The American Spectator : The Spectacle Blog : Yes, Reid is a Racist

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The brilliant Jan Crawford has the single best column I have yet seen on the Harry Reid "light-skinned Negro" flap. She puts his remarks in proper context, meaning in the context of his earlier, obnoxious, apparently racist attacks a few years back on Clarence Thomas.

This is important. One reason the criticisms of Trent Lott in 2002 carried so much weight is because Lott had a long history of racially.... well, at least racially questionable statements and actions. It was in the context of a career's worth of what at best was racial insensitivity on Lott's part that I was one of the many conservative writers who came out, very quickly and strongly, to say that Lott should step down as majority leader. (As a lifelong native of Lott's Gulf Coast and a writer in Mobile at the time, I was cited semi-widely at the time. I had been a longtime admirer of Lott's at one point, so it pained me to reach the conclusion I reached, but Lott really did need to go as Leader.) Perhaps Lott could have gotten a pass for one stupid comment if he hadn't shown a general cluelessness on racial matters for so long.

Likewise with Harry Reid. "Oh, no, Reid is no racist," his defenders say. Of course he's not a racist, they say, because he's on the correct side of the issues, meaning the reflexively (but not reflectively) side of left-wing, racial bean-counting paternalism.

Bullfeathers. As Jan Crawford explains,

Thomas is one of the Court’s most original and compelling thinkers, and his opinions are praised by scholars on the Left and the Right as important contributions. You may not agree with a single word Clarence Thomas says, and it may drive you crazy that he took Thurgood Marshall’s seat on the Supreme Court, but you can’t call him stupid or deny he’s an important intellectual force.

Unless you’re Harry Reid.

In an interview with the late Tim Russert on NBC's Meet the Press, Reid called Thomas “an embarrassment to the Supreme Court” whose “opinions are poorly written,” and said he hadn’t “done a good job” as a justice. But Antonin Scalia? Well, Reid said, he’s a different story. Scalia, Reid told Tim, “is one smart guy.”

This "grossly false storyline" is, as Crawford explains, racial stereotyping at its worst. It falls into the category of "No Negro can possibly be smart if he doesn't think like other good Negroes." Or, in the current case, if he has a Negro dialect.

Harry Reid, bigot, is also the Harry Reid who declared the war in Iraq "lost." He is the same Harry Reid whose record of nastiness, small-mindedness, foot-in-mout-itis, and hypocrisy has been amply recorded in many other fora. Harry Reid, bigot, is himself an "embarrassment." He should resign not just from his position as Leader but from the Senate itself.

View all comments (19) | Leave a comment

Lazy Jack| 1.12.10 @ 10:55AM

The gospel according to Democrats:

Harry Reid is not a racist, he is a pragmatist, an astute analyst.

The gospel according to Harry:

He is not racist, the rest of us are.

What else are we to conclude when a person says Americans, left and right alike, will only vote for a person who meets certain criteria of appearance and diction? Apologize for him all you want, he did not just insult Barak Obama, he insulted you.

Lazy Jack
For More:
http://thanksforthelaughs.word.....ly-we-are/

Pete| 1.12.10 @ 11:02AM

If you are a conservative, it is often construed as a crime just to notice a person's color. What if Bush or Palin had said something like this? You would think that this might be yet another glaring example of the different rules the Democratic elites have for themselves, but, sadly, with the mainstream media in the tank for them, people who don't want to connect the dots won't get the chance.

SoCon| 1.12.10 @ 11:17AM

Harry looks like he had a facelift over Christmas break: Too bad the doctor left Harry's foot in his mouth.

He's an embarrassment for the people of Nevada.

Margie| 1.12.10 @ 10:09PM

They must be preparing him for the morgue.

Pete| 1.12.10 @ 11:25AM

He also kind of looks like the corrupt president from "Clear and Present Danger" don't you think?

Oldefarte| 1.12.10 @ 12:06PM

Again, I RESPECTFULLY disagree. The word labeling of RACISM, DISENFRANCHISEMENT, DISCRIMINATION,GENTRIFICATION,BIGOT,etc is beyond ignorant, it is flat out STUPID, IMBICILIC, MORONIC, or whatever. It is a branding/labeling with one word, when a thorough reporting of the necessary facts are impossible or inconvenient. Lott was a lifelong, hard-working, dedicated public servant of the people of Mississippi and of the United States; who, in attempting to honor/praise a senile old man made some politically incorrect statements. Most [current and past] Democrats, especially liberal ones, have uttered racially insinsitive remarks/statements in private, while correspondingly proclaiming politically correct, ass-kissing racial remarks in public [solely to get the votes of the listeners/recipients of those words]. The greatest example of this hypocracy is illustrated by the Kennedys, who have made a political living of saying one thing privately, while proclaiming the politically correct wordisms in public [again all for vote getting purposes]. The crime of it all is that Republicans get burned politically for it, while Democrats get their free pass from their dumbass constituents!!!!!!!!

Curtis Rasmussen| 1.12.10 @ 12:47PM

I have seen the racial presumptuousness of liberals up close. Being black they naturally assume that I voted for Obama and in my presence talk glowingly of the breath of fresh air that he brings to the office. They stand there, talking, smiling and laughing until they see the stone cold look of disgust on my face. That usually shuts them up.

It is racist to assume a political leaning based on skin color. It is racist to assume that there is something wrong if a black man doesn't agree with their viewpoint.

Liberalism: keeping racism alive well into the 21st century.

