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Harry Reid Apologizes For ?Negro Dialect? Remark, Sticks Foot In Mouth Again

It?s not quite clear why Harry Reid making dumb and offensive remarks should be regarded as newsworthy ? to me, his doing so is just another dog bites man story ? but everyone seems to be abuzz with his ?Negro dialect? remark and, once it came to light, apology.

During the 2008 campaign, a new book reveals, ?Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada described in private then-Sen. Barack Obama as ?light skinned? and ?with no Negro dialect, unless he wanted to have one.??

Although that is the comment that has garnered the most attention, I think his apology is even more remarkable and revealing:

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....

Recognizing that he?s in deep political trouble at home in Nevada, Reid also directed part of his apology to his constituents:

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.

Deconstructed, what Reid is saying here is that Reid couldn?t be the insensitive racist his words suggest because he was and is an ?enthusiastic supporter of Barack Obama.? And what would he have said but for his ?poor choice of words?? Perhaps he regrets saying that Obama doesn?t speak in ?black dialect? unless he wants to.
Finally, Reid attempts to display his affection and support for all things black saying that he ?has worked hard to advance issues.?

Only multicultural racially sensitive liberals support ?issues?; us Neanderthal, knuckle-dragging conservatives always oppose ?issues.?

And what does Reid mean by ?diversity? in the Senate, and what did he do to promote it? Seems to me he worked to reduce it by supporting Obama?s leaving the Senate to run for president.

Pathetic.

Full post as published by Discriminations on January 09, 2010 (boomark / email).