Why Harry Reid Must Resign for His Racist Remarks Even If He's Not Racist
Posted: Monday, January 11, 2010
by Mogama
http://www.mogama.info
In Game Change, a book about the 2008 presidential campaign, co-authors John Heilemann and Mark Halperin quote private comments by Senator Harry Reid. Impressed by candidate Obama's speaking skills, Senator Reid said he thought America was ready to elect a black president, particularly one like Barack Obama, "a light-skinned African American with no Negro dialect, unless he wanted to have one."
To prove he's no racist, the Senator added, "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."
However, there is another way to interpret the the Majority Leader's "enthusiastic" support for President Obama: Knowing that he had made those racially soiled comments, which would eventually become nationally public, could Reid's aggressive push for President Obama's agenda be seen as a peace offering, his attempt to make amends for his racially loaded rhetoric, which would eventually see the national spotlight?
Not surprisingly, the leadership of the Republican Party has called for Reid's resignation. Why not? Didn't Senator Trent Lott resign his Majority Leader post for remarks made at late Senator Strom Thurmond's 100th birthday party on December 5, 2002? In reference to Strom Thormond's 1948 campaign on a segregationist platform, Senator Lott said, "When Strom Thurmond ran for president, we voted for him. We're proud of it. And if the rest of the country had followed our lead, we wouldn't have had all these problems over the years, either."
Fifteen days later, Lott resigned as Republican Majority Leader. Will the same fate befall Harry Reid despite his present resistance to step down? If that will happen, it will probably be due in part to pressure exerted by Internet media (blogs and articles), the same new media that kept the pressure up on Lott, after the mainstream media had left the story behind.
The huge difference here, observers say, is that Senator Lott had a history consistent with his support for former segregationist Thurmond. Lott voted against renewing the Civil Rights Act and opposed the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther Jr becoming a national holiday. Supporters of Reid say there is no such pattern of behavior.
President Obama, the immediate subject of Reid's remarks, said he has accepted the senator's apology "without question because I've known him for years; I've seen the passionate leadership he's shown on issues of social justice and I know what's in his heart...As far as I am concerned, the book is closed."
Some black politicians, including the Congressional Black Caucus's chairperson, as well as leaders of the Democratic Party have unconditionally rallied to Reid's side. They say Reid's support for civil rights issues proves that he has "no racist bone in his body."
It may take an orthopedic doctor to describe what a racist bone looks like, but I think the words of a person are often a measurement of that person's true beliefs. No smaller expert on human nature than Jesus Christ said, "For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks" (Luke 6:45).
Much of the nonsense about "slip of tongue" and "poor choice of words" are usually just that. Nonsense. Words are often a good barometer of a person's heart. The only exception to this is when someone is under pressure, under the influence of drug or alcohol, or when one is emotionally out of balance, as during a moment of anger.
Seemingly Senator Reid uttered those words in a calm, private conversation. His remarks offend both blacks and whites. They reflect the same old racism about light-skinned blacks being more acceptable to whites than dark-skinned blacks. His words portray whites as mostly racist who only accept almost-white-looking blacks.
As a very dark-skinned black, who pastors a mixed congregation, with most of the leaders being white, I am offended by this form of racism. It is especially painful when black politicians and their allies continue to give white Democrats a pass when they make racially offensive remarks. If blacks continue this one-sided accountability on racism, over time they will cheapen racist remarks by anybody. Racism should be costly for any public figure, regardless of party. Harry Reid must go; he reminds me too much of Judas Iscariot who eats with a friend while he betrays him with a kiss.
But we may not have to worry about Senator Reid keeping his majority leader status after his "Negro dialect" remarks. Perhaps Nevada voters will boot this now unpopular senator out of his office in the next election.
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Top-level comments on this article: (5 total)Very well said. Reid should go for a number of reasons, yet this one is going to be hard to beat. Sure, he's from the old school, where racism was more open and condoned. Because of that, he should know better!Well done.Please log in to respond to this comment.Thanks, Michael, for your contribution to the SearchWarp community. ~mogama~Please log in to respond to this comment.
Rob, EnglandI really do not see what all the outcry is with what Harry Reid is purported to have said. Taking it line for line:He said he thought America was ready for a black president, particualy one like Barack Obama: [ I don't think that could be classed as racist].A light skinned African American: [ Is it a crime to called that colour in America if indeed it is correct? [ I would not think so.]Negro dialect: Again, is it a racist remark to be able to speak in two tongues.Of course, the PC come racist fraternity are always ready with their finger on the button. All those individuals only cause hatred and bad feeling between different cultures.It is very much the same here in the UK. , freedom of speach has gone out of the window.In our case, it all started when Blair and his bunch were in government and will be many, many years to come, if at all, that our Country returns to normality. The rot started in Westminster, with MP's milking our citizens to buy for themselves houses, outrageous claims for cash, our cash, and you name it, they claimed it.They make mouth watering promises [lies] and when it comes to the crunch, there is always a plausible way to go back on what they promised.Please log in to respond to this comment.Thanks, Rob, for your comment. This same Harry Reid and his political party would have yelled at a conservative politician speaking to a light-skinned African American with no Negro dialect. His words underlie the stereotype that so many Americans are striving to get beyond. He represents the old template: that white Americans will only accept light-skinned blacks. I am a very dark-skinned African, and some of my best friends are white Americans. People like Reid prefers the status quo in race relations, while pretending to be on the side of improving the same. He sounds like a hypocrite, and needs not be in such a high leadership position in the US government. He has become an embarrassment to his constituents, who are about to vote him out of office. ~mogama~Please log in to respond to this comment.
Hypocrisy of any kind is to be condemned. People from the `old school' of thought have only learned new languages, new socially correct lingo to display or wear on their exposed sleeves though just below they still harbor strong prejudices! Well said, as always!Please log in to respond to this comment.
I suspect that Reid will "step down" only when the steps have been pulled out from under him - the voters should do that this next election for many reasons among them your aptly stated comments above. MarijoPlease log in to respond to this comment.Indeed, Marijo. Thnx for commenting. ~mogama~Please log in to respond to this comment.
"a light-skinned African American with no Negro dialect, unless he wanted to have one." A truly remarkable statement from one of our highly educated Americans. My point being, and it has been for some time, that a good education is just a litmus test for being human or just a hint of sentient being potential. What is truly lacking in education is a focus on character, morals and ethics, wisdom, even--the more important element of knowing difference between right and wrong. No amount of education, gifts, talents, abilities can make up for one's shortcomings in character, all of which anyone of any level of the aforementioned can obtain.Just look to the many headlines of the mighty who have fallen because of lack of attention to character. A sad comment on our country's priorities.Please log in to respond to this comment.Thanks, Jeff, for commenting. I do agree with you that the right kind of education can help to overcome flaws like racial evaluations of people. I wait for the day that nothing but objective qualification will be our only standard for describing any person or candidate. ~mogama~Please log in to respond to this comment.
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