Margie| 1.12.10 @ 10:22PM

I agree with you about Trent Lott. The reason for him resigning was ridiculous. How many times have we bowed to the Left's insanity?
I'm not aware of other "racially questionable statements and actions" by him..?

Oldefarte| 1.12.10 @ 12:11PM

PS----It's amazing to me that Democrat Robert Byrd is today honored/revered in the US Senate, when any four year old child is aware that he once was an active member of the KKK. Where is the outrage among Democrats over this. There is none, since most of them use blacks politically for their votes, so that they/Democrats can stay in power!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nate Wilson| 1.12.10 @ 12:19PM

I think Harry Reid is a complete doofus, but I have to agree with George Will regarding this issue. Does anyone really think that Obama would be electable if he didn't look the way he looks, and talk the way he talks. If noticing this truth makes one a racist, then I think there are a lot of racists walking the streets. Having said that, there is a terrible double standard here. A Republican would not be given an inch.

Derek Leaberry| 1.12.10 @ 12:35PM

It is sad when I read and hear conservatives stoop to puerile tic-for-tac insults with our enemies on the Left. Read Mr. Wilson's comment above- he's got it about right. I would add that if a political maeven like Michael Barone had made the same point that Harry Reid did, he would be considered wise rather than foolish. And I imagine Barone has written or spoken of Obama in the same way Reid has. There is nothing inherently hateful or racist in Senator Reid commenting that President Obama's mannerisms, his style and tone of speech makes him acceptable to white sensibilities in a way that Maxine Waters, both Jesse Jacksons and most of the Congressional Black Caucus do not. Let's move on.

Margie| 1.12.10 @ 9:48PM

"It is sad when I read and hear conservatives stoop to puerile tic-for-tac insults with our enemies on the Left."
~Sad for you, is it? I doubt it's sad for you.
You're a very sneaky liar when you say there is nothing racist in what Harry Reid said. Why do you defend the indefensible?
Harry Reid pronounced that Americans are racists and after all, we all must think as he does, right?

Cuffs| 1.12.10 @ 12:44PM

Over 90% of blacks voted for Obama.
What should we call that?--surely not
racism.
Reid looks like he's off his medication; he's got
to go, not for remarks but for agenda. He needs
a nursing home.

Jeff| 1.12.10 @ 1:21PM

to cuffs ...

90% of whites voting for McCain would be called racist ...

so yes, the 90% black vote for Obama is ...

I remember the use of the term n*gro used by the upper crust racists from my youth. The other n word was too crude for them so they kept it simple. Who thinks in those terms today "negro dialect" what the hell is that ???
And whats with the "unless he wants to" ???
I don't think Reid is consciously racist but he certainly thinks that African Americans can use their skin color to their advantage.

gus| 1.12.10 @ 1:29PM

Liberals use race, gender, sexual orientation, natiaonality etc as tools to keep themselves in power.
If you don't believe ILLEGAL ALIENS belong in the U.S. Liberals call you a hater.
If you don't believe in giving your money to dead beats. You are a racist.
If you believe killing babies is wrong, you are a WOMAN HATING MISOGYNIST.
If you don't believe the GOVERNMENT should have anything to do with your HEALTH CARE or HEALTH CARE choices. You HATE the poor.

Red Phillips| 1.12.10 @ 2:20PM

What Derek said.

All this "I'm more PC than thou" pandering by "conservatives" all in a lather over Reid's rather benign observation is sickening. Memo to conservatives: you will never win a PC indignation battle with leftists so why try? This “conservative” hysteria contributes to an already highly charged atmosphere of suffocating political correctness. Why on earth would we want to do this? We need to be challenging political correctness, not reinforcing it. What Reid said wasn’t offensive (other than maybe the choice of words) and was certainly true. Does ANYONE not believe that white people were more comfortable with Obama because he is half white and was largely raised by whites in a white setting. I recall this being openly speculated about during the campaign. As well as it was openly speculated initially when he was trailing Hillary badly with black voters, that blacks were not taking to him because he wasn't black enough and didn't share their background. (Recall that Obama's early support was from liberal whites who as Derek points out hadn't supported Jesse Jackson. And recall that Oprah endorsing Obama and traveling with him to South Carolina was seen as a significant factor in changing this.) So it’s true but you just can’t say it? This is silly and profoundly counter-productive. Again, we should be bucking oppressive PC thought policing, not doing it ourselves. We need less sensitivity and prickliness, not more.

SoCon| 1.12.10 @ 2:56PM

I understand your point, Red--and agree with a lot of it--but I just don't care anymore. I'm sick and tired of bringing a knife to political gun fights.

I haven't forgotten Reid's vituperative attack on Justice Thomas and I haven't forgotten Reid's announcement that the Iraq War was lost--before the Surge had a chance to take effect. I won't forget.

Any chance I have to give democrats hell--I will. Someone's got to hold them accountable.

Hoist them by their own petard.

Margie| 1.12.10 @ 9:38PM

"Does ANYONE not believe that white people were more comfortable with Obama because he is half white and was largely raised by whites in a white setting."
~Yes, those of us who aren't bigots like you and Harry Reid.

Derek Leaberry| 1.13.10 @ 10:08AM

At last year's Academy Awards, I distinctly remember the true-blue liberal Sean Penn regailing the audience about the "elegant" Barack Obama. And it is no wonder that Obama won over white liberals and even centrists with his neo-European style. Obama won 42 % of the white vote, a very great achievement and one which delivered Obama the White House. But for the possible exception of Harold Ford, there are no other major black politicians in America who are so able to placate white sensibilities than President Obama.