Reid apologizes for "light skinned" ["with no Negro dialect"] remark about Obama

The Washington Post ^ | 1/9/10 | Chris Cillizza

[LdSentinal]

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) apologized today for referring to President Barack Obama as "light skinned" and "with no Negro dialect" in private conversations during the 2008 presidential campaign.

"I deeply regret using such a poor choice of words," said Reid in a statement. "I sincerely apologize for offending any and all Americans, especially African Americans for my improper comments."

The Senate Majority Leader was officially neutral in the primary fight between Obama and then Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.). Reid's remarks about Obama were revealed in "Game Change", a book detailing the 2008 race penned by Time's Mark Halperin and New York magazine's John Heilemann.

Reid's apology comes on the same day that a new poll conducted by the Las Vegas Review Journal showed him facing an uphill fight for re-election in 2010. Reid trailed former state Republican party chairwoman Sue Lowden by a 50 percent to 40 percent margin and was behind businessman Danny Tarkanian (R) 49 percent to 41 percent.

Only one in three voters viewed Reid favorably while 52 percent saw him in an unfavorable light in the poll.

[GinaLolaB]

Your right. She was one of the first to get into to trouble because she exercised her right to “freedom of speech.”

[Darth Republican]

Some of my best imaginary friends are Negroes

[baa39]

“Those are probably the only true statements Harry Reid has uttered in the past 15 years.”

No doubt that’s why he felt compelled to apologize. When a Democrat tells the truth, a weird, uncomfortable feeling comes over him from doing something so unfamiliar.

[annalex]

This is in fact one of the few remaining things that I like about Obama, that he attempts to speak in clear, grammatical English and not in dialect.

As someone who has a natural accent (Russian), I appreciate the work he put into his speech patterns.

[cynwoody]

In other news, the First Black President had this to say about the Second Black President: A few years ago this guy would have been getting us coffee.

[Chode]

till they change the name of the NAACP...

[Apparatchik]

If you’re a dem and/or African American, the rules are different.

Indeed.

When are black democrats finally going to be called the Uncle Toms that they are? Blacks are treated like political slaves by the dems. When a black politician dares to leave the democrat plantation, the result is a political lynching. Ask Justice Clarence Thomas.

[Apparatchik]

Al Sharpton has already forgiven him and is lavishly praising him and saying this should be forgotten.

Al Sharpton = Uncle Tom

[DBrow]

“I deeply regret using such a poor choice of words,”

What was inaccurate or wrong? Use of the word Negro?

[Apparatchik]

Al Sharpton has already forgiven him and is lavishly praising him and saying this should be forgotten.

Al Sharpton = Uncle Tom

[Apparatchik]

Al Sharpton has already forgiven him and is lavishly praising him and saying this should be forgotten.

Al Sharpton = Uncle Tom

[Dr. Scarpetta]

Why doesn’t Reid just retire this year? He’s 70 & most ordinary citizens have retired by that age. These politicians are obsessed with power & money. I predict that he might retire because he’s in danger of losing his seat.

[metmom]

Since when do people have to apologize for stating facts that everyone can see and hear?

[Blue Collar Christian]

Why in heaven’s name would he have to apologize?

++++++++++

I’ve been wondering too if perhaps some political correctness savvy interpreter could enlighten us as to exactly how he could have said what he’s sorry for in the right words as to not offend any person of the PC sensitive persuasion.

[topfile]

Didn't Obama personally inoculate Reid?

[Munz]

What Lott said wasn’t even close to being as racist as what Reid said.
But the MSM will ignore it, he is after all a liberal.

[NoRedTape]

No one cares about Harry Reid or any of his silly apoligies; nothing; nada.

He is a dinasaur-sellout-weasel.

He has accomplished NOTHING but creating turmoil in "politics".

LET'S HOPE HE GETS HIS AZZ RIGHTFULLY KICKED-OUT OF NEVADA POLITICS AND WE'LL NEVER SEE HIM AGAIN, except cleaning toilets in the Denny's near Truckee.

FUHR.

[celtic gal]

Amen. The dems made such a stink over the lighthearted joke he made at the birthday bash and was forced to step aside. Nothing less should be required of this goofball from NV.

[SunkenCiv]

Reid trailed former state Republican party chairwoman Sue Lowden by a 50 percent to 40 percent margin and was behind businessman Danny Tarkanian (R) 49 percent to 41 percent.

The book in question is just Obamabot damage control.

• Book: Obama, Biden clashed in '08 ["How many times is Biden gonna say something stupid?".......]
• Toss up in Massachusetts! (Brown Leads Coakley 48-47)
• Bill Clinton to visit Mass. to stump for Coakley
• Corporate Lobbyists In Eleventh-hour Coakley Bailout
• DSCC: 'Republican Scott Brown is within striking distance' in Mass
• GOP cannot coast into 2010 elections
• McDonnell: Drill, Baby, Drill Off Virginia Coast

[Oceander]

Apparently so, as the standing arrangements for the photo-op in 2006 about so-called "Honest Government" demonstrates - the whiter you are, the closer you are to Harry: