You Think Harry Reid Will Get Scram's Vote Now?

[Balloon guy 158]

So Harry Reid, the majority leader of the democrats in the Senate recently was discovered to have made this remark:"Obama is a light-skinned African-American with no Negro dialect, unless he wanted to have one."And so now we see the hypocrisy dance of the left. One they do so well, and so often.The left is going out of their way to do two things:1. argue that the nuance of what Reid said is what's important, it speaks of all of white America's need for soul searching to recognize the racist in all of us...2. Snap their fingers like a magician saying "Look over here, look over here". They bring up Trent Lott and try to say that what Reid said was no where as bad as Trent Lott. Which is a joke, since Trent Lott said something with no thought to race, and Reid was 101% about race. Lott was trying to say something nice about a 100 year old man at his birthday, Reid was trying to acknowledge that whites might accept Obama because he's not 'real black'.Of course Obama has 'accepted' Reid's apology. What else can he do? Demand that Reid leave? Stand up for his race? Act like a man and kick Reid's white butt?Of course not, Reid's apology 2 years later was heartfelt...I'm sure.The democrat party: Home to racism since the Jim Crow years

[LongLiveYorke 38]

I can't speak for the democratic party. Pretty much every politician is a hipocrite in some way.But what Reid actually said:"Obama is a light-skinned African-American with no Negro dialect, unless he wanted to have one."is unequivocally true. Some may be offended by the use of the word "Negro." It sounds better if he says :"Obama is a light-skinned African-American with no urban dialect, unless he wanted to have one."Saying that a black person is black isn't racist.(If a Republican made the same commend, I'd like to think that I'd make a similar response.)

[Balloon guy 158]

I can't speak for the democratic party. Pretty much every politician is a hipocrite in some way.But what Reid actually said:"Obama is a light-skinned African-American with no Negro dialect, unless he wanted to have one."is unequivocally true. Some may be offended by the use of the word "Negro." It sounds better if he says :"Obama is a light-skinned African-American with no urban dialect, unless he wanted to have one."Saying that a black person is black isn't racist.(If a Republican made the same commend, I'd like to think that I'd make a similar response.)

Determining a person's qualifications for holding public office by the amount of pigmentation in their skin and or the accent they possess would not fall under the classification of 'unequivocally true' in any other setting.It's okay..you guys also had a former Grand Wizard for the KKK in your leadership. I get why you guys are quick with the excuses. I mean if you can excuse a KKK Grand Wizard, then this is a piece of cake.

[LongLiveYorke 38]

Determining a person's qualifications for holding public office by the amount of pigmentation in their skin and or the accent they possess would not fall under the classification of 'unequivocally true' in any other setting.

I don't see him saying anything along those lines in the above quote. (I haven't followed the whole story).From what I've heard, he was talking to somebody in private and was describing why Obama had a good chance at winning. Again, I'd argue it's pretty objective that a half-black guy who is well spoken would be much more acceptable to many people in this country than a completely black guy with a string dialect. That's what Reid was saying, right?He wasn't saying that Obama is smarter because he's black, or because he's only half black, or whatever. He was describing politics.

[Balloon guy 158]

I don't see him saying anything along those lines in the above quote. (I haven't followed the whole story).From what I've heard, he was talking to somebody in private and was describing why Obama had a good chance at winning. Again, I'd argue it's pretty objective that a half-black guy who is well spoken would be much more acceptable to many people in this country than a completely black guy with a string dialect. That's what Reid was saying, right?He wasn't saying that Obama is smarter because he's black, or because he's only half black, or whatever. He was describing politics.

But unfortunately, the Democrat party has lot the right to de-race the phrase just because there is truth to it. They have used the race card like a club for decades. Trying to get away with saying something as blatantly racist as this is too much.I would like you to consider the fact that Reid felt he needed to apologize and Obama felt the need to accept his apology. Neither one of them felt that the statement was defensible, and neither one of them is making your points on their own.

[Balloon guy 158]

I don't see him saying anything along those lines in the above quote. (I haven't followed the whole story).From what I've heard, he was talking to somebody in private and was describing why Obama had a good chance at winning. Again, I'd argue it's pretty objective that a half-black guy who is well spoken would be much more acceptable to many people in this country than a completely black guy with a string dialect. That's what Reid was saying, right?He wasn't saying that Obama is smarter because he's black, or because he's only half black, or whatever. He was describing politics.

Of course the other thing to look at from what you've said is that Reid was commenting on the chances for a democrat politician to be chosen by the democrats.The republicans are supposed to be the ones who only see skin color, why would a democrat need to worry that other democrats would see Obama as anything other than a politician and an American?It would appear that even the leadership of the democrat party realizes that race is a big deal in the democrat party.

[vbnautilus 49]

I agree with LLY, what Reid said is inarguably true. However, the use of the word Negro is very peculiar and inappropriate, especially for a politician.

[Balloon guy 158]

I agree with LLY, what Reid said is inarguably true. However, the use of the word Negro is very peculiar and inappropriate, especially for a politician.

And yet when Reid felt that he 'had' to apologize, Obama didn't acted surprised and say: "I don't see what you need to apologize for"And since you point out the use of the word Negro, don't you think that would kind of add to the case of the motivation of what was said?It is very nice of you to be so forgiving, but racist don't deserve concessions. They deserve to be shown for the people that they are.It's not like Reid is going to get re-elected anyway.

[vbnautilus 49]

And yet when Reid felt that he 'had' to apologize, Obama didn't acted surprised and say: "I don't see what you need to apologize for"And since you point out the use of the word Negro, don't you think that would kind of add to the case of the motivation of what was said?It is very nice of you to be so forgiving, but racist don't deserve concessions. They deserve to be shown for the people that they are.It's not like Reid is going to get re-elected anyway.

You really don't know the difference between real racism and politically incorrect language?95% of the stuff people are forced to apologize for is not actually racism.

[Balloon guy 158]

You really don't know the difference between real racism and politically incorrect language?

You don't see the that saying that a person has a chance to get elected because he doesn't look or sound real black is not politically incorrect language, but is in fact racist?How about when Bill Clinton who said to Ted Kennedy : "Come on Ted, couple years ago this guy would have been getting us coffee"And when Ted acted indignant about it, Bill then replied: "Come on Ted, the only reason you are voting for him is because he's black"Was that just incorrect political language, or in fact is this an indication of how much of a dirt bag Clinton really is?

[El Guapo 10]

95% of the stuff people are forced to apologize for is not actually racism.

Like the fact that you are a dirty Jew. That's not racist, it's a fact.

[JoeyJoJo 20]

From what I've heard, he was talking to somebody in private and was describing why Obama had a good chance at winning.

Whose votes did Reid think Obama could get that he otherwise would not have received if he was "blacker?"Also, if it is accepted that people sound more intelligent when not speaking in an urban/negro dialect, why do we teach ebonics?To keep the black man down, that's why!Note: I don't know anything about the teaching of ebonics. I don't know if it still happens or how it is taught. But the above sounded good when I said it. Although I'm not sure what point I was making. Ok, carry on.

[LongLiveYorke 38]

Whose votes did Reid think Obama could get that he otherwise would not have received if he was "blacker?"

I'm not sure the validity of his statement is the issue.But to answer your question, I'd say about 10 million.

[JoeyJoJo 20]

I'm not sure the validity of his statement is the issue.But to answer your question, I'd say about 10 million.

I'm not speaking to the validity.What I meant was, did he think 10 million democrats would vote for Obama, but wouldn't vote for a blacker Obama? Republicans? Independents? 3 million in each? Who does Harry Reid think is influenced by this?

[Balloon guy 158]

I'm not speaking to the validity.What I meant was, did he think 10 million democrats would vote for Obama, but wouldn't vote for a blacker Obama? Republicans? Independents? 3 million in each? Who does Harry Reid think is influenced by this?

Only Racist. e g Democrats Haha vb..I used eg instead of ie

[vbnautilus 49]

You don't see the that saying that a person has a chance to get elected because he doesn't look or sound real black is not politically incorrect language, but is in fact racist?

I do not see that as racist, no. It is commenting on the consequences of racism. "Given that the population is racist, someone who looks or acts like the category of people they are racist against will have a hard time getting elected" is not a racist statement. Years of research in cognitive science have shown that mental categories are prototype-based. We are much quicker to say that a dove is a bird than we are to say that a penguin is a bird. Reid is saying that Obama does not fall very close to the prototype of black person in the American mind. The fact that such a mental landscape exists in the first place is racism, but pointing out the existence of such a landscape is not.

[vbnautilus 49]

Like the fact that you are a dirty Jew. That's not racist, it's a fact.

I'll give you dirty, but I dispute the Jew part.

[Balloon guy 158]

I do not see that as racist, no. It is commenting on the consequences of racism. "Given that the population is racist, someone who looks or acts like the category of people they are racist against will have a hard time getting elected" is not a racist statement. Years of research in cognitive science have shown that mental categories are prototype-based. We are much quicker to say that a dove is a bird than we are to say that a penguin is a bird. Reid is saying that Obama does not fall very close to the prototype of black person in the American mind. The fact that such a mental landscape exists in the first place is racism, but pointing out the existence of such a landscape is not.

Insanity: Trying the same thing over and over and expecting different results.So we can ignore the fact that in every political arena except the presidency, a black man who isn't 'half-white' has been elected and or appointed. That the voting populous on every level has shown that color isn't a major issue, and that in fact recent history has shown that minority status is a positive for political candidates...but Harry Reid was just 'telling it like it is'.That only works if you first make the case that this country is more racist than not.

[Balloon guy 158]

I do not see that as racist, no. It is commenting on the consequences of racism. "Given that the population is racist, someone who looks or acts like the category of people they are racist against will have a hard time getting elected" is not a racist statement. Years of research in cognitive science have shown that mental categories are prototype-based. We are much quicker to say that a dove is a bird than we are to say that a penguin is a bird. Reid is saying that Obama does not fall very close to the prototype of black person in the American mind. The fact that such a mental landscape exists in the first place is racism, but pointing out the existence of such a landscape is not.

Also, for the record, Bill Clinton was correct in stating that a few years ago Obama would have only been allowed to serve him coffee.And Imus was correct that many black girl's hair is nappy...should you apply the current urban definition.Oh and I was correct when I pointed out that one of the leaders of teh democrat party was a former Grand Wizard of the KKK, and is now a former leader of the DNC, and was comfortable with both assignments

[colonel Feathers 5]

"Unlesshe wanted to have one" is the worst part of the entire statement. He is suggesting that the way blacks speak is something they can just turn on and off. And that black speak is disingenuous

[vbnautilus 49]

Insanity: Trying the same thing over and over and expecting different results.

Ironically, repeating that phrase will never make it correct.

So we can ignore the fact that in every political arena except the presidency, a black man who isn't 'half-white' has been elected and or appointed. That the voting populous on every level has shown that color isn't a major issue, and that in fact recent history has shown that minority status is a positive for political candidates...but Harry Reid was just 'telling it like it is'.

Whether or not he was correct about the consequences of racism is irrelevant to whether or not he was being racist.

Also, for the record, Bill Clinton was correct in stating that a few years ago Obama would have only been allowed to serve him coffee.And Imus was correct that many black girl's hair is nappy...should you apply the current urban definition.

I don't know the context of the Clinton thing, but don't assume that I think these two situations involved racism either.

[Balloon guy 158]

Ironically, repeating that phrase will never make it correct. Whether or not he was correct about the consequences of racism is irrelevant to whether or not he was being racist. I don't know the context of the Clinton thing, but don't assume that I think these two situations involved racism either.

Just so we are clear...for the future as it were.Whenever the subject of the possible racism is a republican, I assume you are morally outraged ( you being your side )Whenever the subject of the possible racism is a democrat, I assume you are contemplative and willing to see the truth by getting into the mud for the higher good so we can grow as a society.I am now merely building up my future material of references for when it's one of my guys who says something so stupid that I cannot believe that he's ever been elected, let alone in a position of leadership.And the reference to the Clinton thing is about Obama, just like the worse case scenario plays out for you...

[vbnautilus 49]

Just so we are clear...for the future as it were.Whenever the subject of the possible racism is a republican, I assume you are morally outraged ( you being your side )

I don't recall ever being morally outraged by racism. After all, I'm white.

[hblask 1]

(If a Republican made the same commend, I'd like to think that I'd make a similar response.)

You don't watch much politics, do you?

[85suited 0]

Here is some interesting quotes I found from the Trent Lott comments in 2002

Let’s take the Wayback Machine to 2002, shall we? We’ll take a look at the Democrats’ responses to Trent Lott’s statements (and subsequent apology) about Strom Thurmond, which were widely condemned as “racist.” Lott had said “we wouldn’t be in the mess we were in today” had Thurmond won the Presidency way back when Thurmond ran as a Dixiecrat.

• ‘His apology does not take away the sting of his divisive words…‘ - Barbara Boxer
• ‘I can tell you if a Democratic leader said such a thing, they would not be allowed to keep their position,’ - Mary Landrieu
• ‘What he said was insensitive as hell; it’s very offensive,’ … ‘Race is serious stuff. It’s not something you kid about.’ - Joe Biden
• ‘…the GOP must decide whether Lott ‘represents the views of the majority of Republicans in the Senate and in our country.‘ - Hillary Clinton
• ‘We need political leaders who are healers, not dividers,’ … ‘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.‘ - Dick Durbin
• ‘When connected to past comments and votes, this statement casts a dark shadow over Sen. Lott’s ability to be a credible party leader‘ - Diane Feinstein
• ‘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.‘ - Debbie Stabenow