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* Reid apologizes for 'Negro' remark
January 09, 2010
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* Congress
Reid apologizes for 'Negro' remark
Harry Reid is apologizing this morning for casting candidate Barack Obama's light skin and lack of "Negro dialect" as selling points in his run for president.
According to the new book "Game Change," Reid "was wowed by Obama's oratorical gifts and believed that the country was ready to embrace a black presidential candidate, especially one such as Obama -- a 'light-skinned' African American 'with no Negro dialect, unless he wanted to have one,' as he said privately.
The claim is unsourced, but Reid acknowledged it in a statement passed on by the Las Vegas Sun's Jon Ralston:
I deeply regret using such a poor choice of words. I sincerely apologize for offending any and all Americans, especially African Americans for my improper comments.
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.
Moreover, throughout my career, from efforts to integrate the Las Vegas strip and the gaming industry to opposing radical judges and promoting diversity in the Senate, I have worked hard to advance issues important to African American community.
Both the underlying view -- that Obama will succeed because he's not too black -- and the choice of language pose serious problems for a Majority Leader facing a difficult reelection n Nevada.
Now who's a Racist?
Could you imagine if a Republican had said this, oh my.